Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Grete Faremo, met with Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Ambassador Sem Fabrizi and Swiss Ambassador to Serbia Philippe Geux during the first day of her visit to Belgrade.
“The EU Delegation and Swiss Government – the contributors to the largest projects implemented by UNOPS in Serbia – are happy with the results which have been beneficial to sustainable development and the quality of people’s lives,“ said Grete Faremo, UNOPS Executive Director.
UNOPS, a specialised UN agency engaged in infrastructure, procurement and project management, is currently implementing eight projects worth nearly EUR50 million in Serbia. Apart from the EU Assistance for Flood Relief in Serbia programme and the reconstruction of damaged road structures, UNOPS is also implementing the European PROGRES programme aimed at sustainable development of 34 under-developed municipalities in Southeast and Southwest Serbia as well as projects promoting inclusion of vulnerable communities.
“Cooperation between UNOPS and the EU Delegation was instrumental for 2014 flood relief and improvement of infrastructure, giving a boost to economy and improving the life of people, its most vulnerable parts in particular,” UNOPS Executive Director said following her meeting with EU Ambassador Sem Fabrizi.
As stated during the meeting, UNOPS is helping Serbia to implement reform through projects contributing to Serbia’s advance on the EU path and achievement of sustainable development goals.
During her meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Serbia Philippe Geux, Grete Faremo said that UNOPS paid particular attention to application of the principles of good governing and gender equality, the cross-cutting aspects of all projects implemented by UNOPS in Serbia.
As Faremo pointed out during the meeting at the Ministry of European Integration, UNOPS was determined to continue to assist the Government of Serbia in implementing the reforms relevant to the European integration process.
During her meeting with the UN Serbia team, Under-Secretary Grete Faremo stressed UNOPS’ active engagement in the implementation of UN Development Partnership Framework 2016-2020, signed by the UN and Serbian Government, especially in areas of economic development, employment, social protection of vulnerable social groups and infrastructure improvement. Said document constitutes a comprehensive basis for cooperation and assistance extended by the UN system aimed at promotion and improvement of the overall economic, social and environmental development of Serbia.
