Two new regional initiatives launched in fall 2025 aim to strengthen local governance and cyber resilience across the Western Balkans and Moldova. These are the first regional projects under the Public and Private Finance for Development (PPFD).
Funded by the Slovak Ministry of Finance and implemented by UNDP, these initiatives represent a new step in fostering regional cooperation and knowledge-sharing. As Viktoria Rieger Mlynarcikova, UNDP Programme Specialist explains,
“These first regional initiatives show the ambition to go beyond national borders, bringing countries together in ways not previously pursued in our partnership. By sharing experiences and experimenting with new approaches, governments and local authorities can manage public resources more responsibly and safeguard critical infrastructure against risks that are increasingly global in nature.”
Smart Finance for Accountable Local Governance
The Smart Finance for Accountable Local Governance project is designed to strengthen public audit practices focusing on SDG auditing at the local level, ensuring that public resources are used more efficiently and transparently. It connects ministries of finance, supreme audit institutions, anti-corruption bodies and municipalities from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to exchange knowledge and develop a common approach to SDG-oriented auditing tailored to local governments.
Kick off meeting held online, September 2025
Because nearly 70% of the Sustainable Development Goals are to be achieved at the local level, the initiative emphasizes the crucial role of municipalities. It also introduces new tools and practices to improve governance, accountability and corruption prevention. The project is aligned with the EU Reform Agenda and contributes to the Western Balkans Growth Plan.
Cybersecurity for a Resilient Digital Future
The Cybersecurity for a Resilient Digital Future project addresses the growing challenge of protecting the energy sector and other critical infrastructure from cyber threats. Over the next two years, it will strengthen regional cybersecurity capacities, implement standards, mobilize private sector investment and scale innovative solutions.
The initiative fosters coordination among national cybersecurity agencies, energy ministries and private sector partners in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia, leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to build a resilient and future-ready digital ecosystem.
Even at this early stage, the projects lay the groundwork for practical improvements that will enhance governance, strengthen accountability, and boost regional resilience.