Helping people in Serbia | ASB Foreign Aid
The ASB started operations in Serbia in 1999 and has since used more than € 40 million in EU, German and private donations. The funds have helped 70,000 people in 80 municipalities, (re-)built 1,200 homes and provided economic support to more than 2,000 families. In its work in Serbia, the ASB carries out relief, reconstruction and development projects as well as projects on social inclusion. It combines the four areas in a holistic approach to help those who need help most. In addition, the ASB has been supporting its partner organisation IDC (Initiative for Development and Cooperation) in a financial and organisational manner for more than 10 years within the framework of the International Samaritan Cooperation. In doing so, the ASB contributes to strengthening independent civil society.
Serbia Projects | Overview
These are the ASB Foreign Aid projects in Serbia:
Reintegration support for returnees
Aid in health centres
Aid for disadvantaged families and groups
Strengthening the Roma population
Education about COVID-19 vaccines
Aid for poverty and social exclusion
Strengthening regional networks
The ASB assists in the reconstruction
Aid in transit
Supporting migrants
Action in the refugee crisis
Getting through the winter with the ASB
Serbia Projects | Details
Strengthening the Roma population
The ASB works to support the social integration of Roma people, returnees within the framework of readmission agreements and other difficult to place groups of people, and strengthen the Roma population at an economic level.
Project title: Social integration and economic empowerment of the Roma population in Serbia
Project region: 11 municipalities in Serbia
Project volume: € 500,000
Project financing: Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (Credit Institute for Reconstruction – KfW) / Federal Ministry for Cooperation (BMZ)
Project duration: 2019-2022
Strengthening regional networks
The ASB and its local partners have established the IRIS network, which is the only network in the Western Balkans connecting small local organisations and social service providers. The ASB offers training courses for the representatives of NGOs, mentoring and also financially supporting them. In this way, the ASB helps with the development of municipalities and helps them with social policy and integration issues.
Project title: IRIS NETWORKing – Development and strengthening of a regional network of local civil society and social service providers (several phases)
Project region: Western Balkans
Project volume: 822.000 euros (current phase), 3.620.000 euros (total)
Project financing: European Commission
Project duration: 2012-2026
Find out more about the project
Reintegration support for returnees
The ASB is working in central and southern Serbia on supporting the reintegration of returnees from EU countries and local vulnerable populations.
Project title: RE!NTEGRATE – Support for sustainable (re-)integration of returnees in Serbia (phases 1 and 2)
Project region: Central and southern Serbia
Project volume: € 3,448,487.01
Project financing: ASB, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); local municipalities in Serbia
Project duration: 2019-2021 (phase I) and 2022-2025 (phase II)
Aid in health centres
The ASB is supporting health centres in seven cities in Serbia in the fight against COVID-19.
Project title: Strengthening the resilience of local health centres in the Western Balkans against the consequences of COVID-19
Project region: Serbia
Project volume: € 85,500
Project financing: Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH)
Project duration: 2022
Aid for disadvantaged families and groups
The ASB assists socially and economically disadvantaged families and particularly vulnerable groups, such as Roma, in rural areas of Serbia and supports local social service providers.
Project title: More social benefits through economic growth: socio-economic support to vulnerable families and local social service providers in Serbia (several phases)
Project region: Serbia
Project volume: € 602,789
Project financing: Federal Foreign Office, local municipalities in Serbia
Project duration: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Education about COVID-19 vaccines
The ASB is raising awareness among the general Serbian public about the COVID-19 vaccinations. To this end, the ASB organised meetings that brought municipalities and health workers together. During the meetings, discussions took place on how young people and the Roma community can be better informed about vaccinations.
Project title: COVID-19 vaccination
Project region: The Municipalities of Ub, Žabari, Ćićevac and Varvarin, Serbia
Project volume: € 19,129.16
Project financing: World Health Organization (WHO) / USAID
Project duration: 2022
Aid for poverty and social exclusion
The ASB is working in Pirot, Serbia on supporting men women as well as children and young people affected by poverty and social exclusion. In particular, the ASB provides assistance to the most vulnerable young people leaving the social care system and the Roma population.
Project title: Social housing and active integration in Pirot
Project region: Pirot, Serbia
Project volume: € 45,000
Project financing: European Commission/UNOPS, City of Pirot
Project duration: 2022-2023
The ASB assists in the reconstruction
The ASB supported families in Serbia affected by the 2014 floods in Valjevo, Osecina, Ljubovija, Mali Zvornik, Bajina Basta, Sid, Loznica, Sabac and Obrenovac.
Project title: Rebuilding housing, economic recovery and continued support to the families in Serbia affected by the flood
Project region: Serbia
Project volume: € 6,342,000
Project financing: European Commission
Project duration: 2014-2017
Go to information report (in German)
Aid in transit
The ASB assists Syrian and other refugees in transit through Serbia, North Macedonia and Greece.
Project title: Supporting Syrian and other refugees in camps and in transit in Serbia, North Macedonia and Greece
Project region: Balkan route and camps in Serbia
Project volume: € 3,000,541.46
Project financing: Federal Foreign Office
Project duration: 2015-2018
Go to information report (in German)
Go to the report on ASB Federal Chairman Knut Fleckenstein’s visit (in German)
Supporting migrants
The ASB helps migrants, including asylum seekers in third countries, on their way through Macedonia and Serbia. It supports local civil society organisations that help migrants by building capacities and raises public awareness of the protection of human rights.
Project title: Assistance on the route – promotion of the protection of the human rights of migrants in transit through Macedonia and Serbia
Project region: Serbia, North Macedonia
Project volume: € 693,058.35
Project financing: European Commission
Project duration: 2016-2018
Action in the refugee crisis
The ASB assisted in organising and managing the reception centre in Dimitrovgrad at the beginning of the refugee crisis in Serbia. It built a centre for 80 to 90 migrants and provided a sanitary container and three accommodation containers. In addition, the ASB helped the authorities to better manage the crisis, for example by procuring equipment or providing staff.
Project title: Immediate response to the migrant/refugee crisis in Serbia
Project region: Serbia
Project volume: € 999,911
Project financing: European Commission
Project duration: 2015-2016
Getting through the winter with the ASB
The ASB assists Syrian refugees in Subotica, Kanjiza and Tabanovci by setting up basic primary care facilities for the winter, distributing food, water and hygiene packages and providing medical support.
Project title: Support for refugees from Syria in Serbia and North Macedonia
Project region: Serbia and North Macedonia
Project volume: € 264,900
Project financing: Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH)
Project duration: 2015-2016
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Do you have any questions? Feel free to get in touch!
Sava Pantelić
South Eastern Europe and International Samaritan Cooperation Advisor
Phone : 0221/47605-373
ASB Deutschland e.V.
Sülzburgstraße 140
50937 Cologne