For an Active Civil Society Together (ACT)

Civil society in Serbia continues to face challenges in playing its democratic role as pressure on civil society organizations (CSOs), independent media and activists is continuing.

Despite a certain degree of increase in civic activism around environmental issues and their influence on some public decisions, citizen engagement is still low, with 20% citizens participating in local initiatives. However, an encouraging trend is the growing citizens’ trust in CSOs.

Most small and medium-sized CSOs remain poorly capacitated, struggling to strengthen constituency and mobilise diverse funding sources. The Government strategy on civil society enabling environment was adopted in 2022 and the Civil Society Council to serve as its dialogue platform was established in 2023. Yet, there remains a strong need for an open government, creating an enabling environment on the ground; as well as a need to further strengthen the legitimacy of CSOs to play their advocacy, citizens’ engagement and watch-dog roles.

ACT 2 will work with three groups of civic actors:

a) “partner CSOs”- mission driven CSOs, willing to strengthen constituency, improve financial diversification and engage citizens in advocacy initiatives

b) “associated CSOs”, participating in the joint advocacy initiatives led by the partner CSOs and

c) informal groups/movements, capable to mobilize citizens, working in complementarity with the partner CSOs to increase impact.

ACT will also foster collaboration with other actors including public institutions, businesses, academia and media. Around 60,000 people are expected to participate in and influence public local decision making. 

Outcome 1: Partner CSOs and informal groups are effective in pursuing their mission and engaging in advocacy, gradually increase and strengthen their constituency, diversify funding sources and are responsive and accountable to citizens.

Outcome 2: Partner CSOs closely work with other CSOs and informal groups on shared interests, jointly advocate for them and build constituencies with the aim to achieve greater legitimacy and policy impact.

Outcome 3: Civil society actors initiate, co-create and make use of existing spaces for dialogue, partnership and collaboration with local authorities, private sector, media, academia, and other stakeholders for creating stronger alliances around shared interests.

Erwartete Resultate:  

• “Partner CSOs” improved their organizational development; their financial diversity/viability and constituency basis 
• Informal groups enabled and empowered to more effectively engage with citizens on shared issues of concern 
• “Partner CSOs” regularly exchange knowledge and experience, coordinate activities and create networks with “associated CSOs” and “informal groups” within thematic domains; Joint advocacy initiatives are established around shared missions co-created by CSOs, networks and informal groups 
• Civil society and citizens engage with local authorities, private sector, media, and academia in an open and constructive dialogue and collaboration.

Resultate von früheren Phasen:  

ACT supported around 200 CSOs throughout Serbia to undertake advocacy initiatives, engage citizens in public dialogue and in becoming stronger, accountable to their constituencies, and responsive organisations, knowing how to build coalitions.

As a result of the project 164.994 persons, benefited from services and initiatives provided by supported CSOs (e.g. social services and policies influenced by CSOs improving social protection and gender equality). Around 195 CSO advocacy initiatives have been implemented in the area of gender equality, social protection, environment, health etc. Joint initiatives with 16 local governments (LGs) responded to issues of public concern.

This resulted in the adoption/amendments of 34 policy documents at local level and 11 policy documents at the national level, while the adoption of another 13 policies is expected in the following months. The level of citizens’ participation in the overall decision making in the same 16 LGs where partnership projects between LGs and CSOs have been supported, has increased from 12% in 2021 to 16% in 2023.