Join us at largest regional event on social entrepreneurship in 2017!

The fourth Social Innovations Forum will focus on the topic of developing support mechanisms for increasing the impact and sustainability of social enterprises across the region. At this conference, together with the leading international and regional experts in this area, we will try to provide answers to a number of key questions: What are common challenges and opportunities for social enterprises in the Western Balkans and Croatia? Which social finance models have been piloted in the region and Europe and what are the learnings? How can social impact be better integrated in ecosystem development and investment strategies?

The main programme of the conference, the Social Enterprise Ecosystems in Croatia and the Western Balkans, is co-created by Smart Kolektiv and NESsT with support from the TaiwanBusiness-EBRD Cooperation Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The programme will feature special sessions about country-based social enterprise ecosystem maps and offer recommendations to all stakeholders on how to build a more stimulating environment for social enterprises in the region.

09.00 – 09.30 Welcome, registration, coffee

09.30 – 10.00 OPENING CEREMONY

Opening remarks Neven Marinovic, Director, Smart Kolektiv Daniel Berg, Director for Serbia, EBRD Roxana Damachin-Tecu, Portfolio Director, NESsT

10.00 – 10.45 SOCIAL ENTERPRISE ECOSYSTEMS IN CROATIA AND WESTERN BALKANS

Presentation of key findings of the mapping study This session will share key findings from the first comprehensive social enterprise ecosystem research of its kind in the region. It will showcase unique models from seven countries and highlight common challenges and opportunities. It will offer recommendations for future development.

Eva Varga, Research team leader and social enterprise expert

Q&A session and discussion with local experts

Nikica Kusinikova, Consultant, Association Konekt Andreja Rosandic, Consultant, NatureCheck Neven Marinovic, Director, Smart Kolektiv

10.45 – 12.15 SOCIAL FINANCE: INNOVATIVE MECHANISMS FOR FINANCING SOCIAL ENTERPRISES This session will explore social impact investment, venture philanthropy and other financing mechanisms for

social enterprises. SIF brings you inspiring case studies to learn from representatives of different sectors from the region and Europe.

Mirjana Sakic, Social Banking Development, Erste Group Bank AG Ewa Konzcal, CEE Manager, European Venture Philanthropy Association Shkelzen Marku, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Yunus Social Business Balkans Teo Petricevic, Director, ACT group

Moderator: Roxana Damachin-Tecu, Portfolio Director, NESsT

12.15 – 13.45 Networking lunch

13.45 – 15.00 PARALLEL SESSIONS

1. Investment readiness and capacity building Explore investment readiness and capacity building models and how they meet the needs of social enterprises involving practitioners from the region. At this session, participants will compare outcomes of existing programmes with the available social investment offer and explore ways to bridge existing gaps.

Participants: Dario Vins, Expert, Mozaik Foundation; Klotilda Kosta, Director of Programmes, Partners Albania; Neven Marinovic, Director, Smart Kolektiv; Sonja Dakic, Co-founder and Director, Daj Daj.

Moderator: tbc 2. Financing innovation and partnership: learning from European and Taiwanese experience Learn more about funding and financing models that have been piloted in order to overcome barriers such as volume, mismatch of finance or scale. The session will provide an opportunity for deeper understanding of social finance instruments and lessons learned from some of the pioneers in Europe and offer the unique perspective of social entrepreneurship in Taipei.

Participants: Jer-San Hu, Secretary General, Taiwanese Social Enterprise Innovation and Entrepreneurship Society; Loic Van Cutsem, General Manager, Oksigen Lab; Goran Jeras, Manager, Social Cooperative for Ethical Banking; Roxana Damachin-Tecu, Portfolio Director, NESsT. Moderator: Biljana Radonjic Ker-Lindsay, Head of Civil Society Engagement Unit, EBRD

15.00–16.00 PARALLEL SESSIONS

1. Supporting mechanisms for social enterprises in Serbia Learn about programmes and supporting mechanisms that will be available for social entrepreneurs in Serbia in 2017! (Serbian language) Participants: Milica Miskovic, Academy of Business Skills, Responsible Business Forum; Milos Paunovic, Social Impact Awards, Razlivaliste; Ivana Stancic, First VP fund in Serbia, Smart Kolektiv; Uros Radojevic, Delhaize Serbia; Vladimir Todorovic, Step by Step, Erste Bank; Natasa Kuzmanovski, Idea for Better Tomorrow, UniCredit Bank. Moderator: Ivana Stancic, Social Innovation Program Manager, Smart Kolektiv

2. Balancing the social and financial return – how can social investment help? Learn more about social impact, how it can be better integrated in ecosystem development and investment strategies and how it can be better measured and communicated. Participants: Cyril Gouiffes, Investment manager, European Investment Fund; Elif Urgan, Project Coordinator, Mikado Sustainable Development Consulting; Anja Serc, Project Manager, Zavod Viva; Zoltan Bereczki, Romania & Balkans Director, NESsT Moderator: Jelena Milovanovic, Deputy Manager, Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit in the Government of the Republic of Serbia

16.15 – 16.30 CLOSING THE CONFERENCE