Romania & the Balkans

More than a third of Romanians are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, and unemployment remains high in the Western Balkans, especially among women and youth.

NESsT’s investments in Romania and the Balkans focus on social enterprises that create jobs for those most in need, including rural populations, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and young people who face higher unemployment rates than in many other countries in Europe.

WITH YOUR HELP

We’ve invested in 28 social enterprises in Romania & the Balkans.

3,190

dignified employment & income generation opportunities created

US$3 million

invested

25,131

lives improved

As of December 31, 2017

See Our Work in Romania

NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship co-created a three-year accelerator programme to support enterprises that expand employment opportunities in Poland and Romania.

Learn How NESsT Social Enterprises Fight Poverty in Romania

Featured

Romania, NESsT - IKEA Social Entrepreneurship CEE Accelerator

ALTRNTV

Romania, NESsT - IKEA Social Entrepreneurship CEE Accelerator

produces handcrafted clothing made from sustainably-produced vegan and organic materials.

Romania, NESsT - IKEA Social Entrepreneurship CEE Accelerator

Atelierul de Pânză

Romania, NESsT - IKEA Social Entrepreneurship CEE Accelerator

produces and sells upcycled textile products made from 100% recycled cotton.

Romania, NESsT - IKEA Social Entrepreneurship CEE Accelerator

NESsT Refugee Employment Initiative, Romania

Box Elyte

NESsT Refugee Employment Initiative, Romania

Box Elyte employs individuals from excluded groups, including migrants and refugees from Ukraine and Asia, as well as local women from low-income backgrounds and ethnic minorities.

NESsT Refugee Employment Initiative, Romania

Jobful

NESsT Refugee Employment Initiative, Romania

Jobful (Playful Software) is a Romania-based digital solutions agency with a mission to create a more inclusive and equitable recruitment journey to help youth, refugees and migrants to find quality jobs.

NESsT Refugee Employment Initiative, Romania

Romania Portfolio 2.jpg — Calling Social Entrepreneurs in Romania & the Balkans

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Our Projects in Romania

RO - Projects Gallery

SPRING: Supporting Participation of Roma in the economic life of their community through Income Generation activities

SPRING is the economic development component of zefiR (Together for the power of action) project and aims to support at least 28 entrepreneurs from three counties in Oltenia to start new business/income generating activities or to develop those already existing.

Enhancing Social Entrepreneurship, Building Bridges

Coordinated by the NESsT Romania Foundation and implemented in partnership with the Social Entrepreneurship Impact & Finance (SEIF, Switzerland) and Alături de Voi Foundation (ADV, Romania), the “Enhancing Social Entrepreneurship, Building Bridges” project aims to strengthen the role of social enterprises as agents of positive change and inclusive growth by establishing knowledge and best-practice sharing between Romania and Switzerland.

Made in Andrei’s Country

Made in Andrei’s Country Project (second edition) is a social enterprises competition organized by OMV Petrom in partnership with NESsT. This project provides funds in total value of €350,000 euros, consultancy and training with NESsT Foundation’s team of experts to create social enterprises that produce value, solve social problems and provides jobs in the communities covered by the project.