Serbia
| Embassy | |
| Mission / Delegation / Permanent Representation | |
| Consulate general | |
| Honorary representation | |
| Cooperation office | |
| Contribution Office | |
| Embassy with Cooperation Office | |
| Embassy with Regional consular center | |
| Swiss Business Hub | |
| Swissnex | |
| City | |
| Capital | |
| Disputed border | |
| River | |
| Lake |
The collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s severely affected Serbia’s economy and infrastructure. The country has made considerable progress since then, however. In 2014, negotiations on membership with the EU began, many promising reforms for public administration and the economy were decided, and unemployment began to fall. Nevertheless, major challenges remain to ensure prosperity for all. Many people are living in poverty, and unemployment is high, especially in rural areas. The economy is growing only slowly and the EU accession negotiations are also only advancing at a slow pace.
Swiss Bilateral ODA |
2018 |
2019 |
2020* |
|---|---|---|---|
mill. CHF |
mill. CHF |
mill. CHF |
|
| Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) | |||
| Cooperation with Eastern Europe and CIS | 13.59 | 11.29 | 14.00 |
| Humanitarian aid | 0.05 | – | – |
| State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) | |||
| Economic Cooperation and Development | 7.38 | 7.46 | 12.52 |
| Human Security Division (HSD) | |||
| Conflict transformation and human rights | – | – | – |
| Total SDC/SECO/HSD | 21.02 | 18.75 | 26.52 |
| Other Federal Offices | |||
| Other FDFA Divisions (ASAF, AIO, aso) | 0.12 | 0.06 | .. |
| Network of FDFA representations abroad | 1.81 | 1.85 | .. |
| State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) | 0.64 | 0.32 | .. |
| State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) | 0.10 | 0.06 | .. |
| Total other Federal Offices | 2.67 | 2.29 | – |
| Cantons and municipalities | 0.23 | .. | .. |
| Total | 23.92 | 21.04 | 26.52 |
Swiss government spending for development and cooperation for the current year and the past two years, broken down by institution.
* planned; total based on available data
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Democratic governance
Switzerland is supporting Serbia in the process of decentralisation. It is helping to make local administrations and governments transparent and efficient to enable them to provide high-quality services in line with the needs of the population as a whole and those of the private sector. Citizens, municipalities and civil society organisations are being helped to ensure that the interests and needs of all are taken into account at both local and national levels and that government is made accountable.
Economic development and employment
Switzerland is working in Serbia to promote sustainable economic growth. To achieve this, the framework conditions for Serbian companies are being improved to give them easier access to foreign markets and financing opportunities. In addition, Switzerland is promoting increased innovation and entrepreneurship to increase their competitiveness. It is facilitating the development of an efficient and effective finance administration that is both transparent and accountable. In order to reduce the high level of unemployment, market-oriented vocational training is being expanded, especially for young people and disadvantaged groups
Sustainable energy management and urban development
Improved energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy sources not only contribute to lower CO2 emissions but also help meet the conditions for EU membership. Switzerland is supporting Serbia with innovative projects to further promote renewable energies, such as biomass and geothermal sources, thus reducing CO2 emissions. More efficient energy use is being achieved through rehabilitating district heating systems and renovating public buildings. Long-term energy planning and improvements to the administration of urban infrastructure is also expected to enable cities and municipalities to be better prepared for possible threats.
Migration
The aim of the migration partnership concluded between Switzerland and Serbia in 2009 is to address together the challenges of migration and exploit the economic and social potential to their mutual advantage. Various measures to achieve this are being supported, such as the reintegration of returnees and the prevention of irregular migration
Approaches and partners
Switzerland is coordinating its transition cooperation closely with local authorities, other donor countries and international organisations such as the EU, UN and the international financial institutions. All programmes of the SDC and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) integrate the principles of good governance and gender equality.
Important partners for Switzerland in Serbia:
- Ministries, city and municipal authorities, national-level local authority associations
- Swiss and local NGOs.
- Bilateral and multilateral partners: the EU, Germany, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), UNDP, UNICEF, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), KfW Group (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau).
Links
Documents
Current projects
Selection
Strengthening regional cooperation on migration in the Western Balkans
01.06.2025
- 31.12.2027
In light of diversifying migration patterns and challenges with increasing regional dimensions, the migration policy priorities of Western Balkan governments are changing and the relevance of regional dialogue, coordination and cooperation is growing. This proposal seeks to promote coherent and effective regional governance of migration in all its multifaceted dimensions contributing to greater social cohesion and regional integration in the Western Balkans.
Planned project
For an Active Civil Society -Together (ACT)
01.10.2023
- 30.09.2027
The programme supports higher participation of civil society and all citizens (men and women) in decision-making, particularly at the local level. Civil society organizations (CSOs) are strengthened to rebuild the links with citizens and increase their capacities in order to better reflect citizens’ needs. Civil society organizations will better cooperate with each other and establish partnerships with local authorities to address communities’ needs and improve public services to citizens.
From Education to Employment (E2E)
01.01.2020
- 31.12.2023
The E2E program supports direct labor market measures in 5 locations in Serbia, through Career Guidance and Counselling and an Opportunity Fund for companies and training providers targeting 12'000 young women and men, of whom 20% vulnerable. Based on Work Based Learning (WBL) that will generate a minimum of 625 decent jobs for young people, the program will contribute to the re-design of inclusive and innovative youth employment measures and policies.
Housing solutions for displaced persons
01.03.2019
- 31.12.2022
As a consequence of the war in the 1990s, over three million people were displaced both within and beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. Twenty-five years after the Dayton Accords, the Western Balkans are still host to almost half a million vulnerable persons displaced by conflict in the former Yugoslavia. The Regional Housing Programme (RHP) aims to provide durable housing solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons in need.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Western Balkans |
Migration
Forced displacement (refugees, IDP, human trafficking)
|
01.03.2019 - 31.12.2022 |
CHF 1'555'000 |
Coordination and society-wide dialogue on implementing the 2030 Agenda in Serbia - SDGs for all
01.03.2019
- 31.07.2022
The project is a contribution to support an innovative society-wide dialogue on the priorities of Agenda 2030, which leads to citizen-oriented and inclusive policies that contribute to sustainable development. Civil society is supported to influence development priorities through multi-stakeholder platforms, the Government is strengthened to better coordinate and finance Agenda 2030 implementation and the quality and availability of data for Agenda 2030 implementation is improved.
Policy advice for efficient VET reform in Serbia
01.01.2019
- 31.12.2021
Through this policy support to the Serbian Ministry of Education, governance mechanism of the new VET law will be put in place in a transparent and inclusive manner. State capacities will be able to evaluate the VET system. By increasing the outreach, the new system will be more need-based and available to all. All this will contribute to increased employment options for VET graduates. Partners are the Center for Education Policy (Serbian NGO) and the Swiss KOF.
Institutional Support to Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities
01.10.2018
- 30.09.2022
SDC is providing an institutional contribution to the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SCTM) to lead policy dialogue, advocacy and represent interests of local governments (LGs) before the central government in policy and law making. SCTM will promote decentralisation in Serbia together with the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self Government, and support its member LGs to implement adopted laws and pursue reforms, ultimately bringing benefits to all citizens, men and women, in all sectors governed by LG.
Policy advice for efficient VET reform in Serbia
01.06.2018
- 31.12.2021
Through this policy support to the Serbian Ministry of Education, governance mechanism of the new VET law will be put in place in a transparent and inclusive manner. State capacities will be able to evaluate the VET system. By increasing the outreach, the new system will be more need-based and available to all. All this will contribute to increased employment options for VET graduates. Partners are the Center for Education Policy (Serbian NGO) and the Swiss KOF.
Support to strengthening Social Inclusion in Serbia
01.01.2018
- 31.12.2021
The programme is a contribution to improve the design, coordination and implementation of social inclusion policies of the Government of Serbia within the mandate of the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit (SIPRU), which is affiliated to the Prime Minister’s Office. The quality and the capacities for implementation of the required social reforms, in the Europan integration process, will be improved and state institutions at national and local level will be able to better respond to the needs of vulnerable citizens.
Capacity building for Serbian municipalities
01.01.2018
- 30.06.2022
Switzerland is supporting the Serbian government’s public administration reform, which aims to make it more effective and accessible to both citizens and the private sector. SwissPRO project is being run in 99 municipalities (two-thirds of Serbia) to improve good governance, social inclusion and gender equality.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Serbia |
Governance Human rights Gender
Decentralisation
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
Women’s equality organisations and institutions
|
01.01.2018 - 30.06.2022 |
CHF 7'990'000 |
Municipal Economic Development in Eastern Serbia
01.05.2017
- 31.07.2021
The Project will scale up successful experience of property tax collection to 1/3 of Serbian municipalities. The municipalities will be able to increase own revenue and use it to fund services and communal intrastructures for citizens and businesses. lmproved taxation will also lead to a better interaction between citizens and local governments on investment priorities. Policy dialogue will work on simplifying local government tax laws and making them fairer and more transparent.
Private and public actors working together: pilot education project in Serbia
01.10.2014
- 31.07.2022
The economic crisis weakened Serbia's competitiveness. Youth unemployment is relatively high and a large number of young Serbians are looking for work but employers cannot find qualified workers. An SDC project is taking an integrative approach to address both problems.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Serbia |
Employment & economic development
SME development
Employment creation
|
01.10.2014 - 31.07.2022 |
CHF 5'530'000 |