**UN Spends $94 Million on Strategic Priorities in Serbia**
The United Nations Country Team in Serbia has released a report stating that they spent over $94 million on strategic priorities in the country last year. This amount represents 81.6% of the total budget allocated for the year, which was $116.34 million.
According to the report, the funds were distributed among three key areas: green transition, education, governance, and crisis response. The report also highlights the progress made in these areas, including the acceleration of digitalization, particularly in e-Government and health services. However, it notes that there are still gaps in access to digital services.
The funding for the UN’s activities in Serbia came from a variety of sources, with locally raised contributions accounting for 47.3% of the total amount. The European Union was the largest single donor, providing 39.3% of the funds, followed by the Serbian government with 33.2%. The report also notes that the UN core resources accounted for 12.8%, while private sector funding and international financial institutions provided a smaller share.
**Serbia’s Progress on Sustainable Development Goals**
The report also mentions that Serbia ranked 35th worldwide in the 2024 Sustainable Development Solutions Network Report, which measures progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The UN is recognized as a trusted advisor and valued for its technical expertise, advocacy, and support to capacity development.
**Recommendations for Future Cooperation**
The report provides several recommendations for future cooperation between the UN and the Serbian government. These include elevating the UN’s role in Serbia’s transition to high-income status by focusing on policy advice, strategic advocacy, and global partnerships. It also recommends securing institutional sustainability by ensuring successful initiatives are integrated into national policies and budgets.
Additionally, the report suggests strengthening partnerships and financing, building deeper collaboration with international financial institutions, the EU, and the private sector to broaden development impact. It also calls for breaking structural barriers by intensifying reform advocacy in areas such as social protection, human rights, and gender equality.
**Conclusion**
The UN Country Team in Serbia’s report provides valuable insights into the country’s progress on strategic priorities and sustainable development goals. The recommendations provided offer a roadmap for future cooperation between the UN and the Serbian government to address the challenges facing the country.
