Jablanica & Pcinja District
serbiaABOUT PILOT AREA
The Jablanica and Pčinja districts, located in the far south of Serbia, have been historically shaped as border regions exposed to diverse political and cultural influences. The area is characterised by mountainous landscapes, valleys, preserved nature and notable biodiversity. The two districts span 6,290 km² and include 13 municipalities with a population of around 380,000, more than half of whom live in rural areas.
The region is affected by long-term depopulation, population ageing and continued out-migration of young people. Economically, the Jablanica and Pčinja districts are among the least developed areas in Serbia. Unemployment is high, wages are below the national average, and agriculture is mostly small-scale and traditional. Agriculture, crafts and micro-businesses dominate the local economy, while tourism holds potential but remains insufficiently developed.
ABOUT VULNERABLE GROUPS OF THE PILOT AREA
The rural areas of Jablanica and Pčinja face a range of social and economic challenges that require strategic planning and innovative solutions. Limited infrastructure, unequal access to essential services, and insufficient employment opportunities particularly affect young people and contribute to migration.
At the same time, evolving social and technological trends are reshaping traditional lifestyles and local identities. The Regional strategy for rural development identifies three main priorities: improving living conditions, increasing efficiency in agriculture and forestry, and promoting sustainable rural economic growth.
As target groups of the Serbian pilot location, the project specifically addresses NEET youth, women, and local entrepreneurs, who face limited access to education, employment, and resources. The project aims to enhance skills, foster social and women’s entrepreneurship, and provide supportive networks, mentorship, and tools to strengthen their economic and social inclusion, creating new opportunities for engagement and development within the rural community.
NEWS/OUTCOMES
STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL ECONOMY IN REGIONS: DRUSKININKAI RURAL AREA
On December 8–9, 2025, the Institute of Economics and Rural Development of the Lithuanian Center for Social Sciences, together with the Druskininkai Local Action Group, organized a two-day ESIRA project working meeting. The event brought together representatives of...
ESIRA PROJECT HELD SCIENTIFIC DISSEMINATION WORKSHOP AND COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE SESSION ON RURAL INNOVATION
The ESIRA project successfully organized its final Scientific Dissemination Workshop for this year, titled “From Collaboration to Action: How Multi-Actor Platforms Shape Rural Innovation”, followed by a Community of Practice (CoP) session entitled “Lessons Learned and...
ESIRA AND SERIGO CALL FOR A MORE HOLISTIC VISION TO RURAL POLICY PLANNING
20 November 2025. ESIRA and SERIGO projects organised a joint policy workshop held on 20 November 2025 in Brussels, to explore how community-led social innovation can enhance the social inclusion of vulnerable groups in rural areas. Co-organised by the European...
SAVE THE DATE AND CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: ESIRA Scientific Dissemination Workshop and CoP Session
The ESIRA project is pleased to announce the upcoming Scientific Dissemination Workshop & Community of Practice (CoP) Session, taking place on 17 December 2025 at 10:00 CET, online on MS Teams. Under the title “From Collaboration to Action: How Multi-Actor...
RURAL INNOVATION TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT 10TH EMES CONFERENCE WITH A PANEL ON RURAL SOCIAL ECONOMY
A team of researchers from the ESIRA and SERIGO Horizon Europe projects presented their findings at the 10th EMES conference. Coordinated by Luca Koltai (HÉTFA Research Institute), the panel featured contributions from scholars at the University of Burgos, Euricse,...
THE FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS HELAD IN POLAND
The fourth General Assembly of the ESIRA project (Enhancing Social Inclusion and Rural Areas) took place from October 15 to 17, 2025, in Orelec, in the Bieszczady Mountains, Poland. The event was hosted by the local partner, the European Rural Development Network...
CONFERENCE ON REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE IN LESKOVAC, SERBIA
An conference with over 20 participants, including local farmers, experts and representatives of relevant institutions and organizations was held on the topic of regenerative agriculture in Leskovac, a town in Jablanica District, organized by Institute for Development...
ACCESSIBLE CINEMA EVENT IN CILLERUELO DE ABAJO PROMOTES SOCIAL INCLUSION IN RURAL AREAS
Last weekend, the village of Cilleruelo de Abajo, in the province of Burgos, held a very special event dedicated to accessible cinema. The initiative was organized by the Collalba Cultural Association, in collaboration with ARANSBUR (Association of Families of Deaf...
EL HUECO AND EL COLLETERO SHOWCASES FOR RURAL SOCIAL INNOVATION UNDER ESIRA PROJECT
As part of the training activities carried out by the European ESIRA Project, focused on promoting social innovation in rural areas, on Friday, September 12, nearly 50 rural development practitioners took part in an intensive workday aimed at identifying and learning...
REGIONAL DISSEMINATION MEETING OF THE ESIRA PROJECT IN LESKOVAC, SERBIA
Although the city of Leskovac once played a significant role in Serbia’s industrialization, today it faces serious demographic and economic challenges, including depopulation, youth migration, lack of investments, and a decline in industrial activity. In this...