On March 15, when Serbia declared a state of emergency and imposed curfews and a lock-down for the elderly to halt the spread of COVID-19, many vulnerable people were largely unprepared for the lengthy period of isolation that was to follow.
Belgrade - On May 22, 2020, the United States Government announced an additional $20.3 million in assistance to the Government of Serbia, as part of amendments to existing assistance agreements. These funds will be used to help make Serbia's economy more competitive, strengthen the rule of law, increase government efficiency, improve the media regulatory environment, and combat corruption.
Many countries around the world are struggling in the pandemic to conduct banking and commerce – the exchange of money and buying critical necessities. Serbia has risen as an example of how early USAID interventions are helping improve resilience in crises.
In Serbia, COVID-19 has led to mandatory lock down periods and long lines extending out the door at groceries as people struggle to get basic supplies while following social distancing guidelines.
While Serbia's government was rapidly mobilizing to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, Serbia’s Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) began looking for areas where they could contribute to help their communities.
Face masks for medical personnel, food and hygiene kits for homeless and other vulnerable groups as well as food for pets were all identified as urgent needs.
The one catch was that most CSOs in Serbia do not have massive cash reserves to dip into during difficult times like these.
Belgrade – On Thursday, December 12, 2019, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management launched a loan portfolio guarantee with ProCredit Bank, Addiko Bank, and Banca Intesa to incentivize them to provide up to $90 million in loans to food processors and individual farmers over a 12-year period.
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Last updated: July 02, 2020
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