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From March 25th to 27th, Ararat Alikhanyan, Program Coordinator at YCCD NGO, participated in a study visit to Serbia. The visit was organized by the Armenian and Serbian offices of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) to explore Serbia’s best practices in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Armenian delegation included representatives from local governments and NGOs. Delegations from Tajikistan, Georgia, and North Macedonia also attended, fostering a collaborative exchange of knowledge and experiences.

 

During the visit, participants were presented with insights from various state and non-governmental entities on the role of the Serbian government in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), developing national strategies, and enhancing the capacities of local self-governments in alignment with the SDGs. Key presentations included the “SDGs for All” platform and the involvement of civil society in SDG implementation.

The delegation was also hosted by the Ministry of Human Rights, Minority Rights, and Social Dialogue in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. This ministry, among others, is housed in the historic building of the former Yugoslav Communist Party. The minister elaborated on the department’s functions in sustainable development, the protection and promotion of human rights, and best practices in public dialogue for the localization of SDGs.

The participants visited the city of Užice to learn about best practices in localizing the SDGs at the municipal level. The mayor of Užice welcomed the delegation, and the speaker of the local parliament presented the city’s 7-year development plan, aligned with the SDGs. Representatives from Užice’s civil society, who collaborate closely with local governments on SDG implementation and social cohesion, also addressed participants’ questions.

On the third day of the visit, a workshop was held to explain the process of creating roadmaps for SDG localization at the local level. The workshop covered the entire process from problem analysis to potential solutions. Using practical methods, participants developed realistic strategies for localizing various SDGs.