Unlocking Roma Economic Potential Through a New Employment Partnership in Kragujevac, Serbia
On May 28, the REF Serbia took an important step toward strengthening pathways to employment and economic inclusion in Serbia through the signing of a cooperation agreement with the City of Kragujevac, the National Employment Service , Kragujevac Branch, and ten local employers. The partnership brings together public institutions, businesses, and civil society organizations in a shared effort to expand employment opportunities and strengthen labor market inclusion.
This initiative reflects a broader vision that guides REF’s work across the Western Balkans. Roma communities represent one of the largest reservoirs of untapped talent and economic potential in the region. At a time when countries are facing labor shortages, demographic decline, and growing demand for skilled workers, investing in Roma education, skills development, and employment is a strategic economic imperative. Unlocking Roma talent means expanding the workforce, addressing skills gaps, strengthening local economies, and supporting more sustainable and competitive growth.
Building on its longstanding cooperation with the City of Kragujevac, REF joined local institutions and employers in a commitment to create stronger connections between education, skills development, and employment. The agreement establishes a framework for long-term collaboration aimed at developing sustainable mechanisms that respond both to the needs of jobseekers and to the evolving demands of the labor market.
By bringing together public authorities, employment services, employers, and civil society, the initiative seeks to transform inclusion from an aspiration into a practical and measurable outcome. It also reflects a growing recognition that economic inclusion requires coordinated action across sectors and long-term investment in human capital.
At the signing ceremony, Dr. Gordana Damnjanović, Assistant Mayor for Health and Social Protection, Human and Minority Rights, emphasized the importance of joint action in creating employment opportunities for all citizens. She highlighted the need for cooperation that promotes equal access to employment while responding effectively to ongoing changes in the labor market.
Speaking on behalf of REF, Dragana Rajić, Program Director, stressed the importance of cross-sector partnerships and community-centered approaches. She noted that REF’s new strategic direction places a strong focus on connecting institutions, employers, and civil society actors in order to develop practical solutions that expand employment opportunities for Roma and strengthen labor market participation.
Across the Western Balkans, labor shortages and demographic trends are creating increasing pressure on employers and economies alike. Investing in Roma education, skills, and employability represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen labor markets, increase economic participation, and unlock the potential of a generation of future professionals, entrepreneurs, and workers.
The agreement signed in Kragujevac marks an important step toward that goal. Through partnerships that connect education to employment, REF will continue working alongside institutions and employers to create new opportunities for economic participation, independence, and shared prosperity across the Western Balkans.
