At the Be Risk Protected conference held in Belgrade, Gorana Radovanović, Manager of Helvetas Serbia and Team Leader of the ACT Project, participated in the panel discussion “ESG as a Risk Management Tool.” She spoke about the importance of the social (S) component of ESG and the role of civil society organizations in creating sustainable social impact, highlighting the work of ACT partner organizations.
Drawing on more than a decade of Helvetas’ experience in Serbia, Radovanović emphasized that civil society organizations help companies better understand the needs of local communities, identify social risks in a timely manner, and establish meaningful dialogue with vulnerable groups.
She particularly highlighted the importance of organizations that work daily with citizens and communities across Serbia, citing concrete examples of ACT project partners.
“Such organizations represent an important bridge between companies and the people affected by their decisions,” Radovanović noted.
One of the key messages of the panel was that successful ESG starts with understanding the local context and listening to the voices of communities. Moving beyond reporting toward real impact requires measuring what truly matters – tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Alongside Gorana Radovanović, the panel also featured Leo Pandžić, Director of the Sustainable Development Directorate at DDOR Insurance, and Marija Mitrović Bošković, ESG Expert at A1 Serbia. Together, they discussed how ESG principles can contribute to better risk management and create long-term value for both companies and society.
