11.02.2010.
Today in Belgrade, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) signed grant agreements with civil society organizations (CSOs) in Serbia. This was the fourth public competition organized by USAID's multi-year $18.5 million Civil Society Advocacy Initiative Program designed to support the civil society sector in Serbia. At the ceremonial signing event in Belgrade, Mr. Michael Harvey, USAID Mission Director, and Mr. Albert Cevallos, ISC Chief of Party, addressed the audience in attendance.

USAID and ISC awarded grants in the amount of $636,000 to 16 civil society organizations which submitted the best project proposals designed to tackle civic problems. These 16 organizations were selected through an open call for applications for civil society organizations made public by ISC in August 2009. ISC identified three primary thematic categories of advocacy projects to support through the competition, including: 1) government accountability to citizens; 2) development of social and economic rights; and 3) environmental protection.

During the open call for applications, ISC received 194 applications, out of which, 29 semi-finalists were identified as having the best project ideas. During December, in Belgrade, these 29 CSOs received training in advocacy and communication strategies by leading experts in the field in order to fine-tune their project's advocacy initiatives. The 16 CSOs ultimately selected to receive funding are: Alternative Dispute Resolution Center, Incest Trauma Center, NGO Document, Serbia on the Move, Civic Library Pirgos, YUCOM Center, Zrenjanin Educational Center, Ethnicity Research Center, Citizen Association Sretenje, Women's Space, Center for Democracy Foundation, Ecological Association Heliks, Association of People with Disabilities Fenix, Bureau for Social Research, Association for the Development of Creativity, and Zlatibor Circle.

The overall goal of the Civil Society Advocacy Initiative Program is for Serbian civil society to play a constructive advocacy role in building a democratic, prosperous Serbia moving toward European integration. Since 2006, USAID and ISC have provided 199 grants in the total value of approximately 8 million dollars. Additionally, ISC's innovative training program has reached over 700 individuals from 180 civil society organizations in Serbia.

For more information about the signing ceremony or about USAID's Civil Society Advocacy Initiative program, please contact Srdjan Staletovic at 062 218200 or sstaletovic@iscserbia.org. For more information about USAID activities, please visit serbia.usaid.gov.