"This project is part of the Migration Partnership that Switzerland has had with Serbia since 2009. It is especially important because migration is approached from the angle of different sectors, similar to the "whole-of-government" approach that Switzerland also advocates. It is very important that the project is systemic, and deals with improving the national and local response to migration challenges, and that coordination of various sectors and donor initiatives is ensured," highlighted Richard Kohli, Head of Cooperation of the Embassy of Switzerland, Swiss Cooperation Office.

The activities during 2022 aim at developing various strategic and operational frameworks for migration management at the national and local level, including local action plans for migration management, procedures and mechanisms for the protection of unaccompanied migrant children, prevention and fight against smuggling and trafficking in human beings, and the protection of victims of trafficking in mixed migration.

At the same time, the implementation of accredited trainings for officials and service providers of relevant institutions will continue in order to improve specific knowledge and competencies in these areas. Direct support to migrants will also be continued by hiring additional professional staff in social protection institutions, as well as in partnership with civil society organizations that will implement programs to support and protect migrants and their inclusion in the community - with special focus on standardized and licensed services for migrants in vulnerable situations.

"The Migration Partnership project, implemented with the support of Switzerland, supports a number of institutional priorities to better respond to the needs and challenges posed by the current migration context in Serbia, especially mixed migration flows," stated Lidija Markovic, head of the International Organization for Migration's office in Serbia.

The project "Strengthening Capacities and Partnerships for Migration Management in Serbia" is implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia, the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Interior. The project is part of the Migration Partnership between Switzerland and Serbia, and the Swiss Migration Strategic Framework for the Western Balkans 2020-2023.