USAID/Serbia engaged in a consultative, analytical, and deliberative strategic planning process over the past 12 months. The Mission is updating its gender and bio-diversity assessments, completed a rapid appraisal, and launched risk assessments of select local agencies that may be directly funded. During the past year, a number of project performance evaluations were conducted and their findings have been used to inform the development of the new strategy. On May 30, 2012, the Phase I initial consultation Digital Video Conference (DVC) meeting set the basic parameters for the abbreviated CDCS. It was followed in September by a CDCS workshop that further advanced the development of the results framework. Subsequent sector consultations with stakeholders, counterparts, and other donors were convened, including senior-level consultations with other donor agencies and Government of Serbia counterparts led by the USAID Mission Director. USAID staff developed a first draft of the results framework in November, which was discussed in a DVC on December 17, 2012. The comments and recommendations emanating from the DVC have been taken into account in this abbreviated CDCS.

The U.S. government’s long-term objective in Serbia is a democratic and prosperous Serbia that is a full member of the Euro-Atlantic community. Since 2001, USAID’s efforts have been based primarily on the political goal of increasing regional stability in the Balkans by assisting Serbia to integrate into Euro-Atlantic institutions. Conforming to the goals of the EUR/E&E Joint Regional Strategy, in particular Goal 6 “Balkans Fully Integrated into Euro-Atlantic Institutions,” USAID contributes to U.S. government objectives in Serbia and in the greater Balkans region. Its targeted assistance programs will help Serbia carry out the reforms needed to expand its economy and to strengthen the accountability and responsiveness of key institutions and thereby assist the country in meeting the requirements for membership in the EU and other Euro-Atlantic organizations.