Special Initiatives Millenium Development Goals (MDGs)
|
Millennium Development Goals
 
Importance of the MDG Approach The MDG approach has been extremely helpful in the preparation of the PRSP in Serbia and in the analysis of the SCG Country Common Assessment/UNDAF analysis and programme planning directly or indirectly contributing to MDG achievement. The Millennium Development Goals and Country Programme Outcomes have been linked in the UNDAF, thus assuring that the MDGs will take the highest priority in UNDP programming. “How Much is Serbia on Track?” MDG Report The MDG report for Serbia How Much is Serbia on Track? found that Serbia’s most important goal – the eradication of poverty – seems to be now further away than in 1990. Still in 2000, approximately one third of the population of Serbia (2.8 million) was poor, with an average monthly income of $30 (PPP – Purchasing Power Parity). Among them, more than 18% (1.4 million) lived in extreme poverty with less than $20 (PPP) per month. The recent draft of the PRSP estimated that approximately 10% of the population live below the poverty line set at 4,500 YUD and another 10% just close to it. This does not include the vulnerable segments of society, e.g. Refugees and Roma. The poverty index increased from 14.1% in 1990 to 36.5% in 2000, while in the same period the poverty gap ratio increased from 1.0% to 3.1% in 2000. Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) process has enabled the need to establish appropriate policies, programmes and projects that can progressively reduce poverty levels. All indicators measuring universal primary education show that this goal has already been achieved in Serbia, with net enrolment in primary education at 95% and literacy rates of those between 15 – 24 years old at 99%. A large difference exists between standards in urban and rural schools, particularly with regard to accessibility for ethnic minorities, including Roma children. While there is no gender disparity in primary and secondary education, the inequality of women is more prevalent in the area of employment, particularly at the managerial and higher paid positions; in public and political life; in wages and salaries, and in rural areas. UNDP in collaboration with UNICEF and OSCE has supported the establishment and work of a Gender Working Group during 2002, to establish a National Strategy for Gender Mainstreaming in the then FRY, as well as initial activities to raise public awareness on gender-related issues. While a UNICEF study (Reference: Ten Years of Child Rights in Yugoslavia, 1990 – 2000) shows that Serbia is on track with this goal, it noted that the steady decline in mortality rates in the 1990s was not continuous, and that in the last three years, no serious improvements were noted, with even some deterioration observed instead. UNDP has played a leading role during 2002 in the UNAIDS inter-agency Theme Group on HIV/AIDS responsible for preparing a national AIDS prevention and control strategy, and has helped mobilise $3.5 million from the Global AIDS Fund. Environmental sustainability in Serbia remains a major challenge, but improvements are taking place as the closure of inefficient plant, privatisation and restructuring of the Serbian economy takes place, particularly in the energy and manufacturing sectors. First MDG Review UNDP has supported a team of experts who are giving support to the Government of Serbia in issuing the first MDG Review. These experts are working together with the Government – Inter-ministerial Working Group for MDG Monitoring and Reporting in close collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister towards the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) Implementation and Monitoring Unit and the EU Integration Unit. This report has been completed in June 2005.
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
|
Serbia