EU SUPPORT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

The European Union (EU) programme for local development, EU PRO Plus, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration, has published a public call for support to the projects that should contribute to the improvement of social services in 99 local self-governments from two regions of Šumadija and Western Serbia and Southern and Eastern Serbia.

The European Union has allocated a total of 600,000 Euros for this call, while civil society organisations (CSOs) registered in some of the municipalities and cities involved in the programme implementation, as well as local self-governments (LGSs) in partnership with civil society representatives, are eligible to apply.

The projects should contribute to improving the quality and sustainability of social services available at the local level, with special attention focused on vulnerable groups during periods of increased need for these services such as pandemics or other emergencies.

Within the call, individual projects may receive support from 10,000 to 30,000 Euros, and activities should contribute to the improvement of existing or introduction of innovative and / or integrated social services as well as those services identified as missing during the Covid 19 crisis.

In addition to improving the readiness and resilience of both public institutions and other social service providers for possible future emergencies and periods of crisis, the proposed projects should in particular focus on reducing the negative impacts of Covid on the quality of life of vulnerable groups.

 For the purposes of this Call, social services have been identified as various public services intended to provide assistance to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, children and youth, women, Roma, etc. while the services that primarily refer to social protection services, public education and health care can be provided by a public institution and civil society organisations.

More information on this call, which is open by 28 February 2022, as well as the application documentation are available on the website Public Call for Strengthening Social Services, while three online info-sessions will be held via the Zoom platform on the link:

 https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v1nKr_tLSdOh2WJWykcVwg on:

• Thursday, 27 January, 2022 at 11 a.m.
• Tuesday, 1 February, 2022 at 11 a.m.
• Thursday, 3 February, 2022 at 11 a.m. 

Registration is required for participation in info-sessions.

The European Union supports activities of the EU PRO Plus programme, which contributes to a more balanced socio-economic development of Serbia, with 40 million Euros. The programme, which is led by the Ministry of European Integration, aims to contribute to enhancing territorial development management, economic growth and improvement of social infrastructure and cohesion in 99 local self-government units, in two regions: Šumadija and Western Serbia and Southern and Eastern Serbia. The activities in the field  are implemented  by UNOPS.