Belgrade – On Tuesday, June 9, during a reception at the Ambassador's residence, Ambassador Michael D. Kirby and United States Agency for International Development Mission Director Azza El-Abd recognized nine new partner organizations, from the civil society and private sector, that have been awarded direct grants by USAID.  

The new partner organizations are:  Serbian Association of Managers / DNA Communications Consortium; the Women Education Center; the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence; the Center for Free Elections and Democracy; the National Coalition for Decentralization; the Center for Research, Transparency, and Accountability; the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation; Smart Kolektiv; and the Trag Foundation. 

The total value of the new activities under these partnerships is about $3.7 million, of which USAID provided $2.7 million, while partner organizations contributed nearly $987,000 to project goals.

“These partnerships put the local organizations that are closest to the problems – and solutions – in the driver’s seat.  In this way, USAID’s funding can achieve even greater and more sustainable results,” said Ambassador Kirby. 

Since 2013, USAID has provided $9 million in direct awards to eighteen Serbian government institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector.  Through this approach to development – putting local organizations in charge through direct funding – the U.S. government shows its confidence in the ability of these organizations to manage U.S. government funds effectively.

“The new partnerships cover a wide variety of areas.  They seek to improve civil society sustainability, to improve government representation and accountability, to help Serbians acclimate to the changing economic landscape, to empower youth, and to increase women’s roles in government,” said El-Abd.   

USAID is currently accepting applications from additional NGOs to support democratic and economic development.  The open call for proposals is available at:  www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=275704.