USA 2021
INTERVIEW
SHANLEY PINCHOTTI, USAID ACTING MISSION DIRECTOR FOR SERBIA
GREAT PARTNERSHIPS STAND BEHIND OUR SUCCESS The Serbia of 2021 is a far different place than it was twenty years ago, when the economy was in shambles and democracy was in its infancy. We aren’t talking about basic building blocks and infrastructure today, but about innovative industries driving economic growth, complex policy development to modernize democratic and market institutions, and building digital skills. This is what “20 Years of Partnership” stands for.
O
ver two decades of partnership, we’ve provided the resources and technical assistance, but it is really our Serbian partners who make the change happen - says USAID Acting Mission Director for Serbia Ms. Shanley Pinchotti, summarizing the essence of collaboration between USAID and its numerous partners from the ranks of government institutions, businesses and civil society, which is today being celebrated under the slogan “20 Years of Partnership”. “We chose #20GodinaPartnerstva as our theme because partnerships have been crucial to everything we’ve achieved”, says our interlocutor. What were the most important building blocks on which this relationship was built? Since 2001, USAID has worked with a wide range of partners here to implement $857 million in development programs. While we’ve always concentrated on working with our Serbian partners to drive economic development and strengthen democracy, we’ve also worked together to address humanitarian crises, like flooding and mitigating the impact of COVID-19. I’m always happy when I hear from people about how many of our projects helped bring about long-term, positive change.
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