YOUR CITY – YOUR VOICE
Engaging Young People in Planning and Decision-Making for Community Development Young people in Serbia do not believe that they have a real influence on public policies and do not actively participate in decision-making within their communities. With the aim of making the needs of young people visible within the community, the Center for Democracy Foundation launched the project “Your City – Your Voice” (2025–2026). What is our goal? We seek to increase the participation of young people (aged 18–30) and local civil society organizations (CSOs) in local-level development planning processes and in the adoption of public policies relevant to youth….
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE
Contribution to the strengthening of participatory democracy, EU integration and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans The three-year regional project Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe (RYDE), aimed at increasing participation of young people in decision making process; improving understanding and cooperation in Western Balkans; and strengthening active support of citizens for reform and EU integration, was funded by the European Union and implemented by the Center for Democracy Foundation in cooperation with partner civil society organizations from the Western Balkans region. RYDE was implemented from January 2023 until January 2026 in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia and Serbia,…
Deep Stories
Unveiling deep stories and boosting emotional intelligence to empower citizens against disinformation (DEEP) We strengthen media literacy and emotional intelligence, helping young people recognize and resist emotionally charged disinformation The Center for Democracy Foundation, in cooperation with partner organizations from six European countries, with the support of the European Union, is implementing the project “Unveiling deep stories and boosting emotional intelligence to empower citizens against disinformation – DEEP”. Empowering young people in the fight against disinformation The DEEP project addresses the deeper emotional roots of disinformation. It is aimed at young people aged 18 to 25 in Bulgaria, Germany, Lithuania,…
Labour Rights and Decent Work in Socio Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White
Contributing to the greater participation of the citizenry in decision-making and the advancement of socio-economic and labour rights The Center for Democracy Foundation, with the support of the Olof Palme International Center, is currently implementing the project ‘Labour Rights and Decent Work in Socio-Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White’ throughout 2024, 2025 and 2026. The project aims to enhance citizen participation in decision-making processes and improve socio-economic and labour rights. Through this initiative, we seek to contribute to the Serbian EU accession process by promoting and monitoring reforms and by enhancing participative and inclusive dialogue in the policy making process that reflects citizens’ needs and priorities through…
MY IDEA, MY BUSINESS
Empowering Women in Southern Serbia for Entrepreneurship and Climate Resilience The Center for Democracy Foundation is implementing in 2025 and 2026 the project “My Idea, My Business: Project to Empower Women for Entrepreneurship and Climate Change Resilience in Southern Serbia.” We are committed to empowering women and civil society organizations in the Rasina District (Kruševac) and the Pirot District (Pirot) to start and manage their own businesses / social enterprises, as well as to strengthening women engaged in agriculture to build resilience to climate change. Local civil society organizations, Peščanik (Kruševac) and Ternipe (Pirot), act as our focal contact points…
PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature
Joint UN Programme 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 PRO Programme simultaneously provides support to a number of waste pickers affected by the modernisation of waste management systems in local government units participating in the Solid Waste Programme, co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the French Development Agency (AFD). The PRO Programme aims to strengthen the capacity of local…
Challenges for Organising and Collective Bargaining in Care, Administration and Waste collection sectors in Central Eastern European Countries – CEECAW
In November 2023, the Foundation started the implementation of a two-year project “Challenges for Organising and Collective Bargaining in Care, Administration and Waste collection sectors in Central Eastern European Countries (CEEC)” (CEECAW). The aim of the CEECAW project is to develop collective bargaining (CB) in three sectors (care, waste management, central public administration sectors) in the EU Central Eastern European countries (CEEC) and Serbia (an EU candidate country). The project aims at supporting trade unions (at sectoral and national levels) in the implementation of the goals indicated in Article 4 of the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive in EU. The CEECAW project aims to address the…
SDGs for All Platform
FCD CONTRIBUTION TO THE 2030 AGENDA / SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS The Center for Democracy Foundation is one of the partners on the Sustainable Development Goals for All platform project, collaborating alongside the Ana and Vlada Divac Foundation and working to spread knowledge, the inclusion of all key actors, proposing priorities and policies concerning a few of the core goals of sustainable development: Goal 1 – No Poverty, Goal 2 – Zero Hunger, Goal 3 – Good health and Well-being, Goal 4 – Quality Education, Goal 5 – Gender Equality. The SDGs for All platform project was launched at the beginning of March with an official presentation during which…
Promotion of Due Diligence in the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (HREDD)
Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS) In 2023 and 2024, the Center for Democracy Foundation, as part of the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS) project has been implementing a series of dialogues on the topic of improving human rights due diligence within supply chains, responsible business practices, complaint mechanisms, as well as preparation of a study on the role of trade unions and CSOs in an in-depth analysis of human rights in Serbia. The objective of the project is the promotion of due diligence in the protection of human rights and the environment in global supply chains (Human rights and environmental due diligence –…
Politeia Knowledge Hub for Active Youth
In October 2024, the Center for Democracy Foundation launched a ten-months project titled “Politeia Knowledge Hub for Active Youth”, with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade – Public Diplomacy Section. Research indicates that young people in Serbia are insufficiently engaged in political and social processes, as well as in civic initiatives and activities. The main issues identified by youth in Serbia include education, employment, mental health, quality of life, housing conditions, values, intolerance, and insufficient freedoms. However, although young people feel that their voices should be heard, nearly a third of youth in Serbia are unwilling to participate in decision-making…
Mentoring and Monitoring for Real Impact
Promoting gender equality in Serbia by empowering women’s organisations to respond to key gender challenges in society In 2023, the CDF with the support of German Cooperation in Serbia is implementing the Mentoring and Monitoring for Real Impact project with the aim of promoting gender equality in Serbia by empowering women’s organisations to respond to key gender challenges in society. We contribute to the promotion of social inclusion in Serbia – improving the provision of social services for women and marginalised groups, economic empowerment of women, anti-discrimination and intersectionality, especially in the domains of unpaid work, gender-based violence, the position of women on the…
„Extending Social Protection to families in Serbia with enhanced shock-responsiveness“
Joint United Nations Program The Center for Democracy Foundation in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted activities within the Joint United Nations Program „Extending Social Protection to families in Serbia with enhanced shock-responsiveness“ through 12 focus groups with members of the most vulnerable groups in Niš, Leskovac, Požega, Užice, Zaječar, Knjaževac. The documents „The Impact of the Global Crisis on Vulnerable Groups – Findings from the Focus Group Discussions“ by Sarita Bradaš and the analysis of „Poverty Projections for Older Persons – The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis on the poverty of older persons in the Republic of…
