Coordination and society-wide dialogue on implementing the 2030 Agenda in Serbia - SDGs for all

Project completed

The project is a contribution to support an innovative society-wide dialogue on the priorities of Agenda 2030, which leads to citizen-oriented and inclusive policies that contribute to sustainable development. Civil society is supported to influence development priorities through multi-stakeholder platforms, the Government is strengthened to better coordinate and finance Agenda 2030 implementation and the quality and availability of data for Agenda 2030 implementation is improved.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Serbia
Governance
nothemedefined
Democratic participation and civil society
Decentralisation
Public sector policy
01.03.2019 - 30.09.2022
CHF  3’080’000
Background

Since early 2000 Serbia is taking important steps in social, political and economic development, but it lacks an overall development strategy. The reforms undertaken are largely driven by Serbia’s commitment to EU accession. The governmental coordination mechanism for the implementation of the Agenda 2030 has been in place since 2015. However, progress regarding the nationalisation of the SDGs has been slow.

A mapping of the Serbian strategic framework towards the SDGs showed the interconnectedness of the SDGs with EU accession chapters. Key bottlenecks are: lack of vertical coordination in many policy areas, inappropriate financial resource allocation for assuring their implementation, relatively low participation of the civil society and the private sector as well as lack of monitoring mechanisms. Furthermore, local governments (LG) are not yet aware of the relevance of the 2030 Agenda. A Swiss financed baseline review showed high interest of civil society and other stakeholders to influence Serbia’s development orientation, which constitutes an opportunity in a challenging political context.

Objectives The population of Serbia is profiting from sustainable and inclusive development.
Target groups Governmental institutions coordinating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda: Minister without Portfolio for demography and the Inter-ministerial working group for Agenda 2030, National Statistical Office national and local CSOs, researchers. The ultimate beneficiaries are all citizens of Serbia and groups which are at risk of being left behind.
Medium-term outcomes The policy formulation by the Serbian government in the area of 2030 Agenda priorities is the result of broader consultation with major stakeholders at national and local levels and based on reliable data and evidence.
Results

Expected results:  

Output 1: The coordination of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is improved.

Output 2: A society-wide dialogue on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is taking place.

Output 3: The quality and availability of policy-relevant data for 2030 Agenda implementation is improved.


Results from previous phases:  

A baseline review prepared within a small action supported by Switzerland showed that Serbia lacks a structured, evidence-based and effective societywide dialogue on development priorities. There is no shared vision regarding what kind of European society Serbia wants to be.

Since 2018 is GIZ supporting a project on public finance reforms (PFR) for SDGs financing. In order to reinforce these reforms by making them more responsive to the needs of the country, an additional component on participatory policy-making for SDG nationalization will be added. SDC contribution will be earmarked for this new component – “SDGs for All” – on which the present proposal is focused.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe
Project partners Contract partner
Foreign state institution
  • National State Institute North


Coordination with other projects and actors Given the transversal nature of the SDGs the project complements all Swiss interventions. Particular links can be established with projects on civil society, social inclusion and good governance. There will be complementarities with UN activities in relation to the SDGs and the project will build on already close cooperation and regular exchange with UNDP.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    3’080’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    2’815’314 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF   4’500’000
Project phases

Phase 1 01.03.2019 - 30.09.2022   (Completed)