Making Cents International is a partner to Grupa Izadji, a local organization that was recently awarded a USAID-funded, three-year activity aiming to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities by promoting economic empowerment of and opportunity for LGBTQI+ people. Despite the establishment of legal protections in many domains, in Serbia, LGBTQI+ people face bias, discrimination, and violence. Global evidence shows that LGBTQI+ inclusion and economic growth are mutually reinforcing and that discrimination brings social and financial costs to societies.
Through this new activity, Making Cents will support Grupa Izadji in working with USAID to promote equity and economic empowerment of LGBTQI+ people in Serbia, particularly youth. The activity will foster an environment that increases employment potential for LGBTQI+ persons, expands opportunities for LGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, and reduces workplace discrimination. Making Cents will support USAID’s localization efforts in Serbia by providing organizational and technical capacity-building support to Grupa Izadji, designing soft-skills training and coaching methodologies for LGBTQI+ youth; leading the development of the activity’s learning agenda; and advising on monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities throughout the project.