How can the knowledge, experience and resources of the business and civil society sectors be brought together to develop initiatives that address concrete social needs? This was the key question discussed at a new Sustainability Talks event organized by the Responsible Business Forum (RBF), held on 25 September at the premises of UniCredit Bank Serbia in Belgrade. The meeting brought together representatives of companies and civil society organizations with the aim of creating opportunities for new partnerships and joint initiatives.
The event marked the continuation of a process in which civil society organizations, following a workshop on ESG principles and opportunities for cooperation with the business sector, received individual expert support to further develop their ideas and prepare concrete proposals for collaboration. At Sustainability Talks, they had the opportunity to present these proposals directly to RBF member companies and discuss opportunities for their further development and implementation.
From Community Needs to Collaboration Proposals
The initiatives were presented by the following organizations: the Women’s Association of the Kolubara District (ŽUKO), Women at a Turning Point (Žene na prekretnici), Our World, Our Rules (Naš svet, naša pravila), the Initiative for the Rights of Persons with Mental Disabilities (MDRI-S), Peščanik Women’s Association (Udruženje žena Peščanik), the Center for Positive Youth Development (CEPORA), and Lil’ Brave One (Hrabriša).
They presented their proposals to representatives of RBF member companies participating in the event: UniCredit Bank Serbia, OTP Bank Serbia, Elixir Group, Erste Bank a.d. Novi Sad, Direct Media, A1 Serbia, and HEINEKEN Serbia.
The proposals addressed a range of social issues and opportunities for business sector engagement, including economic independence and improving the position of women over 45 in the labour market; the economic empowerment of rural women and the development of their agricultural holdings; access to psychological support for young people; support for families of children with rare diseases; prevention of gender-based violence; accessible communication for people with intellectual disabilities; and the development of young people’s skills, inclusion and employability.
The ideas presented opened up discussions on how companies can contribute through different forms of support, from funding and mentoring to employee volunteering, sharing professional expertise, and developing accessible services and content. The meeting provided an opportunity for direct connections between organizations and companies, the exchange of information about needs and available resources, and the exploration of opportunities for longer-term cooperation.
RBF as a Platform for Joint Action
The first part of the meeting was dedicated to a discussion among RBF members on priorities and directions for joint action in the coming period. The discussion was moderated by Margareta Musić from Elixir Group and Milica Babić from OTP Bank Serbia.
Key topics included strengthening collaboration among members, making greater use of RBF as a platform for networking and exchanging knowledge and good practices, and exploring opportunities to launch initiatives that go beyond the capacities of individual companies. Participants also discussed mapping members’ needs, connecting with relevant experts and partners, and identifying areas in which the Forum could play a coordinating role.
Sustainability Talks demonstrated the importance of connecting the business and civil society sectors not only around shared values, but also around concrete needs, ideas and resources. Meetings like this create opportunities for civil society organizations to gain business community support for their knowledge and experience, while enabling companies to find partners for initiatives that contribute to positive social change.
The organizations that presented their initiatives will also be invited to the CSR & ESG Forum 2026, which the Responsible Business Forum will organize on 3 December in Belgrade. This will provide another opportunity to continue the dialogue and strengthen connections with the business community.
The Responsible Business Forum would like to thank UniCredit Bank Serbia for hosting and supporting the organization of Sustainability Talks, as well as all the companies and organizations whose participation and openness to exchange contributed to the event.
These activities were carried out as part of the “For an Active Civil Society Together – ACT” project, supported by the Swiss Government and implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and Civic Initiatives. The project aims to build and strengthen an active civil society in which citizens participate more actively in decision-making processes, particularly at the local level.
