Dialogue for the future

Summary:

The overall goal of the joint regional programme, Dialogue for the Future (DFF), is to help create more spaces for constructive dialogue between various communities, between citizens and their highest elected leaders, thus promoting peaceful coexistence, increased trust and genuine respect for diversity. This peacebuilding initiative was launched in 2014 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), following discussions between the United Nations Secretary-General and the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2015, during the Brdo-Brijuni Summit in Budva, Montenegro, the leaders of the region recognized the DFF project implemented and encouraged its expansion into South East Europe.  During the second phase of the BiH-focused project (2017-2019), the United Nations Country Teams in BiH, Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia, worked with institutional and civil society stakeholders to design a joint regional programme that aims to:

  • support dialogue and collaborative action around jointly identified priorities;
  • empower adolescents and youth for constructive engagement and leadership;
  • nurture inter-cultural dialogue;
  • strengthen objective media reporting and positive storytelling;
  • Empower young girls and women for greater social activism.

The programme is implemented jointly by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in partnership with Presidency Offices and government institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia, funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.

Objectives:

The Joint Regional Programme Dialogue for the Future (DFF) overall goal is to help create more spaces for constructive dialogue between various communities and between citizens and their highest elected leaders; and to help promote positive coexistence and genuine respect for diversity in and across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Republic of Serbia.

The essence of the two-year regional programme is embedded into 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with focus on four Sustainable Development Goals: Quality education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).

Activities:

The programme activities, under the component implemented by UNDP in Montenegro, include:

  1. Capacity development of young people to constructively engage in dialogue and decision-making processes, lead positive transformation in their communities, fight stereotypes and promote acceptance of diversity;
  2. Leadership and advocacy capacity development for girls and women;
  3. Convening dialogue events with stakeholders to identify and propose actions on social cohesion priorities at country and regional level;
  4. Actions on common priorities, identified and agreed at dialogue events, to be supported with grants for various groups and organizations to implement solutions to commonly identified priorities; and
  5. Initiatives for policy improvements to be supported through thematic advocacy and public information campaigns/interventions.   

Expected results:

In the frameworks of the project, UNDP will deliver the following results in Montenegro:

  • At least 25 young diplomats from the participating countries trained in intercultural communication;
  • 60 women empowered to advocate and lead constructively;
  • In-country and regional dialogues with various stakeholders to identify common social cohesion priorities;
  • At least 2,500 people benefit from cross-country projects supported by small grants facility;
  • Cross-country advocacy channels promote collaborative policy actions for socially cohesive region.

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Impact

START DATE

January 2019

END DATE

December 2021

STATUS

Completed

PROJECT OFFICE

Montenegro

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER

United Nations Development Programme

DONORS

Peacebuilding Fund

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

$457,703

DELIVERY IN PREVIOUS YEARS

2018$0

2019$88,191

2020$165,002

2021$127,390

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