RESDI is proud to be a stakeholder partner in SERIGO – Social Economy for Resilience, Inclusion, and Good Life in Rural Areas, a four-year Horizon Europe project (2023–2027) that aims to strengthen rural resilience through social innovation and inclusive social economy models.
This pan-European initiative brings together research institutions, municipalities, and community organizations from 13 countries to co-create solutions that respond to social, economic, and environmental challenges in rural areas.
About the SERIGO Project
SERIGO explores how the social and solidarity economy (SSE) can drive meaningful transformation in rural communities, particularly for vulnerable groups. The project’s goals include:
- Promoting the SSE as a vehicle for resilience and inclusion
- Improving essential services through community-driven innovation
- Generating policy-relevant insights for rural development
- Launching co-created experimental pilot actions in five European regions
By applying critical systems thinking and an intersectional understanding of vulnerability, SERIGO works to ensure that social innovation is equitable, effective, and rooted in local realities.
RESDI’s Role in SERIGO
As a stakeholder partner, RESDI provides expert and technical assistance in the Slovak pilot locality of Ostrovany—a municipality with a significant Roma population. Our work focuses on:
- Supporting the development of strategic local policy documents for inclusive and sustainable development
- Assisting with the establishment of a community-based social enterprise to enhance local service provision and employment
- Facilitating participatory processes that ensure solutions reflect the lived experiences of marginalized Roma residents
Why Ostrovany Matters
Ostrovany holds a unique position in the SERIGO project:
It is the only partner municipality representing a Roma community, making it an essential pilot site for demonstrating how social innovation can respond to deep-rooted structural exclusion.
By focusing on Ostrovany, SERIGO directly addresses the intersection of ethnic marginalization and rural underdevelopment, offering insights that can be applied across Central and Eastern Europe.
Collaboration in Slovakia
RESDI collaborates with two key Slovak partners:
- Comenius University in Bratislava, contributing academic expertise to research and evaluation
- The Municipality of Ostrovany, serving as the Slovak pilot site and Roma-representing partner in SERIGO’s transnational framework
This partnership ensures that academic research is translated into locally actionable strategies—and that local knowledge informs international practice.
A Shared Vision for Rural Inclusion
Through SERIGO, RESDI reinforces its long-standing mission to promote social equity, innovation, and resilience in underserved communities. Our collaboration in Ostrovany highlights how inclusive rural development can be both community-led and systemically impactful.
We look forward to sharing updates from Slovakia and beyond as the project evolves.