In Red Cross Svilajnac, on September 16 and 17, 2025, a self-assessment of the organization's capacity was held using the BOCA (Branch Organisational Capacity Assessment) methodology developed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The International Federation financially supported this activity, and the event in Svilajnac is the ninth self-assessment of this type in the National Society of the Red Cross of Serbia after this methodology was adopted by the National Society in June last year.

During two days of work, the existing capacities and strengths of the Red Cross Svilajnac were recognized, especially in the field of work with volunteers, connection with the local community, the network of sub-branch organisations, in the large number of active young volunteers and the engagement of the Governing Board and the Assembly of the Red Cross Svilajnac, but the potential for improving the capacities of the Red Cross Svilajnac was also identified. In addition to good attendance and a good selection of participants of the workshop, the work was also marked by good organization by the hosts of the Red Cross Svilajnac, as well as the great interest of the participating representatives of the local community in the work. The very active engagement of both young and older volunteers, members of the Governing Board and Assembly of the Red Cross Svilajnac, representatives of local partners, employees of the Red Cross Svilajnac and representatives of the Centre for Social Work Svilajnac and the Centre for Family Care ensured that the discussions were focused on the essential aspects of the organisation's activities and that at the end of the work, realistic action plans for improving the capacity of the Red Cross Svilajnac were reached.

BOCA (Branch Organizational Capacity Assessment) is a self-assessment toolkit developed by the International Federation to provide standardised support to branches of National Societies in the process of identifying and assessing their strengths, limitations and challenges related to their organizational capacities. Intended and made available to all organizations of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the world, this tool has so far been used for self-assessment by more than five hundred organisations across the globe and as a result gave concrete plans for the improvement of various elements of their work. The Red Cross of Serbia, with the support of the Capacity Building Fund of the International Federation, following the neighbouring National Societies in Hungary and North Macedonia, started using the BOCA last year tool and has so far conducted workshops in nine of its branches.