Our Stories
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With the fall of communism in the late 1980s, the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia unraveled along ethnic lines to form five independent republics. This led to a decade of war characterized by territorial conflict, power struggles and ethnic cleansing. Large populations of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) can be found in the midst of a region seeking to rebuild its economy.
IRD in Serbia: IRD has been working in Serbia since 1999. In particular, IRD is currently focusing on local economic development in western Serbia, offering the community the opportunity to improve the economy by working with both the private and public sector. Projects focus on enhancing competitiveness, increasing growth, and empowering the citizens to become more involved with local government functions - including planning, infrastructure development, real estate and finance - to improve living standards and retain jobs.
Other program areas include:
- Democracy, Grassroots, and Coalition Building — Mobilizing communities to identify, prioritize and contribute to rebuilding and restoring their villages and towns; creating and empowering representative Municipal Advisory Councils and Action Committees to support and promote citizen participation, ensure proper distribution of humanitarian aid and identify future development activities thus helping to solve critical issues;
- NGO Capacity Building — Providing grants and training to develop local NGO capacity in supporting democracy and implementing community development programs;
- Repatriation and Reintegration — Providing direct assistance to IDPs and refugees through information dissemination, capital inputs and income generation opportunities;
- Emergency Survival Aid — Distributing food parcels, clothing, hygiene kits, blankets, medical supplies, school kits, tools and seeds to refugees, IDPs and local vulnerable populations; and
- Health Care — Rebuilding medical facilities and distributing medical supplies.
Currently, IRD is working with the U.S. Department of State to reconstruct the Belgrade Youth Center. Reconstruction includes the rehabilitation of the multi-purpose “Pogon” hall - which is the heart of the Youth Center - and specifically the stage, the snack buffet area, a VIP gallery, and the installation of air conditioning and noise isolation material. The remainder of the funds will be used for the reconstruction of the front facades (corner of Makedonska and Decanska streets), the summer terrace and the main entrance area (“Public Square”).
Programs
- Community Revitalization through Democratic Action (CRDA)
- Rebuilding a Belgrade Cultural Landmark
- Serbia Agribusiness Project (SAP)
Stories
- - U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Visits the Reconstruction of the Belgrade Youth Center
- - IRD Serbia Promotes Family Planning and Reproductive Health Video Produced by Teens
- - IRD Hosts Serbian Business Delegation During Visit to the United States
- - Former Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Discusses Current Balkan Issues with IRD Staff
Contact
Sandra Jelesijevic
Chief of Party
Belgrade Office:
Mazuraniceva 32
Belgrade, 11000
Serbia
Phone: +381-11-2850-385
Fax: +381-11-2850-451
E-mail: info@ird-bg.org.yu
