When the first initiatives within the PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature programme were launched two years ago, it was clear that its impact would be far-reaching. This ambitious programme, jointly implemented by United Nations agencies – UNOPS, UNFPA, UNICEF, and UNEP – in partnership with the Government of Serbia and with the support of the Swiss government, has become a key driver of change in 110 cities and municipalities across the country. Aiming to improve local governance, enhance social inclusion, and strengthen environmental protection, the programme delivers concrete results in the lives of citizens, especially those who have been on the margins of society for years.
One of the most important activities of the PRO programme is focused on the economic empowerment of informal waste collectors – people whose work contributes the most to the recycling industry in the country, yet who face precarious living and working conditions. Through a combined support strategy, PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature provides them not only with more stable sources of income but also better access to rights and services.
Better conditions for informal waste collectors
For many collectors, the closure of landfills as part of the Solid Waste Programme implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection posed a threat to their only source of income. However, a solution was found through the synergy of this programme and the PRO programme. Informal waste collectors are given the opportunity to integrate into formal employment streams, either through retraining and employment in other sectors or by establishing recycling cooperatives and social enterprises.
– In line with Environmental Protection and Social Policies, we have identified families directly affected by these changes and created a support plan for them. Our mission is not to leave them without a source of income but to provide them with a sustainable economic future – says Ana Nedeljković Belja, PRO Programme Manager.
Beyond economic support, the programme also addresses broader aspects of social inclusion. In ten local self-governments, Local Coordination Mechanisms have been established – working bodies that bring together social welfare centers, health centers, schools, municipal enterprises, and civil society organizations to ensure better access to education, healthcare, and social services for waste collectors. Additionally, each family involved in the programme is assigned a family assistant – a person who guides them through the process of formalization and social integration.
– We do not just want to provide short-term assistance but to establish systemic foundations for their long-term economic stability and social inclusion. Only in this way can we talk about sustainable change – adds Belja.
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Measurable impact for a sustainable future
The PRO programme delivers tangible and measurable results by systematically monitoring changes in the living conditions of beneficiaries. Each family in the priority group undergoes a detailed assessment, including an analysis of income, sources of livelihood, and key challenges. Based on these findings, Individual Family Support Plans are developed with clearly defined measures and goals.
The progress of beneficiaries is tracked through data comparison, measuring income growth, economic opportunities, and access to social protection, education, and healthcare. Additionally, access to public services is analyzed, focusing on integrating families into the social protection system, school enrolment of children, and access to healthcare for waste collectors. Finally, progress is monitored through labor market integration, recording the number of individuals who have undergone training and secured sustainable sources of income.
The programme’s success is not measured solely by the number of beneficiaries but by fundamental changes in their lives – more stable incomes, better access to social services, and increased social inclusion. PRO does not merely provide immediate assistance but lays sustainable foundations for a better future for vulnerable groups in Serbia.
Plans for programme expansion
The PRO programme was designed from the outset to address the needs of the most vulnerable social groups, with social inclusion as one of its key pillars. It already includes people with disabilities, the Roma community, and other at-risk categories defined by the Law on Social Protection. The example of support for informal waste collectors demonstrates how the programme flexibly responds to new challenges, recognizing the specific needs of marginalized groups. With this expansion, not only have the economic and social issues of waste collectors been addressed, but a support model has been established that could, in the future, be applied to other communities across Serbia.
The unique PRO programme serves as an example of a systemic approach to reducing poverty and social exclusion. Continuous monitoring and adaptation of measures ensure long-term support for beneficiaries, while the programme’s flexibility allows it to expand to new vulnerable groups. In this way, PRO transforms individual lives and contributes to building a more inclusive society.
Prepared by Milena Maglovski
The story was published in the Energy portal Magazine CIRCULAR ECONOMY
