Second Joint Steering Committee meeting of the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 of the United Nations and the Government of Serbia

Belgrade, 24 January 2023 – The UN in Serbia and the Government of Serbia organized the second Joint National Steering Committee (JNSC) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 (UNSDCF). The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of EU Integration Ms. Tanja Miscevic, UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Francoise Jacob, and Ambassador Vuk Žigić, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   

Minister Miščević noted that Agenda 2030 and European integration are national priorities for Serbia. She emphasized the importance of the development plan as an umbrella document of Serbia's strategic development plan, and stated that the first step is to prepare the legal framework for the development plan. "We have to consult and talk with everyone to make sure that our development strategy is successful," Miščević added.

"Working closer together and faster, we have so little time to deliver for the people and the planet. Together with our national counterparts, we will continue to advance the full realisation of Agenda 2030 with a people-centered approach to development and to promote values of solidarity, unity, and equity, to accelerate fundamental transformations in our economic and social models, anticipate risks and take robust preventive actions,” says Francoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia.

“Serbia has made noticeable progress since the adoption of the Agenda 2030, and is taking steps to ensure a safe and stable future. Its main priorities include helping vulnerable groups, strengthening the economy, reducing poverty, improving education, youth issues, gender equality, protecting the environment, and increasing respect for human rights and the rule of law,” says Vuk Zigic, Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Serbia.

UNSDCF, valued at 364 million dollars, of which aid totaling 121 million dollars was already realized by September 2022, represents the basis for supporting our country in three important strategic areas: 1) green transformation; 2) social protection/demographic resilience; and 3) rule of law, human rights, gender equality, and good governance, in accordance with Agenda 2030 and the Agenda for Accession to the European Union.

The Joint National Steering Committee of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the United Nations is the highest governing body of the United Nations Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development. 

All documents and presentations from the meeting are available at this link.