Šabac, May 23rd, 2025 – The second workshop within the framework of cooperation between Returning Point and the National Employment Service (NES) was held at the “Sloboda” Hotel in Šabac, titled “Enhancing Cooperation and Support for NES Migration Service Centers.” This two-day event, held on May 22 and 23, is a continuation of activities started in November 2024 and represents another step toward strengthening coordination and the quality of services provided to returnees through direct collaboration with advisors within the Migration Service Centers (MSC) across Serbia.
The workshops were highly interactive, with a focus on exchanging experiences and mapping specific needs and challenges from the field. The objective was twofold – on one hand, to provide additional information and tools to MSC advisors, and on the other hand, to collect feedback from local teams to further improve the framework of support for returnees.
During the sessions, participants addressed practical topics, including mapping local support networks to provide more comprehensive information and services for returnees, simulating work with returnees through real-life examples, and identifying challenges they face in their everyday work. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of a local approach and empowering MSCs to effectively connect with other relevant actors on the ground.
The closing session was dedicated to evaluating the workshop and planning the next steps. Participants emphasized that such meetings not only contribute to better mutual connectivity but also to the tangible improvement of practices, which directly impacts the quality of support returnees receive upon their return to Serbia.
The workshop was organized with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Serbia, as part of a joint effort to enhance institutional support for returnees and ensure sustainable reintegration at the local level.
