J. Joksimović and Jacob on continuation of Development Cooperation between Serbia and UN Agencies

January 21 2020 | Belgrade

J. Joksimović and Jacob on continuation of Development Cooperation between Serbia and UN Agencies

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović and UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia Françoise Jacob have met with the representatives of the United Nations Country Team in Serbia, which consists of 19 UN Development Agencies, programmes and funds operating in Serbia. They have discussed models of future cooperation - specifically in the context of planning a new programming phase for the period 2021-2025.

The new programme Cooperation Framework will be formulated over the next few months through a series of consultations with relevant partners, in accordance with the guidelines on development cooperation stipulated by the ongoing UN Development System Reform. The document is expected to be signed in mid-2020.

At the first meeting, priorities of cooperation have been defined, and views have been exchanged regarding national priorities, efficient cooperation and coordination between the UN Country Team in Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Serbia in the forthcoming programming phase.

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has said that cooperation with the UN is of utmost importance for a faster and more successful implementation of reforms in Serbia, given the rich UN experience in the field of local development, gender equality, environmental protection, disaster risk reduction and other projects that affect the socio-economic development of a country. She has stated that cooperation with the UN could also be extended to help in preparing Serbian administration for the future management of EU structural and cohesion funds, upon Serbia's accession to full EU membership. Joksimović has stressed that, in drafting the document ‘Priorities for International Assistance for the period until 2025’, which will be adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in the first quarter of 2020, the Ministry of European Integration took into account the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and defined measures for their achievement.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia, Françoise Jacob, has stressed that the Framework of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the period 2021-2025 belongs to the first generation of UN Strategic Development Plans, following the entry into force of the UN Development System Reform 2019.
“We are pleased to have a constructive and open dialogue and active participation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia in this process from the very beginning. The UN Country Team will work to improve development processes that have a positive impact on the progress of Serbian European integration and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda," Jacob has added.

Future cooperation projects include activities aimed at realizing development projects that are important for promoting and improving the sustainable and socio-economic development of the Republic of Serbia, which is closely linked to progress in Serbia's EU accession process.
At the meeting, the future framework of the so-called ‘European Green Deal’ and the ‘Western Balkans Green Deal’ have been specifically discussed, as well as the possibility of cooperation in the development of local strategies and action plans for demanding areas that will be in focus in the forthcoming perod.

The process of formulating a new Cooperation Framework began at the end of last year by evaluating the results of the Development Partnership Framework 2016-2020 and preparing a joint analysis of development priorities in Serbia.

Source: Tanjug