2024-10-18

Needs of Waste Collectors and Their Families - How to Provide Systemic Support?

Joint UN Programme "PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature"

Within the framework of the Joint UN Programme 'PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature', training was held on 17 and 18 October 2024 for representatives of local governments’ coordination mechanisms, involved in the support programme for informal waste collectors.

Participating in the event, entitled 'Support for Waste Collectors and Their Families, and the Roles of Various Actors', were representatives from the Center for Democracy Foundation included Manager Milena Mićović Trajković and researchers Nevena Novaković and Njegoš Vujadinović (Institute of Social Sciences).

The attendees were presented with research findings concerning capacities, social protection services and the specific needs of waste collectors and their families which were collected from 12 units of local government (Apatin, Bač, Kula, Loznica, Obrenovac, Odžaci, Prijepolje, Ruma, Šid, Sremska Mitrovica, Ub, and Valjevo).

The Center for Democracy Foundation mapped the social protection capacities and services in these 12 local government units, where waste collectors defined as priority groups under the PRO Programme live and work, for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Serbia.

The Joint UN Programme "PRO - Local Governance for People and Nature" contributes to improving the quality of life of citizens through the improvement of local governance, social inclusion and environmental protection governance in 110 cities and municipalities throughout Serbia, which are eligible for the Programme support.

The Joint UN Programme is implemented by the United Nations Serbia agencies - UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP, in cooperation with the Government of Serbia and with the financial support of the Government of Switzerland. In the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2026, the Programme will implement activities through provision of technical assistance, capacity building and grant support for projects, which will be selected through competitive processes within public calls.