1. Milena Isakovic, Programme Officer for Equitable Growth, UNDP Serbia 11/29/20151

2.  Strong regional and rural-urban inequalities, depopulation  75% of rural population is engaged in subsistence agriculture 11/29/20152  55% of population in Serbia lives in rural areas  85% of the territory is rural  135,000 women as helping household members - unpaid  Objective: diversification of rural non-farm economy and improvement of living conditions in rural areas

3.  UNDP Serbia is supporting several projects related to rural development: ◦ Strengthening Rural Social Capital & Networks ◦ Joint Programme on Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development ◦ Joint Programme on Youth Employment and Migration ◦ PRO and MIR2 11/29/20153

4.  Supported by the Government of Romania, ending in December 2009  Target municipalities: Zitiste, Coka, Mali Idjos, Alibunar & Irig  Trainings in the LEADER approach, project cycle management, project development, financial planning ◦ Including mentoring support & homework assignments  First steps in the establishment of Local Action Groups in Serbia 11/29/20154

5.  South Backa, Pcinjski & Belgrade  May 2009 – October 2011  Youth Employment Fund to offer: 1. Trainings 2. Work placements 3. Self-employment grants and mentoring ◦ Targeting youth with low levels of education ◦ Implemented in cooperation with the National Employment Service, Ministry of Economy & Regional Development, and ILO 11/29/20155

6.  Continued support through the Joint Programme on Sustainable Tourism for Rural Development ◦ Eastern Serbia (Stara planina), Lower Danube, Central Serbia and South Banat on the Danube ◦ Support for Local Action Groups (UNDP) ◦ National Masterplan for Rural Tourism, National Rural Development Programme ◦ Small grants for:  Diversification of Rural Economy through Tourism (FAO)  Tourism Development (UNWTO)  Active Learning competition (UNICEF) 11/29/20156

7.  Lessons learned from the (pre) accession process, LEADER and LAG operations  Partnership for local projects (CBC) 11/29/20157  Strengthening Rural Social Capital & Networks: http://www.undp.org.rs/index.cfm?event=public. ProjectsDetails&revid=B4BA335D-BBE0-3A18- 80F2B8F2C79E4095 http://www.undp.org.rs/index.cfm?event=public. ProjectsDetails&revid=B4BA335D-BBE0-3A18- 80F2B8F2C79E4095  PRO (South West Serbia): http://www.pro.undp.org.rs/ http://www.pro.undp.org.rs/  Milena Isakovic, milena.isakovic@undp.orgmilena.isakovic@undp.org