In this blog series on non-governmental (NGO) and civil society organizations (CSO), we highlight the activities of different NGOs and CSOs working on reintegration.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) activities and services in Serbia are crucial in bolstering local self-governance and supporting returnees. The Reintegrate project in Serbia examined the readiness and capabilities of public institutions, civil society organizations, and local stakeholders to assist returnees in areas like employment and social welfare. This includes the role of Roma coordinators- These efforts aim to improve returnees’ livelihoods through various activities during the support process for their reintegration.
What is the role of Local CSOs in Return and Reintegration Support?
In Serbia, the return and reintegration support are provided at a local governance level. Local governance refers to the work of the migration council organized on municipality or city levels. In total 135 of the migration councils were established. Each local self-governance has a Local Action Plan (LAP) that addresses the issue of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and returnees under the readmission agreement. The local stakeholders include the municipality, a Trustee of the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, Migration Service Centers and Center for Social Work.
The recent assessment of the capacity to support returning men and women in local self-governments in Serbia highlights how vital CSOs, among them Roma CSOs, are in providing reintegration support to returnees. The report assessed the accessibility and capacity of local stakeholders to support returnees as they reintegrate into their communities’ social and economic fabric.
The key support areas identified by stakeholders are employment, housing, legal rights and documentation, social welfare support (child and unemployment benefits), discrimination, and education
The support of the local CSOs and Roma coordinators, who are based in different regions of the country, was crucial and inspiring. In this blog post, we highlight the return and reintegration work of several among the many excellent NGOs and CSOs, showcasing the potential for positive change when local stakeholders come together.
The Reintegrate project collaborated with NGO Group 484 for data collection and navigating the existing national reintegration projects. NGO Group 484 was the initial point of contact for establishing connections with local stakeholders at both the local and national levels of operation.
Local CSOs in the South of Serbia: Who are they?
NGO Nexus is based in Vranje, in the south of Serbia. The organization’s primary goal is to foster a compassionate society by initiating, coordinating, and implementing projects and programs that enhance the well-being of marginalized individuals. Nexus also aims to promote citizen engagement, conduct research and education, and support civil society capacity building. Additionally, they work towards multicultural cooperation and poverty alleviation, raising awareness about marginalized groups, advocating for inclusive decision-making and public policies, and collaborating with international and non-governmental organizations. Their success stories serve as an inspiration for others in the field.
To facilitate access to returnees and vulnerable groups, particularly focusing on Roma citizens in Serbia, the Nexus team collaborates with the local CSO Roma cultural center – Vranjska Banja and Roma coordinators. Local Roma coordinators generally have a realistic understanding of the primary challenges in returnee integration. The Roma Cultural Center in Vranjska Banja is one of the most active CSOs and is known to the community and local stakeholders in Vranje and the nearby areas. Roma communities trust the CSO to address the critical problems related to economic needs, education, health and housing in the return and reintegration process.
Stakeholders have noted that the South of Serbia is the poorest region in the country due to high unemployment rates. Many households have family members who have migrated to Europe for asylum and work. Returnees, including readmitted individuals, assisted volunteer returnees, and spontaneous returnees, are among the vulnerable Roma groups in the region.
What do they do?
In 2023, Nexus carried out a three-year project in collaboration with CARE and its partner organization ENECA from Niš, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project, titled “New Economic Opportunities for Returnees and Vulnerable Citizens in Southern and Eastern Serbia,” aimed to promote the equal socio-economic integration of returnees and vulnerable citizens while enhancing overall economic conditions in the south and east of Serbia. Its objective was to help vulnerable groups in Southeast Serbia identify opportunities for socio-economic inclusion locally and reevaluate their decisions regarding emigration.
The local government in Vranje eventually recognized the Nexus team’s long-lasting contribution to community and regional development as crucial support for the citizens’ return and reintegration.
This recognition showcases a recent study that highlights a significant challenge: civil society organizations are frequently seen as distinct from the line of returnee integration. This perception creates a barrier to effective intersectoral collaboration among all pertinent stakeholders at the local level, including public institutions and civil society representatives.
The Roma Cultural Center in Vranjska Banja is carrying out projects funded by GIZ Serbia to promote Roma inclusion, education, and economic empowerment in South Serbia. These projects aim to benefit 1,000 direct and up to 3,000 indirect beneficiaries per project. The Roma Cultural Center in Vranjska Banja closely collaborates with local self-governance to discuss the Local Action Plan and identify priorities for supporting vulnerable social groups over the next five years. The Roma Cultural Center – Vranjska Banja is also part of the more prominent national Roma Associations and Network, which aims to reduce inequalities and discrimination targeting the Roma population in Serbia. The CSO works with parents, schoolchildren, community leaders and members, local stakeholders, and NGOs at the local level.
What changes are CSOs in Southern Serbia bringing about?
The work of CSOs and NGOs in Southern Serbia, such as Nexus and the Roma Cultural Center—Vranjska Banja, is making a significant impact for returnees in three key areas. First, they raise awareness about social and economic inequalities and social exclusion. Second, they implement projects to support vulnerable groups such as returnees and prevent precarious situations. Third, they advocate for the rights and needs of vulnerable groups including returnees by closely coordinating with local self-governance and international organizations.
The CSOs are essential to guarantee that the necessary support reaches the returnees who need it most. By working closely with returnees and communities they have the latest assessment of returnees’ situations and their family’s needs. International and governmental agencies recognize this importance of the local CSOs and collaborate with them to raise awareness about the latest policies and programs and available support projects through the CSOs.
