New Monitoring Report by the “SDGs for All” Platform: Is the End Goal in Sight?

“SDGs for All” Platform

December 2024.

Civil society organizations gathered around the “SDGs for All” Platform have published the fourth monitoring report on the preparedness of the Republic of Serbia for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, entitled “Is the End Goal in Sight?”

This report is intended for the representatives of relevant institutions, civil society organizations, the academic community, corporate sectors and citizens interested in gaining insight into Serbia’s current readiness to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the progress made in certain priority areas, and the possible next steps.

What do the latest data show?

According to the “Europe Sustainable Development Report 2023/24”, the Republic of Serbia ranks 30th out of 34 European countries analyzed, marking an improvement of one position compared to the previous year. Five goals are reported to be on track for achievement, slight progress has been observed for another five goals, while stagnation is noted for the remaining five. Data are unavailable for SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 14: Life Below Water.

The organizations within the “SDGs for All” Platform emphasize that the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda itself are highly complex and require adaptation to national circumstances. This entails defining developmental priorities and relevant sub-goals reflecting Serbia’s priorities, followed by the localization of SDGs, i.e., their integration into local planning documents. The entire process must be conducted with broad societal consultations and improved partnerships across various sectors. This is a challenging endeavor, particularly given that only six years remain for the implementation of the Agenda.

Steps Towards the Goal:

Positioning the 2030 Agenda as a Priority: To establish the 2030 Agenda as a priority process, the authority for its management, coordination, and implementation must be explicitly defined in the Law on Ministries. Additionally, these processes should be included in the annual Program of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Aligning Strategic Documents with Agenda 2030: Another key recommendation involves aligning planning documents and the legal framework with the 2030 Agenda, such as adopting the Development Plan of the Republic of Serbia, the highest-ranking document in Serbia’s development planning hierarchy. Its adoption should involve a broad and transparent societal dialogue, encompassing the definition of developmental priorities and the adaptation of SDGs to Serbia’s circumstances.

Establishing Institutional Mechanisms: Institutional and coordination mechanisms must be strengthened by forming an Inter-Ministerial Working Group for the Implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which would collaborate with stakeholders across various activities and levels. Moreover, it is crucial to consolidate and enhance the visibility of information about all institutions, working groups, and other bodies involved in this process.

Monitoring Progress and Reporting: The “Progress Report on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 in the Republic of Serbia” published by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia should be supplemented with an assessment of the distance from target indicator values and the effectiveness of public policy measures associated with these indicators. It should also clearly indicate which indicators lack available data, thus preventing conclusions from being drawn where insufficient information exists.

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