Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Naida Nišić, met with the Resident Representative of UNDP in Montenegro, Ekaterina Paniklova.

Paniklova and Nišić announced that their joint focus will continue to be the fight against poverty and the creation of conditions for a life and work tailored to the people in Montenegro.

The announced support from UNDP in enhancing social protection in Montenegro is of exceptional importance, especially in supporting institutions implementing this reform, a focal point of the Ministry’s activities. The Information System for Social Welfare is cited as a best practice example in the region and beyond, making UNDP’s assistance in further strengthening our capacities highly valuable, said the Minister Naida Nišić.

“We will continue our intensive cooperation in the upcoming period through joint efforts, and I expect the implementation of significant projects, including the reform of the disability assessment system”, Nišić emphasized.

Paniklova noted that UNDP will continue to support the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare in ensuring high-quality social protection in Montenegro. She added that the continuation of the Montenegrin Government’s flagship project – the Information System for Social Welfare (ISSS), known as the Social Card or e-Social, which marked the beginning of a comprehensive reform of social and child protection.

“We firmly believe that significant progress is achievable only when no one is left behind. Hence, by enhancing capacities at both national and local levels for social service provision and by modernizing the outdated and complex disability assessment system, we are committed to safeguarding human rights and supporting vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, youth, the elderly, and gender-based violence victims. This endeavour also aligns with Montenegro’s aspiration for EU Accession and fulfilment of the global Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals”, Paniklova highlighted.