USAID Serbia and Montenegro
Opportunity Bank (Serbia) loans created 5,000+ new jobs and ensured 40,000+ existing jobs were kept. Only lender for vulnerable people who have little access to credit. | Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (Serbia): Civil Society activities have brought together 14 major companies and an array of NGOs to establish culture of CSR. | Preparedness Planning (Serbia): USAID works with all levels of government to improve disaster risk reduction, trained 675 responders from 50 Municipalities on disaster management. | Civil Society Grants (Serbia): USAID assisted 160 Civil Society organizations with $5.2 million in 2.5yrs to better represent the needs of ordinary people & become more influential partners with businesses and government in the democratic process. | Media (Serbia): USAID media assistance has contributed to more independent, professional and financially viable media outlets and media associations. The regulatory environment now better supports the development of e-media; 2,000+ media professionals trained. | Court Reform (Serbia): U.S. assistance helped increase independence and the professional skills of judges, magistrates and prosecutors; provided legal assistance to victims of war crimes and human rights abuses. | Local governments (Serbia): Through work with a wide geographic spread of municipalities, local governments are now more responsive: 30+ Citizen Assistance Centers, E-government in 80+ Municipalities. | Youth (Serbia): Junior Achievement in 90 schools in 2009. USAID supports efforts of the Ministry of Youth/Sports to better prepare youth for post-graduation work opportunities. | Agribusiness (Serbia): Serbian companies assisted made $16.7m in registered sales in 2008. Recent trade shows expected to bring over $17m in contracts. | Local Economic growth (Serbia): Municipalities in USAID’s Municipal Economic Growth Activity attracted over 800m Euro in investments and created over 11,000 jobs in two years by becoming more business friendly; 270 new businesses opened; 26 Local Economic Development offices set up to actively attract investments. | Commercial Courts (Serbia) have become more efficient and transparent with Case Management Systems in all 16 courts and the High Commercial Court. Case backlogs cut drastically. | Compete Project (Serbia): Helping to bring Serbian companies back into world market – leading directly to $20.5m in 2008 exports. Helping to introduce International Industry standards that allow companies to compete in the global marketplace. Attracted major film productions and millions in investments. | Support to companies (Serbia) in vulnerable areas increased their competitiveness. 2008 sales at trade/shows fairs for assisted companies up 42%. | Economic systems (Serbia): Helped introduce: VAT; private pensions; investment funds; sound insurance industry, bankruptcy and enforcement and modern payment systems. |
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    Media Assistance Program

    The $8 million, four year Serbia Media Assistance Program started in October 2008. It builds upon USAID’s previous media work, by providing support to the transition of Serbia’s media into a legally sound, economically viable sector that provides professional and independent news and information to citizens throughout Serbia. The program focuses particularly on building sustainability and professional skills of select local and regional broadcast media, and advocacy and monitoring skills of media support institutions, and encourages quality media coverage of reform and other issues of concern and interest.

    Project components include:

    • Strengthening the legal and regulatory environment for media, particularly the role of media support institutions and other organizations in ensuring fair, timely, and transparent implementation of media laws
    • Increasing the managerial and financial capacity of independent media outlets, particularly key local and regional radio and television stations
    • Enhancing the quality and availability of information important to citizens with a focus on news and program production at the local and regional levels and coverage of reform issues at the national level.

      The Program’s primary partners are local and regional broadcast media and media support institutions, though limited assistance will also be provided to local and regional print outlets, independent national outlets, as well as “new” web-based media.

      Expected results include:

      • More transparent, consistent and effective implementation of the legal and regulatory framework for media, which leads to a more stable and predictable media environment
      • Media support organizations improve their capacities to build coalitions with stakeholders, advocate for the media sector and advance the public interest
      • Local and regional radio and television stations enhance their management and financial capacity, increase their sustainability and serve the interests of local and regional audiences
      • Media outlets improve media content by increasing coverage of issues of interest and concern to citizens in their communities, including minorities

        The Serbia Media Assistance Program is also supporting Serbia in converting to digital dissemination standards, and specifically local media outlets in adapting to the new digital environment.

        USAID Serbian Media Assistance Program is implemented by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) (www.irex.org; Serbian office: www.irex.rs).