The Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation organized on April 1, 2025, a public debate titled “Women’s Economic Empowerment and Gender Equality”, as part of the Social Pillar of the “SDGs for All” Platform. The event was organized within the activities of the advisory expert thematic groups and dedicated to the goal: “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.”

The work of the expert thematic group provided valuable insights that will serve as a basis for further action by all relevant stakeholders in the period 2023–2025. Special emphasis was placed on monitoring the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy, with a focus on women’s economic empowerment and the integration of a gender perspective into local and national policies.

Participants in the discussion included: Marija Srdić, researcher; Jelena Mihajlović-Tanasijević, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities; and Melinda Tomić, Kolping Society of Serbia.

The debate addressed key topics:

– Priorities in economic development and gender equality

– Support for women’s entrepreneurship at the local level

– Aligning planning documents with the needs of end beneficiaries

– Good practice examples and the benefits of inter-municipal cooperation

Findings from the Social Pillar of the Platform were presented, particularly in the field of inter-municipal cooperation and local initiatives for women’s economic empowerment. A representative of the Kolping Society showcased their social enterprise model as an example of successfully integrating women into the labor market.

In the conclusions, the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation, data and experience sharing, and good practice exchange was emphasized as a way to define common directions for future action. Inter-municipal cooperation was recognized as an effective framework for planning support to women’s entrepreneurship, with particular attention to removing barriers for women to enter and remain in business.

Local self-governments were also encouraged to strengthen cooperation with women-led civil society organizations, foundations, and companies that support women’s entrepreneurial initiatives—especially those involving multiply marginalized groups such as rural women, Roma women, women with experiences of violence, women with disabilities, and migrant women.