Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Turn business success into general prosperity, support community development on the environment.
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Turn business success into general prosperity, support community development on the environment.
In 2023, through record investments in socially responsible projects and support for professional sports, NIS continued its strong commitment to community development in the regions where it operates. In this area, over the past year, more than seven billion dinars have been invested, bringing the company’s total investments in community development since 2009 to over RSD 12 billion.
In 2023, the company NIS marked the 15th anniversary of its “Common Cause Community” program, one of the most significant corporate social responsibility programs in the Republic of Serbia. Through this program, NIS carefully addresses the needs of 2.8 million citizens living and working in 13 local communities covered by the Program. With the goal of empowering key drivers of social development: public health and social care, science and education, environmental protection, culture, and sports, through this program, NIS has invested in the implementation of 1,136 projects so far, totalling more than RSD 1.7 billion dinars. The significance of this unique collaboration program with local communities is best evidenced by its results: Since 2009, the work of over 180 educational institutions and more than 40 cultural institutes has been improved. Additionally, 45 hospitals and health centres have been equipped, and over 140 children’s playgrounds, parks, sports grounds and facilities have been refurbished. Numerous projects supporting talented young people have been implemented, as investing in them simultaneously invests in the future and prosperity of the entire community.
The company’s significant progress in strengthening partnerships with the community is evidenced by numerous recognitions.
On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the “Common Cause Community” program, NIS received the “Captain Misa Anastasijevic” award last year in the category of “Leader in Social Responsibility” and the recognition of “Leader in Social Responsibility among Business Companies” at the International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad.
The magazine “Diplomacy & Commerce” awarded NIS for its campaign “Let New Hopes Be Born” as the best socially responsible campaign. This campaign also won the “Purposeful Campaign SOCIAL 2023” award, which is presented at the “Yellow Pants” festival organised by the association bearing the same name.
In addition to continuous donation support for community empowerment and development, the company also contributes through synergy with its employees – members of the Volunteer Club. During 2023, thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of the company’s Volunteer Club, 9 volunteer campaigns were organised, during which diligent volunteers donated 1,121 volunteer hours.
In 2023, the traditional internal volunteer competition, conducted under the name “Small Steps for Big Smiles,” was implemented. Employees in the company have the opportunity to propose projects of significance for the local community where they work or live. As part of last year’s competition, three projects were supported, through which volunteers enthusiastically improved the daily lives of children from the cities of Bački Petrovac, Valjevo, and Kuršumlija. The yard and a premise at the Association of Parents of Persons with Disabilities “MI” in Bački Petrovac were renewed. In Valjevo, the room for occupational workshops for users was decorated and equipped at the Association for Children “Our Dreams”, while in Kuršumlija, the yard and waiting area of the children’s department at the Health Centre were renovated.
As in previous years, volunteer activities were focused on environmental initiatives, care and support for children and young people, especially children from vulnerable categories.
Wanting to provide additional support to children and young people, during 2023 the NIS Volunteer Club decorated the classroom of the Shelter for Children and Youth at the city of Novi Sad, while the youngest members of the Volunteer Club / participants of the NIS Calling and NIS Energy programmes, decorated the summer stage of “Studentski Grad” cultural centre in Belgrade.
Last year again, NIS was a part of the “YouthCan!” program by SOS Children’s Villages Serbia, within which a cycle of educational workshops on youth employment and economic empowerment was implemented. The aim of these workshops was to support young people in gaining practical knowledge relevant to the employment process and in finding suitable jobs.
During 2023, more than 50 sponsorship projects were implemented. The multi-year cooperation with the Partizan Basketball Club, the “Belgrade Dance Festival” and the “Science Festival” continued, which, due to its continuity, is growing into a strategic partnership. Other projects supported by the company were also highlighted, such as the “Youth Sports Games” and the OCR North Spirit race and support for the “Crvena Zvezda” (Red Star) Hockey Club. The priority for the company was investing in young people, in accordance with the current corporate strategy and the slogan “Future in Action”.
In September last year, in collaboration with the company “Novosti,” a panel discussion titled “Our Sustainable Community” was held at the Royal Palace in Belgrade. This event aimed to highlight the importance of sustainable development and the contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. During the discussion, participants included Kirill Tyurdenev, the CEO of NIS, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, Minister of Mining and Energy in the Government of Serbia, and Milun Todorović, the mayor of Čačak. The introductory speaker for the discussion was Slobodan Krstović, Director of the Sustainable Development Department at NALED.
By carefully selecting panellists, the concept of sustainable development was thoroughly examined at all three levels: the national level of the Republic of Serbia, the local community level in the city of Čačak, and from the corporate perspective from the viewpoint of NIS Company.
Special attention in the discussion was dedicated to the need for human resource development and the preservation of natural resources, as well as the improvement of the quality of life of our fellow citizens. Discussions also covered ways to make our community more inclusive, safer, and to enable long-term sustainable development in challenging times. The panel discussion particularly emphasised the importance of energy transition in achieving sustainable development goals, while also debating on other relevant topics.
