Neven Marinovic, Executive Director, Smart Kolektiv

Unlocking the potential of the
social economy for EU and
Western Balkans growth
The role of Europe in the Western
Balkans: having an impact for
a more sustainable Civil Society
Neven Marinovic, Smart Kolektiv
London, 19th of January 2015
Smart Kolektiv
Social sustainability
Traditional Non profit
non profit with
income
generating
activity
Economic sustainability
Social
enterprise
Socially
Business
responsible practicing
business
CSR
We believe in creating change
by connecting business and
society, enabling business to
adopt social values and
society to adopt business skills
Traditional
business /
enterprise
Smart Kolektiv
• CSR
• Social innovation
• Social entrepreneurship
• Youth entrepreneurship
• SENS
Smart Kolektiv
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Mentoring
Funding
Consulting
Technical
support
• SE start-ups
SE in the region
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Socialist legacy
State controlled / owned
Cooperatives (agriculture)
More CSOs launch SE related initiatives
Foreign aid/donors support
Limited private initiative
Interest from other stakeholders
SE in Serbia
Structure
• Cooperatives 65%
• CSOs 24%
• Enterprise for employment of
people with disabilities 4%
• Foundations 2%
• In between
– Source: Economic impact of SE’s in Serbia
(National statistics bureau, Secons)
SE in the region
• All mighty state
• Lack of entrepreneurship
culture
• More social than
enterprise / skills
• Social firms / companies
(wording)
• Vulnerable groups
employment
• Small scale and partial –
invisible
• Lack of organized support
(state)
• Access to finance
• Lack of awareness and
overall low income
(consumers - media)
Context
• 67% - public sector
• 22% unemployment rate
• 52% youth unemployment rate
• Up to 60% among vulnerable groups
Region - initiatives
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Social innovations forum
National coalitions
Belgrade declaration
Social entrepreneurship forum – network
Joint advocacy
Support schemes
Enhanced cooperation among key players
Support from other stakeholders: TACSO, EU, Euclid…
Belgrade declaration
• Launch at the SIF:
representatives of civil society
organizations from Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo,
Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia
and Turkey.
• The Declaration was launched
with an aim to point out to the
decision-makers both in the EU
and the countries of the Western
Balkans and Turkey the necessary
steps to take for the
development of social economy
as a relevant model for the
socially sustainable development
of the entire region.
• Around 500 signatories so far
ttp://belgradedeclaration.net/
Belgrade declaration follow up
• Meetings with representatives of
national governments and other
stakeholders, EU delegations etc.
• Linking the Balkan countries to
EU Social Business agenda
• Social Entrepreneurship Forum:
Regional Network for Social
Entrepreneurship Development
- Established
• Advocacy and connecting key
parties
• Sharing and learning
• Promotion of social
entrepreneurship across the
region.
Follow up and new developments
• Meetings with
national government
representatives
• Legislative activity
• Promotion, education,
support
• New project and
concrete initiatives
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On cooperation and EU integration
EU accession process
Lack of communication
Dealing with “basics”
Political issues
EU funding
Overall stability
Negative image of
CSOs
Capacities
National governments
unsupportive
“Negative uniqueness”
Not integrated in EU
policies
Civil society and social entrepreneurship
• More than a third of SEs - CSOs
• Seen as a potential for both sustainability
and enhanced productivity
• More interest, initiatives and projects
within the CSO sector
• Credibility - support
Social entrepreneurship provides one of possible solutions for the crisis in the region, therefore it is very important
that the governments of the countries across the region provide stimulating conditions for the development of social
entrepreneurship; greater cooperation with the business sector should be encouraged while a series of measures
should be imposed to improve the competitiveness of social enterprises – are some of the key conclusions of the Forum
and panel discussions.
Some examples
Let’s live
together
• Legal form – Citizen association/NGO
• Product – paper folders, gifts, collecting
of recycling materials
• Social goal – work engagement for
people with mental disabilities, and
higher sustainability of the day center and
its activities
Caritas Šabac
• Legal form – NGO
• Service – laundry
• Social goal – employment of women
victims of violence, free services for
people that can not afford the service
HERA
• Legal form – NGO
• Product – hand made and knitted
clothing
• Social goal – work engagement for
vulnerable women, and additional funding
for the organization and its activities
OPTIMIST, Bosilegrad
• Legal form – NGO
• Product –Production of strawberries
• Social goal – eeconomic
empowerment of poor Roma families
Conclusion and next steps
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Regional cooperation
Communication with EU
Active advocacy
Funding schemes
Dialogue with
governments
• Support programs
• Promotion / awareness