Celebrating the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund partnerships

Once more we gather to celebrate the continued role out of the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund, a fund that is part of a new generation of country-based pooled funds which create a common platform for joint action for enhancing sustainable development. This Fund is based on the principles of shared values for accelerating development of Montenegro, and will help achieve the countries key strategic objectives to join the European Union and achieve the 2030 Agenda.

Today, we are celebrating two new strategic partnerships –  the Montenegro SDG Acceleration fund will be joined today by the European Union and the Government of Austria, who will work together with Luxembourg, Switzerland and the Government of Montenegro in partnership with the UN family to further enhance sustainable development for Montenegro.

We have already shown in the first round of allocation that this fund is a strong catalyst and common space for deliberations between the Government, UN-family, donors and other partners to formulate strategic policies and development interventions. And by doing so, we jointly help Montenegro move closer to its foreign policy priority to join the European Union.

But, first, allow me to sincerely and personally thank the President of Montenegro, Mr. Jakov Milatovic, and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dr. Dritan Abazovic. Both whom have personally and professionally, in current, and previous capacities, supported the development of this Fund, and by doing so contributed to its’ success. What we are building here in Montenegro is setting presidency throughout the United Nations Development System, our colleagues in UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes across the region of Europe and elsewhere are carefully monitoring our joint work here in Montenegro, as this is considered both very innovative and catalytic.

Secondly, I would like to thank the European Union, and Ambassador Popa and EU Head of Cooperation Mr. Yngve Engstrom in particular, for both a close, strong and strategic partnership with the United Nations. Once again, we join hands for common good and progress. This time, with the SDG Acceleration fund, we are also raising a bar – the type of partnership we are celebrating today is truly groundbreaking and very innovative, the EU is investing so-called non-earmarked funds in a pooled funding mechanism. By doing so, the EU not only supports the sustainable development of Montenegro and the EU accession of the country, but places trust in the reforms of the United Nations.

Thirdly, we are grateful to the Government of Austria, and ADA in particular, another close partner of the United Nations and strong supporter of development of the Western Balkans. We are grateful for recognizing the transformative potential of the Fund by ADA, and for joining this partnership and, on the basis of exception, providing bilateral support from the regional Western Balkans development strategy. We are privileged to have you with us on this quest and I would like to extend my personal gratitude to Ambassador Stift, Managing Director of the Austrian Development Agency for his agencies decision to join our fund.

Last but certainly not least, we are very proud to present to you all today our new donation platform and the subsequent launch of the private sector partnership window of the Fund. The donation platform is one of the proofs of innovative and inclusive approaches of the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund. This platform is an invitation to all businesses, private sector, individuals, and friends of Montenegro and the United Nations to enable support for sustainable development in the country.

We are therefore very proud to announce that first ever company to join this partnership, the National Electric Enterprise – EPCG. EPCG will for the coming year, sponsor the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund through their electric bills, and thus bring the Fund closer to every household, private and public entity in Montenegro. Allow me to take this opportunity to really thank EPCG for recognizing the importance of investing in sustainable development in Montenegro.

The partnership with EPCG also shows that Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund is not only about finances. It is an open invitation to everybody to take care of our common environment, to work and invest more so that poverty and hunger can be eradicated, quality of education improved, women respected the same as men, and institutions are strong enough to sustain wellbeing and peace for all.

The United Nations is proud for the opportunity to offer a unique platform for all these different quests. The road is never an easy one, but we are ready to work and walk it together with you all in the years to come, we still have a few miles to reach 2030, I am convinced that doing it together has a much higher chance of success that walking the path of Sustainable Development alone.

So I hereby extend an open invitation to all – our Member States and private sector partners – to seriously consider to join the Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund and join us all in the journey ahead for the full realization of the sustainable development of Montenegro on its path towards the full membership of the European Union.

Thank you.