About
The Knowledge for Reform Action in the Western Balkans Programme provides capacity development and assistance to government institutions across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo¹, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia as they pursue EU integration and engage in reform processes. The Programme reflects Norway’s commitment to support the region and is implemented by UNOPS.
Norway and UNOPS' joint commitment
“Norway is committed to supporting the Western Balkan countries in their European integration and reform processes. This programme offers capacity to accelerate the progress on their respective national reform agendas”, highlighted Ms. Kristin Melsom, former Director for Southeast Europe in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, currently Ambassador of Norway to Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
“The UNOPS program aids Bosnia and Herzegovina to move closer to EU membership by facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices. As a long-standing partner in supporting EU accession across the Western Balkans, Norway shares this commitment to fostering regional stability and prosperity.” H.E. Ms. Kathrine Biering, Ambassador of Norway to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“UNOPS is honored to implement this joint initiative with Norway. The K4R programme has gained momentum and our direct EU integration support is now widely recognised. With highly effective structures and systems in place, we are ready to deliver and bridge knowledge and implementation gaps, facilitating reform action across the Western Balkans” noted Tim Lardner, UNOPS’ Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.
Programme introduction by Jochen Penker, UNOPS Chief Technical Advisor
The programme’s direction is shaped by beneficiaries’ needs at national and cross-national levels in the Western Balkans. Within EU accession negotiating Clusters 1 – 5, the project assesses beneficiary requests through a climate lens, prioritizing the environmental impact of UNOPS services in alignment with SDGs 7 and 13, as well as the European Green Deal.
Collaborative partnerships with the European Union Delegations (EU) and United Nations (UN) Country Teams on the ground are embedded within the programme’s operations through close consultations, ensuring comprehensive engagement and cooperation.
UNOPS is responsible for managing and implementing the programme, providing advisory services and tailored expertise to partner governments in the Western Balkans. The programme’s core objective is to strengthen institutional, administrative, and legislative frameworks through technical assistance and knowledge transfer. To achieve this, UNOPS forges strategic partnerships with international, regional and national interlocutors, fostering synergies and maximizing impact.