Summary:

The Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) was established in December 2013, based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNDP and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism. The agreement was welcomed at the highest level, by UNDP Administrator and the Prime Minister. The Centre is focused on projects that take into account the priorities in the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the EU integration process.

Objectives:

The vision defined in the strategic guidelines envisages that the Centre will become a competent technical and innovative centre which will: promote the introduction of a green economy approach; strengthen human and social resources for sustainable development in Montenegro; and support the strengthening of national management systems for sustainable development in general.

The Centre will support the efforts and development priorities of the country, through the efficient realization of its three key functions:

• Establishing a link between sustainable development policy and science in the context of the greening of the economy and the strengthening human and social resources and governance for sustainable development through applied research for the purpose of informed decision making.
• Providing project support to the implementation of the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030, the National Environmental and Climate Change Approximation Strategy and UN Conventions.
• Through introduction of green economy, awareness raising and increasing knowledge of sustainable development in national and regional context.

Activities:

Currently, UNDP through the Centre for Sustainable Development supports the Government with a number of projects, in the areas of: low carbon tourism, sustainable (renewable) energy, resource efficiency, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity protection, a as well as cultural heritage management. CSD holds a license for scientific research, issued by the Ministry of Science of Montenegro, and thus contributes to the country’s development, particularly with focus on creating better position of researchers in policy creation and in finding innovative solutions for the sustainable development problems.

Expected results:

CSD will continue advancing its project portfolio, both on resource mobilization and delivery side, by matching country’s development priorities with donors’ strategic goals, broadening donors base and improving different aspects of portfolio diversification (sectoral, resource, time, partners base diversification etc). Also, CSD will improve its scientific research activities in accordance with the license, thus contributing to linking science to policy decision making. Future CSD programme pipeline encompasses areas such as: smart cities, circular economy, innovation, technology transfer etc. Full potential and contribution in all main activity areas, CSD will reach through transformation from UNDP environmental sector into an independent technical and innovative centre, with a mission to support Montenegro’s overall sustainable development.