The Economic Pillar of the “SDGs for ALL” Platform organized an online workshop with the representatives of the civil society organizations from Pirot on October 28, in order to present and discuss the Platform’s key findings and recommendations for the local Mid-term Development Plan. The findings and recommendations were based on the pillars’ review of the local policy framework and a broad consultative process with the relevant local stakeholders. The discussion was focused on the priority measures and activities of the future Mid-term Development Plan, from all three perspectives of sustainability – social, economic and environmental, thus ensuring a balanced approach to the future development of the city

The workshop gathered the representatives of the civil society organizations from Pirot, including the Association “Stara planina”, Pirgos, Women’s Association “Lav”, “Zvono” Pirot, Zip center, Women of the South, the representative of the Contracting Chamber of Economy Pirot District and the representatives of all three pillars of the Platform. The main finding was that the civil society should be more included in the local strategic planning processes. Some of the key local challenges, from the civil society perspective, included underdeveloped intersectoral cooperation among the institutions, insufficient representation of the civil society in the executive and legislative bodies, migration of the young people from the region and the lack of youth policy in general.