SeConS – Development Initiative Group is a not-for-profit, non-governmental and independent think tank organization, established in 2005 with the aim to promote and advance sustainable socio-economic development in Serbia and in the Region. The organization was established by a group of experts from scientific and academic circles, as well as from policy circles, who have been cooperating since mid 1990s on different projects in the field of social and economic development. The projects at which the SeConS team was gathered encompased fundamental research in development, applied research, policy studies, strategic national documents, as well as training programs for employees in different institutions and organizations under the process of reform. From these projects, we brought into SeConS experience in research, definition of policies and training in the fields of social policy, labor market, local governing, urban and rural developlment, poverty reduction policy, integration of marginalized groups, gender equality, etc.

SeConS mission is to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development of Serbia and South-East Europe. Starting from values of social justice and equal opportunities, as well as from the assumption that only inclusive development can be sustainable development SeConS aims at contributing to improvement of living conditions and full social inclusion of individuals and social groups. Major goals derived from this mission are development of social and economic institutions, organizations and networks, as well as strengthening of social capital. Therefore, our activities are primarily oriented towards the fields of employment, business, central and local governance, social care, education, culture, environment protection. We are especially focused on the groups whose rights and living conditions are jeopardized by slow or disbalanced development, dysfunctional economic and social inequalities, political and cultural conflicts, and consequences of crisis produced by incapability to generate sustainable development.

Policy research in broad range of social problems: social and economic development, problems of social and economic inclusion of vulnerable groups, EU integration processes. Research activities are aimed to provide evidence base for development of various policies with highest standards in methodologies for quantitative and qualitative surveys.

Evaluation and impact assessment: this includes evaluation of development programmes and projects and their final effects as well as evaluation and impact assessment of public policies at national, regional and local level.

Social inclusion of vulnerable groups: SeConS was one of the leading organizations involved in projects aimed to introduce concept and policy of social inclusion in Serbia implementing number of projects focused on position and problems of different vulnerable groups (such as internally displaced persons, women, refugees, Roma, poor, people in need for social protection, etc).