Social economy in Montenegro has the potential to contribute to reducing unemployment and addressing important social issues, according to a statement from the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue.
The Ministry announced that a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed today to enhance social and solidarity economy and entrepreneurship in Montenegro, as part of the project “Youth Exploring Rural Development Through the Lens of Social Economy.”
The Memorandum was signed by the Italian organization Cooperation for Development (COSV) in collaboration with local implementing partners, including the Agency for Local Democracy, the Network for Rural Development, and the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Dialogue, along with 20 targeted municipalities.
Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Dialogue, Naida Nišić, stated that the Ministry has established a Directorate for Social Entrepreneurship, Volunteering, and Cooperation with the Civil Sector.
“As the name of the Directorate suggests, our intention is to focus specifically on the development of social entrepreneurship and the broader growth of social and solidarity economy in Montenegro. The Ministry will support this new policy with all its available resources,” Nišić emphasized.
She added that the Ministry’s goal is not only to create a legal framework for the development of the solidarity economy but also to promote this activity and its benefits, so that it can thrive in Montenegrin society.
“Social economy in Montenegro has the potential to contribute to reducing unemployment and addressing important social issues,” the Ministry emphasized.
According to the statement, the development of social entrepreneurship and other forms of social economy, with adequate support from the government and international organizations, can significantly improve the quality of life in the country, bringing economic and social benefits to the broader community.
The statement further highlighted that YouSEED (Youth Social Economy Exploring for Rural Development), an ambitious project, aims to align local progress with Montenegro’s path toward EU accession, fostering social and economic growth through innovative approaches.
“The Ministry is a dedicated partner in such initiatives, as through joint action and open dialogue on public policies such as social economy policy, and strengthening civil society organizations, an appropriate environment for the development of this sector is created, supporting Montenegro’s faster integration into the European Union,” the statement concluded.
