On April 28, 2023, Partnership for Transparency (PTF) had the pleasure of welcoming a group of professionals from Serbia who were on a study tour organized by the Belgrade Open School. The group wanted to learn more about the importance of transparency and anti-corruption in development in the business and civil society sectors. They were also interested in networking practices with different stakeholders, models of citizen engagement in decision-making processes, and addressing community needs within the public advocacy framework.
In addition to staff of the Belgrade Open School, participants represented the following Serbian companies and organizations: Association of Local Independent Media, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, Center for Emotional Support to People in Crisis and Prevention of Suicide, Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Coca Cola Serbia, Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society, Friends of Children of Serbia, Labris (a lesbian rights organization), OTP Bank Serbia, Pro.Tok21, Regional Association of Private Forest Owners, and Safe Trails Association.
The Serbian group recognized that advocacy is a powerful tool for citizen participation in dialogue with decision makers, which can be used to improve policies, legislation, performance of public institutions, and allocations of public funds.
PTF thanks our new friends from Serbia for an excellent discussion and we wish them the best with their anti-corruption and transparency work going forward.
