Challenge
Despite the establishment of legal protections in many domains, LGBTQI+ people in Serbia face bias, discrimination, violence, and high levels of stigma. Further, surveys continue to demonstrate low, although improving, social acceptance of LGBTQI+ people in Serbia. Global evidence shows that (1) LGBTQI+ inclusion and economic growth are mutually reinforcing and (2) discrimination brings social and financial costs to societies. Consequently, USAID strives to support initiatives aimed at promoting equity and economic empowerment of LGBTQI+ people in Serbia.
Solution
Making Cents is a sub-awardee to Grupa Izadji, a Serbian organization awarded a 3-year activity to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities by promoting economic empowerment of and opportunity for LGBTQI+ people in Serbia. The Activity fosters an environment that increases employment potential for LGBTQI+ persons, expands opportunities for LGBTQI+ entrepreneurs, and reduces workplace discrimination.
Making Cents is supporting the design and delivery of soft-skills training and coaching to LGBTQI+ youth, centered on skills employers in Serbia deem critical and that empower LGBTQI+ youth to thrive and advance in the workplace, build confidence, and develop long-term professional goals.
As the capacity strengthening partner to Grupa Izadji, Making Cents is providing a full suite of technical and management support services to the organization’s leadership and staff to improve efficiencies, strengthen systems, ensure the quality of service delivery, and sustain progress. We are also advising Grupa Izadji in designing and implementing the Activity’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan, as well as building their capacity to develop and update a learning agenda to improve understanding of the challenges LGBTQI+ people face and the impact of the Activity’s interventions.