Strengthening of democratic institutions, fostering transparency and building effective mechanisms for civil society engagement are essential to ensure Serbia’s progress toward a democratic future in the EU. In this context, UNOPS supported Serbia’s Ministry of European Integration in advancing reforms critical to EU accession, with a focus on developing a Roadmap for the functioning of democratic institutions. The UNOPS expert mapped relevant national documents, identified gaps between EU and international recommendations and proposed a coordinating and monitoring mechanism for implementation. A comparative analysis of similar initiatives in Albania and North Macedonia informed these efforts, culminating in the development of Serbia’s Roadmap for Democratic Institutions.

The UNOPS advisor supported the development of a comprehensive Roadmap for the functioning of democratic institutions in Serbia, laying out clear steps to strengthen democratic processes and governance. This included actions to enhance the integrity of elections, such as improving electoral monitoring and promoting greater public participation through inclusive consultations and outreach campaigns. In this regard, the K4R programme collaborated with the Government and the civil society actors to improve institutional capacity through regular training programs for public administration and civil society organization (CSO) representatives, equipping them with the tools to engage effectively in public policy-making. The initiative also strengthened the legal and policy frameworks to ensure that CSOs have a meaningful role in decision-making processes.

The work of the K4R programme has enhanced relevant institutions’ ability to achieve their mission by promoting effective management, strong governance and a sustained commitment to managing alien and invasive alien species. It advances more robust and transparent systems for invasive species control, which support sustainable development by ensuring the long-term health of natural resources and ecosystems, which are essential for future generations, while adequate and timely responses will limit the potential economic damage for Montenegro.

“The Roadmap will help Serbia better guide its activities in the process of election reform, functioning of Parliament and cooperation with civil society.” – Senior Advisor on EU integration – support to preparation of the Roadmap for functioning of democratic institutions, UNOPS K4R Programme

The assignment directly contributes to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by enhancing democratic governance through legislative and institutional reforms – particularly by aligning electoral laws with international standards, fostering transparency in the National Assembly, improving public administration efficiency and promoting inclusive decision-making - ultimately reinforcing trust in public institutions.