2023-03-28

Meeting of the Expert Thematic Group - Eradicating Poverty

SDGs for All Platform

The Center for Democracy Foundation organised a meeting on 28 March 2023 of the Expert Thematic Group - Eradicating Poverty within the framework of the Social Pillar of the Sustainable Development for All Platform.

Analyses and the preparation of advocacy initiatives relevant to COR 1 (World Without Poverty) were discussed during the meeting. Through the joint work of the most significant actors, the goal for 2023 and 2024 is to contribute to the following: a) Adoption of the Social Protection Strategy and the Action Plan b) Monitoring the Decree on Energy Vulnerable Customer; c) Adopting the Poverty Reduction Strategy; d) Improving the socio-economic position of single parents; e) Adopting the Energy Sector Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia for the Period up to 2040 with Projections for 2050. f) Adoption of the Just Transition Action Plan.

Partaking in the discussion were: Slavica Đukić - Dejanović (Special Advisor to the Prime Minister), Ivana Gajić (Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue), Nataša Vučković (Center for Democracy Foundation), Ivona Gvozdenović (Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation), Lidija Kuzmanov (Expert), Žarko Šunderić (Center for Social Policy), Lola Hasanović (Office of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality), Ljiljana Lučić (former State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs), Gordana Savić, (Užice Center for Human Rights), Damir Dizdarević (Belgrade Open School), Lidija Radulović (Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society), Ksenija Petovar (Retired Professor at the Faculties of Architecture and Geography, University of Belgrade), Sarita Bradaš (CDF), Marina Savković (Metropolitan University), Nikola Stevanović (Belgrade Open School), Milena Mićović Trajković (CDF), and others.

Absolute poverty projections were analysed, which has had a significant impact on the elderly and youths in Serbia, in particular, those living in rural areas. It was emphasised that key reforms of two types of social assistance are necessary - Child Allowance and Financial Social Assistance, which may serve to suspend the alarming increased poverty trend. It was concluded that it is important to ask these questions in the context of a just transition, and the thematic group will continue its work on the preparation of specific advocacy initiatives focused on improving the protection of citizens' social rights.

The “SDGs for All” Platform enables a broad discussion among the Serbia’s non-state actors, including civil society, corporate sector, academic and research community, media and the citizens, on aligning Serbia’s development priorities within the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The “SDGs for All” Platform is supported by the Governments of Switzerland and Germany and implemented by GIZ, within the project “Public Finance Reform – 2030 Agenda”.