UNDP is present in Croatia since 1996 when the first Liaison Office was established. The office became a fully-fledged Resident Representative Country Office in 2001. UNDPs presence in Croatia is governed by a Standard Basic Assistance Agreement with the Government of Croatia.
UNDP supported interventions are also fully aligned with the EU Accession strategy priorities, the initiatives of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) of the World Bank. The programme was developed in a highly consultative manner involving all relevant line ministries, Central State Office for Development Strategy, local authorities, civil society partners and UN Agencies over a 6-month period.
Our Mission UNDP targets a range of developmental needs in Croatia, including improving living conditions and economic opportunities in war-affected, rural and remote areas; promoting energy efficiency and environmental protection, particularly on the Dalmatian coast; advocating the full social inclusion of people with disabilities, minorities and other vulnerable groups; and enhancing justice and human security. UNDP's mission is captured in a simple statement: "Leave no one behind."
As Croatia evolves and concludes its preparations to join the European Union (EU), UNDP's role is changing as well. Most UNDP projects currently involve helping institutions and communities prepare for EU accession. At the same time, the emphasis of its efforts is shifting from development projects inside the country to the sharing of Croatia's experience and expertise with other countries. .
Find out more about what we do - Croatia's success stories
February 2012 - The first issue of 'The Development Advocate' showcases the 12 winning entries of UNDP's first annual storytelling competition. Read the story on Croatia's witness and victims support offices: 'Witness Support Offices help to deliver justice' (p. 10)
January 2012 - This publication features success stories from 16 countries where UNDP support has resulted in transformative changes, including by fostering the growth of institutional and human capacities. Read the success story on energy efficiency programme in Croatia: 'CROATIA: Energy Efficiency Programme generates huge savings' (p. 48-51)
April 2010 - Delivering on Commitments - Read the Administrator's Report for 2009/2010 featuring success story on Croatia's Arms Collection Campaign 'Spot the Odd One Out: Less Arms - Less Tragedies', part of the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Control project. 'Up close Croatia: Controlling Arms, Preventing Violence' (p. 26-27)
Focus of Our Assistance
UNDP Croatia focuses on regional development and socio-economic recovery of less developed, war affected areas, poverty reduction and social inclusion of vulnerable groups, environmental protection and energy efficiency, support to business development and corporate social responsibility, capacity building in field of development cooperation, elections, judiciary, arms collection/destruction and crime reductions, and HIV/AIDS prevention.
The Country Programme 2012-2013 is the result of consultations with government and other partners, out of which five linked programme components have been developed:
- social inclusion - sustainable local development and regional disparities - environmental governance and climate change - justice and human security - development cooperation and knowledge sharing on European integration.
Facilitated by the Bratislava Regional Centre (BRC), and in line with priorities expressed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, UNDP transfers knowledge and expertise about East-East cooperation to support an emerging donor role for Croatia. Good governance practices emphasize support for the contextualization of the Millennium Development Goals and the related reporting process, involving government and civil society counterparts, UN and other international partners. UNDP produces every two years a Croatian Human Development Report and sectoral studies, and provides expertise to the Croatian Government in the complex process of transition.
Programme Activities UNDP programme is being achieved through a targeted approach to strategic national partners and programme presence both centrally, in Zagreb, and in the field, in our field offices in Petrinja, Zadar and Split.
UNDP works in partnership with ministries, counties, and municipalities, civil society organizations and private-sector partners. Successful initiatives in which UNDP has engaged in Croatia include:
Through energy-efficiency partnerships with 20 ministries, 20 counties and 93 cities, conducting the systematic monitoring and management of energy and water use in 7,000 publicsector buildings across Croatia, resulting in savings to the state budget so far of HRK 91 million per year and a significant reduction in the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
Training more than 9,200 Croatian officials, including President Ivo Josipović and his advisors, on how to run a "green office."
Creating, together with the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, seven offices to assist crime victims called to testify in court proceedings. So far 12,000 people have received support from the offices, and the Council of Europe has praised the Croatian model.
Shifting Dalmatia's largest olive grove and largest vineyard to fully organic production, and establishing 83 other pilot "green businesses" in agriculture, mariculture, and eco-tourism.
Creating, in partnership with Zadar County and the Vice Vlatković Vocational School, a Solar Education Center where residents (many of them unemployed) can receive certified training as solar equipment technicians in a growing market for renewable energy.
Establishing certified training programmes to prepare agricultural producers milk, cheese, fruits, vegetables, wine, sheep, goats, and other products to compete on the EU marketplace.
Preparing rural communities to work together to access and implement EU funding through the creation and strengthening of Local Action Groups (LAGs), the EU-standard grassrootslevel planning and decision-making mechanism for the development of rural areas.
With EU funding, rebuilding the facades of Radnički dom, the most important architectural monument in the heart of Vukovar, which has stood demolished and empty since the war, and overseeing a broad community discussion on the future uses of the interior.
In partnership with the Croatian police, collecting more than 75,000 handguns and explosive devices from the public in an effort to remove dangerous weapons from circulation, and supporting the destruction of at least 30,000 surplus weapons to fight illicit trafficking.
Helping 114 cities ensure access to public facilities and services for people with disabilities.
Working with the NGO "Status M" to promote healthy models of masculinity among high-school students, as part of a campaign to engage men in the fight against domestic violence.
Supporting the training in HIV/AIDS monitoring of more than 1,700 specialists from 84 different countries in the past eight years at the Andrija Štampar School of Public Health.
Organizing, together with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, a series of peer-to-peer seminars in which Croatia's EU negotiating team shares advice with prospective negotiators from other countries in the region aspiring to EU membership.
Programmes in Croatia
UNDP activities in Croatia are clustered around 5 distinct programme areas:
Croatia
UNDP Croatia focuses on regional development and socio-economic recovery of less developed, war affected areas, poverty reduction and social inclusion of vulnerable groups, environmental protection and energy efficiency, support to business development and corporate social responsibility, capacity building in field of development cooperation, elections, judiciary, arms collection/destruction and crime reductions, and HIV/AIDS prevention.