March 5, 2009 – Fourth National Conference on Poverty Reduction in Serbia
The Fourth National Conference on Poverty Reduction in Serbia was held on March 5, 2009 in Belgrade . The Conference was organized by the Government of Serbia and the Deputy Prime Minister's Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Focal Point. Deputy Prime Minister Đelić presented the latest data on poverty trends in Serbia in 2008, line ministries presented their achievements and announced the forthcoming steps relating to poverty reduction and social inclusion in Serbia. In addition to the representatives of line ministries, the Conference was attended by the representatives of the National Assembly, local authorities, non-government organizations, labor unions, employers and international donors.
Head of the World Bank to Serbia, Simon Gray awarded the Deputy Prime Minister’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Focal Point (DPM PRS IFP) and the Republic Statistical Office with the annual award for Improving the Lives of People in Europe and Central Asia.
At the introductory session of the Conference, the participants were addressed by Mr. Božidar Đelić, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integrations; Mr. Rasim Ljajić, Minister of Labor and Social Policy; Mr. Alberto Cammarata, Head of the European Integration Section, Delegation of the EC to the Republic of Serbia; Mr. Paul Wafer, Head of Department for International Development (DfID) for Serbia; Ms. Snežana Stojanović Plavšić, Chair of the Poverty Reduction Committee of the National Assembly; Ms. Bobana Macanović, Autonomous Women’s Center, Civil Society Focal Point for Women issues; Мr. Simon Gray, Head of the World Bank Office for Serbia; Mr. Dragan Vukmirović, Director of the Republic Statistical Office and Ms. Gordana Matković, Minister of Social Affairs in the Government of Mr. Zoran Đinđić.
Although the overall goal defined in the PRS to reduce by half the number of poor population in Serbia by 2010 has been achieved, the complex poverty reduction process is far from finalized. It is vital to further promote current and develop new measures and policies in the field of poverty reduction and social inclusion. On its path of European Integrations, Serbia is expected to adapt the quality of life of its citizens, in particular vulnerable population, to European Union standards. Furthermore, we are facing the impact of the global financial crisis which shall have repercussions on accelerated economic development and slow down the realization of envisaged measures in almost all areas. It is necessary, more than ever before, to define our development priorities, in particular in the areas affecting the life of the most vulnerable population of Serbia.
29th November, 2007 - Third National Conference on Poverty Reduction
Third National Conference on Poverty Reduction in Serbia was held on November 29, 2007 in Belgrade . The Conference was organized by the Government of Serbia and the Deputy Prime Minister's Poverty Reduction Strategy Implementation Focal Point.
The Conference underlined the priorities of the Government in the areas of social welfare and health care, social housing, education, increased employment opportunities, agriculture and rural development, whose realization should contribute to poverty reduction in Serbia. Representatives of line ministries presented the most successful activities which have contributed to poverty reduction, including the systems for monitoring and coordination within institutions and the most challenging issues in the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).
Preliminary data on poverty in Serbia 2007 were presented at the Conference. Poverty was analyzed based on the results obtained through the Living Standards Measurement Survey conducted by the Republic Statistical Office in May 2007. The representative sample included 5,558 households. The absolute poverty line 2007 in Serbia amounts to RSD 8,883 per consumer unit/month. The consumption of 6.6% Serbian population is below the said minimum in 2007 and/or 490,000 Serbian citizens is poor.
The Conference gathered representatives of line ministries, National Assembly, local authorities, non-government organizations and international donors, labor unions and employers. It was the first time that the Conference had involved the guests from the region: Bosnia and Herzegovina , Slovenia and Hungary .
The opening session of the Conference included Svetlana Stanic, Director of Social Work Center of Kraljevo; Bozidar Djelic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia; Pierre Mirel, Director of the Directorate C of the European Commission DG Enlargement; Stephen Wordsworth, H.Е. Ambassador of Great Britain in Serbia; Simon Gray, Head of the World Bank Office for Serbia; Lance Clark , UN Resident Coordinator and Fintan Farrell , Director of the European Anti Poverty Network .
Special attention was directed at defining recommendations pertaining to all the PRS-related areas, so that the poverty reduction process follows the right direction and all the participants may experience improvements in the approach, quality, quantity and variety of services. The conference participants emphasized the following challenges and recommendations within the working groups, aiming at a more effective implementation of the PRS.
12th July, 2006 - Poverty Reduction Conference of the Government was held
The Poverty Reduction Conference of the Government of the Republic of Serbia was held on July 12, 2006 in Belgrade. The Conference gathered line ministries representatives who represented plans for 2007 in regard to the implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). Ivana Dulić Marković, Deputy Prime Minitster, Goran Živkov, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Predrag Bubalo, Minister of Economy, took part in the Conference, аs well as representatives of other Government ministries that are of vital importance for the implementation of recommendations and policies set out in the Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Conference also represented an opportunity for looking into means for a most efficient implementation of PRS recommendations and line ministries' plans at the local level.
Presentations held at the Conference may be downloaded here.
14th December, 2005 - Great Britain support to Serbia for the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy
The Memorandum of Understanding regarding the assistance of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Government of Serbia to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy was signed by Miroljub Labus, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and David Gowan, UK Ambassador in SCG, on December 14, 2005 in the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
With this Memorandum the Government of the United Kingdom will donate the Government of Serbia with EUR 3.4 million in order to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. The resources will enable the building of a wide ownership of ministries and other institutions of the Government of Serbia, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, NGOs, local authorities, business sector and trade unions regarding the implementation of the Strategy. The aim of this support is to have PRS-set measures integrated in the regular planning processes by the end of 2008, to have them included in the Budget and also implemented by the Government of Serbia and other partners taking part in the PRS implementation.
6th October 2005 - The First Progress Report on the PRS Implementation in Serbia adopted
The Government of Serbia adopted The First Report on the PRS Implementation in Serbia, which provides an overview of measures envisaged by the PRSp that have been realized so far.
February 22, 2005 – Conference on Poverty Reduction in Serbia , Plandište
The Conference on Poverty Reduction in Serbia was held on February 22, 2005 in Plandište. The Conference gathered public administration representatives (from the republic to local level), social partners, international development partners, the National Assembly and NGO representatives. The results of the Living Standard Measurement Survey in Serbia for 2003 were presented at the Conference. Drawing attention to poverty reduction as one of the main strategic priorities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the goal of the Conference was to point to the current poverty status, recent and future steps towards improving the living standards, in line with the recommendations defined in the Poverty Reduction Strategy in Serbia(PRS).
February 17, 2005 – The Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the decision on the obligation to implement the PRS
In its decision adopted on February 17, 2005, The Government of the Republic of Serbia reiterated its commitment as to the implementation of the PRS, and the DPM was tasked to regularly inform the Government on the PRS implementation and coordination, in cooperation with the PRS Implementation Focal Point and the Working Group for Poverty Measurement.
September 2004 – The Deputy Prime Minister's PRS Implementation Focal Point established
In September 2004, the PRS Implementation Focal Point was established within the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, which took on the commitment to oversee and coordinate the process of PRS implementation. In pursuing the goals, the PRS relies on the already initiated economic, social and political reforms, and identifies measures and activities which refer to poverty reduction in particular.
October 16, 2003 – The Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the PRS
The Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Poverty Reduction Strategy paper for Serbia at the session held on October 16, 2003. In this way the one-year-long process of the preparation of the overall development document was finalized, which represents an integral part of the social development strategy and deals with suppressing the causes, and not only the consequences of poverty.
May 26, 2003 – The Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Draft Poverty Reduction Strategy
The Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Draft Poverty Reduction Strategy on May 26, 2003, which integrated the existing sector reform strategies and defined the poverty reduction priorities.
December 18, 2002 – “The Profile of Poverty in Serbia” Conference, Belgrade
”The Profile of Poverty in Serbia” Conference was organized in order to mark the beginning of the PRS preparation, and the leading role in the PRS preparation process was given to the Ministry of Social Affairs. The Living Standards Measurement Survey was presented at the Conference, conducted with the sample of 6886 households (the biggest and most thorough survey conducted so far in Serbia ). The survey indicated that the minimal consumer basket for a four-member household amounted to CSD 7,605, that the defined poverty line was CSD 4,489 and that the average consumption of the poor population amounted to CSD 3,539 (ie. the average lacking resources being CSD 950).
Partners in PRS Implementation 
