Economic Development
Number of people employed in a new job after receiving support from NIRAS
Value of investment raised by businesses working with NIRAS projects
Number of people completing skills development & entrepreneurship programmes
Economic Development
HIGHLIGHT: Air Quality Improvement Project in Serbia
Funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Air Quality Improvement Project in Serbia supports the country’s transition to cleaner, more sustainable heating systems. The project focuses on decommissioning 42 environmentally harmful, fossil fuel-fired boiler rooms—primarily coal and heavy fuel oil—in seven cities (Belgrade, Niš, Užice, Valjevo, Zaječar, Novi Pazar, and Smederevo). These outdated systems are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution.
In collaboration with national and local authorities, NIRAS is identifying priority sites, assessing cleaner alternatives (such as biomass, heat pumps, solar, and district heating), evaluating environmental and social benefits, and preparing investment-ready preliminary designs. The project also aligns with EU and national emissions regulations, helping Serbia meet its air quality targets.
The expected outcomes include significantly reduced air pollution and CO₂ emissions, improved public health, job creation, increased use of renewables, better energy efficiency, and stronger local industry and governance capacities. By modernizing heating infrastructure, the project directly supports Serbia’s decarbonisation and climate goals while enhancing the quality of life in urban centres.
€255,900
grant/discretionary funds managed by NIRAS
€50,000,000
in investment raised
by businessess working with NIRAS
24,485
tonnes of CO2
equivalent emissions avoided
51
organisations supported
to improve their work on climate change, environment or natural resource management
HIGHLIGHT:
Air Quality Improvement Project in Serbia - The Decommissioning of Environmentally Harmful Boiler Rooms in Cities
Funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Air Quality Improvement Project in Serbia supports the country’s transition to cleaner, more sustainable heating systems. The project focuses on decommissioning 42 environmentally harmful, fossil fuel-fired boiler rooms—primarily coal and heavy fuel oil—in seven cities (Belgrade, Niš, Užice, Valjevo, Zaječar, Novi Pazar, and Smederevo). These outdated systems are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution.
In collaboration with national and local authorities, NIRAS is identifying priority sites, assessing cleaner alternatives (such as biomass, heat pumps, solar, and district heating), evaluating environmental and social benefits, and preparing investment-ready preliminary designs. The project also aligns with EU and national emissions regulations, helping Serbia meet its air quality targets.
The expected outcomes include significantly reduced air pollution and CO₂ emissions, improved public health, job creation, increased use of renewables, better energy efficiency, and stronger local industry and governance capacities. By modernising heating infrastructure, the project directly supports Serbia’s decarbonisation and climate goals while enhancing the quality of life in urban centres.
HIGHLIGHT: Education to Employment (E2E) - Phase III
The Education to Employment (E2E) project is a 12-year partnership between the governments of Switzerland and Serbia, currently in its third and final phase, which runs until April 2028. The goal is to create new or improved job opportunities for women, men, and vulnerable groups in Serbia through improved employment support services and industry-led training programmes. Phase III builds on the project’s achievements over the past nine years, during which over 38,000 individuals benefited from career guidance services and more than 2,300 young people accessed tailored work-based learning with companies—leading to a 77% employment rate among participants.
Now, the project expands its focus beyond youth, aiming to create decent employment opportunities for women, men, and vulnerable groups across Serbia. It strengthens employment support services and promotes industry-led training through a network of Job Info Centres (JICs), with new centres being developed in Belgrade and Novi Sad. Phase III also works to embed innovative practices into national frameworks by supporting legislative reforms, unlocking funding for civil society, and scaling up successful local initiatives. The overarching goal is to improve access to quality jobs and sustainable career paths for all, while reinforcing the role of local and national actors in shaping inclusive labour market services.
HIGHLIGHT:
Education to Employment (E2E) - Phase III
The Education to Employment (E2E) project is a 12-year partnership between the governments of Switzerland and Serbia, currently in its third and final phase, which runs until April 2028. The goal is to create new or improved job opportunities for women, men, and vulnerable groups in Serbia through improved employment support services and industry-led training programmes. Phase III builds on the project’s achievements over the past nine years, during which over 38,000 individuals benefited from career guidance services and more than 2,300 young people accessed tailored work-based learning with companies—leading to a 77% employment rate among participants.
Now, the project expands its focus beyond youth, aiming to create decent employment opportunities for women, men, and vulnerable groups across Serbia. It strengthens employment support services and promotes industry-led training through a network of Job Info Centres (JICs), with new centres being developed in Belgrade and Novi Sad. Phase III also works to embed innovative practices into national frameworks by supporting legislative reforms, unlocking funding for civil society, and scaling up successful local initiatives. The overarching goal is to improve access to quality jobs and sustainable career paths for all, while reinforcing the role of local and national actors in shaping inclusive labour market services.
2,315
young people trained
250
companies supported to drive economic growth
71%
of trainees employed
37,577
career guidance recipients
6,398
hard-to-place youth receiving guidance
Number of people employed in a new job after receiving support from NIRAS
Value of investment raised by businesses working with NIRAS projects (Euro)
Number of people who have completed programmes in skills development, entrepreneurship, and labour market insertion