Over the three and a half years of implementation of the “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” programme, the capacities of local governments for environmental management were strengthened, 100 public policies and strategic documents were developed, 18 partnerships with civil society organizations were implemented, and nearly 13,000 young people were engaged in the development of local environmental policies.
Results of improved environmental governance at the local level were presented at the programme’s final event held at Europe House in Belgrade. The event brought together representatives of local governments, institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners. During the programme, awards were also presented to local governments that achieved particularly significant results in addressing local environmental challenges through implemented activities.
The first prize was awarded to the Municipality of Knjaževac for the project “A More Sustainable Tomorrow – Agriculture in Action,” implemented in partnership with the “Timočki klub” association. The project focused on promoting sustainable agriculture through the safe collection and disposal of pesticide packaging in rural areas.
The second prize went to the Municipality of Prijepolje, which, in cooperation with the Mountaineering Society “Kamena Gora,” implemented a project to improve the management and conservation of the natural monument “Sopotnica Waterfalls.” A lasting result of the project is the establishment of a Management Council for the protected area, bringing together representatives of local government, the tourism sector, civil society organizations, and the local community.
The third prize was awarded to the Municipality of Bojnik for the project “Manage Waste for a Better Future – No Time to Waste!”, implemented in cooperation with the “Konektor” association. The project contributed to improving waste management through the introduction of a geographic information system (GIS) for mapping illegal dumpsites and supporting data-driven decision-making.
The “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” programme, over the past three and a half years, supported a wide range of activities aimed at improving environmental governance in cities and municipalities across Serbia. A particular focus was placed on strengthening institutional capacities, improving local policies, and developing partnerships between local governments and civil society organizations.
“During the implementation of the PRO programme, UNOPS focused on building institutional capacities at the local level. This is essential for creating sustainable local systems, as well as for supporting broader reform processes in the long term. However, sustainable environmental governance does not depend solely on investments and infrastructure, but also on strengthened institutions, effective coordination, and the accountability assumed by local authorities for the success of such initiatives. I am pleased that all these elements were integrated during the programme’s implementation,” said Michela Telatin, Director of the UNOPS Office for South East Europe.
“Within activities related to environmental governance, we strengthened the capacities of 564 representatives of local governments in the fields of environment and climate change adaptation. In addition, a key dimension of the supported programme was the strengthening of partnerships between local governments and civil society organizations, as well as the active involvement of nearly 13,000 young people in the development of local environmental policies,” said Rahel Fischer, Head of Governance Department at the Swiss Cooperation Office.
A key role in implementation was also played by cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, which supported the strengthening of local capacities and alignment of activities with national priorities and regulations.
“The Ministry is strongly committed to further strengthening local capacities and improving the environmental governance system, as this ensures long-term results and more resilient local communities. Our role is to ensure coordination, compliance with national regulations, and support to all relevant stakeholders in implementation,” said Mirjana Todorović, Head of the Waste Management System Development Unit and Cooperation with Local Governments at the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
The “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” programme is jointly implemented by United Nations agencies in Serbia – UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA and UNEP, in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and with financial support from the Government of Switzerland.
The event is part of EU Green Week, which for 25 years has served as Europe’s leading environmental campaign and an annual opportunity to raise awareness, promote, and discuss current and future European Union environmental policies. EU Green Week 2026 encourages citizens to become part of the change – through small everyday decisions that together can have a major impact on the future of nature and society.