IDC Serbia - Initiative for Development and Cooperation

What IDC Serbia - Initiative for Development and Cooperation does

IDC Serbia - Initiative for Development and Cooperation (Inicijativa za razvoj i saradnju) is a Belgrade-based nonprofit civil society organization founded in Serbia to deliver social development, economic empowerment, and human rights programs for vulnerable populations. The organization operates four strategic programs: Social Development (social inclusion and social entrepreneurship), Economic Development (non-formal education and economic empowerment), Equal Rights for All (free legal aid for internally displaced persons, refugees, and returnees), and a Volunteer Program. It does not sell a technology product; its deliverables are project-based services delivered directly to beneficiaries.

The organization's service delivery is funded almost entirely through grants and project-based contracts from international institutional donors, including the European Union Delegation in Serbia, Germany's BMZ, Danish People's Aid, the Austrian Development Agency, SOLIDAR SUISSE, and ASB. Individual project values have exceeded €2 million (e.g., the 2013-2015 EU legal aid project for displaced persons). Tangible outputs across its program portfolio have included 70 housing units delivered to refugees in three Serbian municipalities, over 300 vocational trainees with a 20%+ placement rate, and business grants for returnees.

IDC's strategic position is reinforced by a dense network footprint: it serves as General Secretary of SENS (Social Economy Network of Serbia, 38 member organizations), is a member of the IRIS regional network (200+ civil society organizations across the Western Balkans), and participates in European-level federations including SAM.I, SOLIDAR, ENSIE, European Civic Forum, Volonteurope, and EAPN. With roughly 9-10 staff members, the organization operates a lean implementation model that depends on local partner organizations and municipal cooperation for service reach, and is currently running projects such as SOLIS, Reintegracija II, EMPOWERED, and Erasmus+ WAVE II.

Name

IDC Serbia - Initiative for Development and Cooperation

Legal name

Udruženje građana Inicijativa za razvoj i saradnju

Website

https://idcserbia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IDC Serbia is a Belgrade-based nonprofit that delivers free legal aid, vocational training, housing support, and social entrepreneurship programs to refugees, displaced persons, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in Serbia, funded primarily through EU and international donor grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid and Social Development Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Humanitarian aid programs
• Refugee legal assistance
• Vocational training programs
• Social inclusion services

Headquarters

HQ city

Belgrade

HQ country

Serbia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Project-based donor funding: IDC Serbia operates as a non-profit NGO funded primarily through international development projects, EU grants, and donor funding from organizations such as European Union Delegation in Serbia, BMZ, Danish People's Aid, Austrian Development Agency, SOLIDAR SUISSE, ASB, and other international partners. Revenue is used exclusively for project implementation and social programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IDC Serbia is a non-governmental organization (citizens' association) that implements social development programs targeting vulnerable populations in Serbia. The organization provides free legal aid to refugees and displaced persons, vocational training for people with disabilities, economic empowerment initiatives, and volunteer engagement programs. Services are delivered through projects such as SOLIS, Reintegracija II, EMPOWERED, and Erasmus+ WAVE II, with funding sourced from EU grants and international donor partnerships.

Product overview

IDC Serbia (Initijativa za razvoj i saradnju) is a civil society organization that does not offer a technology product. Instead, it provides a portfolio of social service programs focused on social inclusion, economic development, human rights protection, and volunteer engagement. The organization's core offerings consist of four strategic programs: Social Development (supporting social entrepreneurship and accessible social services), Economic Development (non-formal education and economic empowerment), Equal Rights for All (free legal aid and human rights protection), and a Volunteer Program. Additionally, IDC implements various project-based initiatives including SOLIS (sustainable social protection), TIFA (inclusive first aid training), WAVE II (Erasmus+ educational methods), and Reintegration support programs for vulnerable populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Social Development Program Program providing free legal aid and reintegration support for refugees, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable populations in Serbia.
• Economic Development Program Program providing vocational training and economic empowerment initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods of people with disabilities and other marginalized groups.
• Equal Rights for All Program Program focused on promoting equal rights, anti-discrimination support, and access to justice for vulnerable and marginalized groups in Serbia.
• Volunteer Program Program engaging community volunteers to support the organization's service delivery across social development, economic empowerment, and equal rights initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20% of trained participants found employment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership with German humanitarian organization ASB. Collaborated on housing projects for refugees, flood relief operations, training programs, and social services. Jointly implemented multiple EU-funded projects including housing for displaced persons in Vranje, Smederevo, and Gadzin Han.
• ASB AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ASB Austria on agricultural rehabilitation projects for flood-affected communities in Ljig municipality. Provides funding and technical expertise for rural development initiatives.
• SENS (Mreža socijalne ekonomije Srbije)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC serves as General Secretary of SENS - the only national social economy network in Serbia with 38 member organizations. The network provides education, expert advice, and promotion for social enterprises.
• Koalicija za razvoj solidarne ekonomije (KoRSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC is a founding member of the Coalition for Development of Social Entrepreneurship (KoRSE), working with TRAG Foundation, European Movement in Serbia, Grupa 484, and Smart Kolektiv. Since 2019 registered as KoRSE - Coalition for Development of Solidarity Economy.
• IRIS Network (Improving Social Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC is a member since 2015 of the regional IRIS Network connecting 200+ civil society organizations providing social services in Southeast Europe (BiH, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo).
• SAMARITAN International (SAM.I)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC became official member in September 2013. SAM.I is a European federation of non-profit organizations working in social services, civil protection, first aid, and volunteer work. Network consists of 16 members from 15 countries.
• SOLIDAR / SOLIDAR SUISSEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC became member of SOLIDAR since August 2013 - European network of NGOs working on social justice. SOLIDAR SUISSE funded the 'Social Partners Together for Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes' project.
• ENSIE (European Network of Social Integration Enterprises)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC joined ENSIE as General Secretary of SENS network. ENSIE gathers 31 national and regional organizations from 25 European countries working on social enterprises and integration of marginalized groups.
• Housing CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization for housing projects for refugees and displaced persons. Collaborated on projects in Šabac and Bujanovac municipalities.
• JRS Srbija (Jesuit Refugee Service)Strategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on refugee support projects including World Refugee Day events and Erasmus+ WAVE II project for refugee integration through education.
• Fondacija Ana i Vlade DivaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on flood relief and recovery projects. Collaborated on housing reconstruction and economic revitalization for flood-affected families.
• European Civic Forum (ECF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC is member of European Civic Forum - international network of 110+ associations and NGOs from 29+ European countries working on civic education, human rights, and democracy.
• VolonteuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network promoting volunteering, active citizenship, and social justice in Europe with 50+ members in 20+ countries.
• Youth4ChangemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO network advocating for social and professional integration of vulnerable and excluded youth through sharing operational practices.
• EAPN (European Anti-Poverty Network)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDC is member of EAPN through Serbian Poverty Network, working on poverty reduction and social inclusion at European level.
• Grupa 484coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on migration and refugee support projects including legal aid, asylum working group, and policy development.
• TRAG FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through KoRSE coalition on social entrepreneurship development in Serbia.
• Smart KolektivcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through KoRSE coalition on social entrepreneurship development.
• Evropski pokret u SrbijicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through KoRSE coalition on social entrepreneurship development.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TRAG Foundation: Serbian foundation supporting local philanthropy, civil society, and community development. A direct peer as a KoRSE coalition partner with IDC and a similarly structured Serbian grantmaking/development organization.
• Smart Kolektiv: Serbian NGO focused on corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable business. A direct peer as a KoRSE coalition partner and co-promoter of the social economy sector in Serbia.
• Fondacija Ana i Vlade Divac: Serbian foundation active in humanitarian aid, refugee support, and rural community development. A direct peer given joint implementation of flood relief and refugee housing projects with IDC Serbia.
• Grupа 484: Serbian civil society organization focused on migration, asylum, and social policy. A direct peer as a Belgrade-based NGO working on refugee support, legal aid, and policy advocacy, with whom IDC explicitly partners on asylum working group initiatives.
• Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Serbia: International Catholic NGO serving refugees and forcibly displaced people. A direct peer as IDC's named partner on World Refugee Day events and the Erasmus+ WAVE II refugee education project.

Broad incumbents

• Danish Refugee Council: Major international humanitarian NGO providing protection and durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons. A broad incumbent operating in Serbia with overlapping mandates in legal aid, shelter, and economic recovery.
• ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund): German humanitarian organization providing disaster relief, refugee assistance, and social services globally. Comparable as a broader incumbent and IDC's long-standing strategic partner on housing and refugee programs in Serbia.
• PIN (People in Need): Large Central European humanitarian and development NGO operating across the Western Balkans. Comparable as a broader incumbent delivering humanitarian aid, social inclusion, and education programming in Serbia and the wider region.

Others

• Austrian Development Agency (ADA) implementing partners: Austrian governmental development agency funding NGO projects in Serbia. Listed as OTHERS given its donor/funder role rather than operational overlap, but a key peer in the same donor ecosystem.

Regional players

• Habitat for Humanity Serbia: International NGO providing housing solutions for vulnerable populations. Comparable as a peer delivering housing support programs in Serbia for refugees and low-income families, overlapping with IDC's refugee housing mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ZaDruga2016
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idc-serbia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IDC Serbia - Initiative for Development and Cooperation