SMARTLABOR - Advancing Innovation, Digitalization, and Labor Market Development in the Western Balkans01May2024
The SMARTLABOR project aims to facilitate the efficient adoption of technological advancements and drive progress in the agri-food sector across the Western Balkans. By supporting evidence-based policymaking and enhancing the capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs), the project promotes the Smart Specialisation approach, aligning with EU trends under the EU Cohesion Policy framework.
Focus Areas: The project emphasizes the agri-food sector due to its significant economic, innovative, and scientific potential. It aims to systemize and expand Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) knowledge relevant to this sector, making it accessible to all stakeholders and involving civil society actors as key contributors.
Specific Objectives:
- Develop an Open-Source Platform:
Establish a platform featuring methodologies, stakeholder maps, a data repository, and interactive tools for policy creation and testing. This platform will be accessible to all Western Balkan countries, fostering regional knowledge exchange and policy development.
- Strengthen the Smart Labour Network (SLN):
Enhance the SLN's capacity as a central CSO for national and regional policymaking related to S3. Utilize their research, advocacy, and networking capabilities through the open-source platform and related activities.
- Facilitate Policy Co-Creation:
Engage with stakeholders from Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to co-create effective policy solutions supporting S3 in the agri-food sector at both national and regional levels.
The funding for this project is provided by regional project SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans implemented by Centar za promociju civilnog društva (CPCD), Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) and Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).
The total duration of the project is 18 months