Press Release

The United Nations in North Macedonia launches 2021 Annual Results Report

09 June 2022

Working together leads to better and more sustainable results, boosts efficiency and eliminates overlaps. This is one of the main lessons from the newly published 2021 Annual Results Report of the United Nations (UN) in North Macedonia, which demonstrates the collective engagement of the UN family with the Government and all other partners contributing towards the country’s sustainable development.

"SDGs are not just an additional plan for the world but are a shared vision and therefore we must embrace their transformation and implementation. In order to achieve the 2030 Agenda, North Macedonia remains fully committed to the development of institutions and partnerships that will enable sustainability for present and future generations", underlined the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani.

The report focuses on the results that have been achieved and the lessons learned during 2021, the first year of implementation of the joint UN-Government 2021-2025 Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SDCF).

“COVID-19 crisis reminded the whole world that we are all interconnected and that we need to work together towards sustainable development and that no one is left behind”, says Rossana Dudziak, UN Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia. “This report showcases how working together can contribute to achieving better results with our collective efforts.”

Following the priorities identified in the 2021-2025 SDCF, the report records progress in the areas of inclusive prosperity, quality services for all, healthy environment, and good governance.

Among many others, some of the results highlighted in the report are the 6,822 new jobs for young people that were created, more than 500 companies that received advisory and digitalized services, the consolidation of 1,078 hectares of agricultural land, the economic revival, and the return to in-person education. Also, the employment picked up, especially for women, who suffered the most during the pandemic, but less so for youth, which remains of concern.

A total of 24 UN entities worked closely with over 130 partners in North Macedonia and their work is aligned with the country’s national development and strategic priorities, its international human rights and gender equality obligations, as well as commitments towards achieving Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Online version of the report is available in three languages, English, Macedonian and Albanian at the following link.