The Sustainable and Local Development Cluster focuses UNDP's assistance to Serbia in efforts to level regional development disparities by application of Area-based Development approaches, as well as to advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development - economic development, social development and environmental protection at the local, national, regional and global levels.
For the definition of a framework for its strategic orientation in 2009 SLD Cluster refers to the Sustainable Development Strategy adopted by the Government of Serbia in 2008 with particular focus on the following priorities: EU membership, Development of human resources and increased employment, Development of infrastructure and balanced regional development and Protection and enhancement of the environment and rational use of natural resources.
With this in mind the Cluster objectives are outlined as: helping multi-bi partnerships develop governance systems for peaceful, inclusive, equitable sustainable human development in Serbia on its path to European integrations. This orientation is also consistent with: National MDG framework, Poverty Reduction Strategy, European Integration Strategy and Regional Development endeavors.
The Sustainable and Local Development Cluster, therefore, continues to work on two converging fronts:
Environment and Sustainable Development
To address critical pollution areas in line with the national remediation priorities;
To assist Serbia in responding to its obligations emanating from country accession to international and/or global treaties, conventions and protocols related to environmental protection and sustainable development;
To support implementation of policies for more effective environmental governance;
To support market development for climate and environmentally friendly technologies;
To provide policy advise in the energy sector.
Local Development
To help eliminate inequalities, encourage political representation and participation, support access to (social) services and reduce discrepancies in wealth found at inter-community, inter-municipality, and inter-regional/national levels in South Serbia thus reducing inter-ethnic tensions and conflict risk as major obstacles to prosperity of this region;
To help establish good local governance, enhance socio-economic development in line with local and intermunicipal priorities, capacitate local actors for accession to EU support programmes as well as for sensible migration management;
To help local communities and their external partners establish decentralized partnerships for local development.
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Serbia