Democracy, Human Rights and Governance

STRENGHTENING ACCOUNTABILITY OF KEY DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS 

USAID is helping Serbia make its governance institutions stronger and more accountable to the people.  Activities strengthen Serbia’s rule of law by improving the independence, efficiency, and professionalism of the Serbian judiciary.  Anti-corruption assistance increases the capacity of independent agencies to execute their mandates, helps local governments adopt more transparent practices, and bolsters the adjudication of corruption cases. USAID support to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) strengthens their sustainability, increases their ability to represent citizens’ concerns, and expands their capacity to affect change. USAID also supports efforts to promote media independence. 

Current programs that contribute to this process include: 

USAID Rule of Law project

The USAID Rule of Law (ROL) project is a four-year, $9.8 million project supporting justice sector reforms that enhance the timely delivery of justice for Serbian citizens.  The project works with the courts, public enforcement agents and the State Attorney’s Office to increase increased judicial efficiency, transparency and access to justice.

For more information, please see http://www.rolps.org

USAID's Strenghtening Media Systems project 

USAID’s Strengthening Media Systems project (SMS) is a four-year, $6.5 million activity that supports increased media independence by enhancing the financial sustainability of Serbian media. SMS is helping Serbian media system actors, by improving the business enabling environment in media.

For more information, please visit http://www.irex.org

Framework for Giving project 

The Framework for Giving Activity broadens and strengthens philanthropy and charitable giving in Serbia.  The activity focuses on deepening cross-sector partnerships, improves the legal and policy framework to make giving easier and more transparent, and increases public awareness of philanthropy efforts in Serbia.

For more information, please visit https://www.divac.com/rs/Naslovna

Civic Action for Accountability project 

Civic Action for Accountability is a four-year, $2 million project that supports collective action to increase government accountability and decrease corruption. The project supports citizen-driven activities to grow and strengthen a country-wide network of civil society organizations, grassroots organizations, activists, and journalists who advocate for effective anti-corruption measures and greater government accountability.

For more information, please visit  www.crta.rs

USAID Government Accountability Initiative

The Government Accountability Initiative is a four-year, $8.5 million activity that works with key Serbian stakeholders to increase government accountability at the national and local levels.

For more information, please visit  https://www.odgovornavlast.rs/

Local Engagement and Asset Development activity

Local Engagement and Asset Development Activity is a four-year, $1.7 million project implemented by the National Coalition for Decentralization (NCD), a local network of 16 civil society organizations (CSOs) based in South Serbia. The project supports community development by mobilizing existing local resources and increasing civic engagement throughout Serbia. NCD helps to develop collaboration and strong ties between citizens, local civil society organizations, the private sector, and government.

For more information, please visit http://www.nkd.rs

Strategic Advocacy Approches activity

The Strategic Advocacy Approaches project is a 4.5-year, $2 million initiative intended to improve cooperation between citizens, civil society and government on identified issues of concern, therefore strengthening participatory democracy in Serbia. The project will help improve the capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to strategically implement advocacy initiatives, engage citizens and mobilize local resources. The project will also help advance the enabling environment for advocacy in Serbia.

For more information, please visit http://www.bos.rs/

Constituencies for Judicial Reform project

The Constituencies for Judicial Reform in Serbia project is a three-year, $1.2 million initiative to strengthen citizens' confidence in their judicial institutions by improving communication between citizens and the judiciary. The project is implemented by a coalition of 12 prominent professional associations and Civil Society Organizations that partner with 15 Basic Courts in Serbia. 

For more information, please visit  www.yucom.org.rs

Support to Media Reforms activity

The Support to Media Reforms activity is a 30-month, $445,000 activity to support the creation of a sustainable regulatory environment for media development and for the further digitalization of society in an inclusive, sustainable and safe manner. The activity was developed in response to an agreement between the  Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Government of Serbia, which entrusted the OSCE with a key role in ensuring that Serbia’s ongoing media reforms are implemented in line with best international and European standards and in ensuring and supporting freedom of expression and media freedoms.

For more information, please visit https://www.osce.org/mission-to-serbia

Political Processes Strengthening Activity 

The Political Processes Strengthening Activity is a two-year, $3.5 million activity to foster a democratic, open, and transparent political environment. The activity harnesses the demonstrated commitment of the Serbian public to democratic values and incorporates it into political institutions and processes – parties, parliament and elections.

For more information, please visit

https://www.ndi.org/CEPPS

https://www.iri.org/program/consortium-elections-political-process-strengthening

https://www.ifes.org/cepps

Media Initiatives and Partnership Support activity

The purpose of the Media Initiatives and Partnerships Support program is to help Serbian citizens to safely and smartly navigate a complex media and information landscape to become better informed and thus more capable of effectively participating in modern economic, social and political life. The Program raises citizens’ understanding and knowledge about key concepts, skills and issues relevant to media digital and information literacy. 

For more information, please visit https://www.propulsion.one/