Montenegro

What UNDP is doing to achieve the MDGs in Montenegro

In 2002 UNDP established a relatively small liaison office in Montenegro, then a Republic of FRY, with two national staff and one international Head of Programme. Over a 5 year period the programme expanded, leading in the course of time to the establishment of a full-fledged Country Office in 2006, with a programme portfolio target of approximately $30 million until 2011.

In 2005, the Government of Montenegro prepared its first Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Report, using the goals as a framework for determining the status of development at the time. UNDP provided invaluable assistance to the government in the preparation of the report.

The report noted the following challenges for MDG achievement: poverty (including regional variations and high poverty levels among vulnerable groups such as Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptian minorities, internally displaced persons and refugees), the Constitution of a modern State based on the rule of law and democratization, and revitalization of the economy within the framework of sustainable development.

In 2009, the Government of Montenegro initiated preparation of the new report on the Millennium Development Goals, which is expected to be published in 2010. More...

To achieve the MDGs, Montenegro has been focusing on European integration, strengthening governance and judiciary, poverty reduction, social inclusion and especially the fight against corruption and organized crime. Other challenges would include the implementation and institutionalization of reform, public investments and regional cooperation, strengthened democratic processes and respect for human and minority rights.

In countries in transition such as Montenegro, almost everything being done by UNDP is MDG related. On the surface, the uninitiated may think it dubious to claim that efforts to reform the judiciary, cross train public administrators and fight corruption are going to make life better for people or lead to a healthier environment but the slightest bit of lateral thinking will lead anyone to the conclusion that they are. In fact, such efforts are fundamental to achieving all MDGs.

Development work done by UNDP Montenegro is divided into four Corporate Thematic Areas, also known as clusters. All four clusters work on projects and programmes which contribute to the achievement of the MDGs. Those projects and programmes can encompass more than one of the MDGs. The four clusters within UNDP Montenegro are:

The Social Inclusion cluster, which works to:

• increase the capacities of the institutions of Montenegrin civil society and government, including the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Welfare
• effectively implement anti-corruption efforts
• combat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB)
• bring about a more gender sensitive society, empower women and attain social equality of the sexes
• develop employment policies for greater social inclusion of marginalized groups

The Democratic Governance cluster, which works to:

• increase the administrative capacities of the government of Montenegro to meet its strategic priorities for reform of public administration and European integration
• demilitarize Montenegro by safely disposing of hazardous military waste material (rocket propellant); contributing to efforts to safely store conventional weapons; safely dispose of obsolete conventional explosives and weapons
• support judicial reform in Montenegro - in part by strengthening the capacities of the judiciary to fight corruption and organized crime and by providing the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme State Prosecutor and the Courts with relevant expertise and equipment

The Economy and Environment cluster, which works to:

• ensure environmentally responsible economic development through sustainable planning and use of natural resources, by using information technology (GIS)
• assist the government in developing environmentally sound spatial planning legislation and policy
• minimize the harmful impact upon the environment caused by energy production by advocating for renewable energy projects, policies and legislation
• contribute to a healthier and more vibrant economy by aiding in the development of a sustainable tourism industry
• ensure biodiversity conservation in underdeveloped areas

The Regional Environmental Programme cluster, which works, in Montenegro and other Western Balkan countries, to:

• address environmental problems through remediation of high priority hot spots - of which nine have been identified and targeted for action, including one in Montenegro
• improve local and national policy dialogue and the supply of domestic professional services in the environmental management sector
• strengthen and build capacity in the Western Balkans countries to address environmental problems through regional co-operation

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