Montenegro presents its first AI Readiness Assessment Report for the Public Administration

May 13, 2025
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UNDP/Krsto Vulović

Podgorica, 13 May 2025 – Montenegro has the potential to enhance public service delivery through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Achieving this will require further investments in skills, knowledge, and infrastructure – this is one of the key messages of the country’s first Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report for the Public Administration.

The Artificial Intelligence Landscape Assessment (AILA) for Montenegro was presented at the event jointly organized in Podgorica by the Ministry of Public Administration and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro. The assessment was developed using a methodology created by UNDP’s Chief Digital Office in New York

The findings and recommendations of the AILA Report, funded by the European Union, will serve as the foundation for Montenegro’s first national AI Strategy, to be designed and adopted by the Ministry of Public Administration.

The AILA Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the readiness of Montenegrin institutions for the ethical and strategic use of artificial intelligence. Identified strengths include foundational digital infrastructure and a growing institutional awareness of the importance of innovation in public service delivery.

Panel discussion at event with a large screen displaying a woman's profile and text on AI.
UNDP/Krsto Vulović

The Report also highlights several challenges – such as a growing need in different professional skills, expansion and streamlining of interoperability among institutions, and creation of a clear regulatory framework for the use of AI in the public sector. It recommends prioritizing sectors where Montenegro has competitive advantages, such as tourism and energy, along with environmental protection. In parallel, it calls for strengthened foundational capacities and digital literacy – both within the public administration and across the wider population.

The assessment was conducted using UNDP’s methodology, already applied in over 30 countries, which allows for benchmarking, monitoring progress, and knowledge-sharing in the field of artificial intelligence. The document includes analysis of public policies, institutional capacities, IT infrastructure, data quality and availability, as well as the skills and competencies of public employees.

Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj, emphasized that the Ministry remains committed to transparency and inclusiveness, and sees this assessment as an important input for advancing national development goals.

“The AILA assessment we are presenting today offers a solid overview of the current state and clear directions for the way forward. It helps us understand where we are, what our strengths are, and what challenges lie ahead – from strengthening infrastructure and capacities to developing ethical frameworks and data protection mechanisms. As a small country with limited resources, Montenegro’s strength lies in bringing together the potential of all sectors of society. Only through joint efforts can we harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence in a way that delivers tangible benefits to our citizens,” said Minister Dukaj.

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A diverse group of people seated in a modern conference room, looking attentively forward.
A man in a suit speaks at a conference table while a woman listens attentively.
A woman in a pink dress speaks at a table, while a man in black watches nearby.
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A diverse group of people seated in a modern conference room, looking attentively forward.

 

Ekaterina Paniklova, UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, stressed that technologies like artificial intelligence must serve human development and expand equal opportunities for all:

“Today, as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly present in all aspects of society, we have a unique opportunity to shape its development in line with the values of equality, transparency, and sustainability. AI can become a powerful ally in achieving development goals if we place technology at the service of people. Through tools such as AILA, UNDP supports the Government in steering digital transformation in a direction that empowers people and their achievements, rather than simply replacing them through automation,” UNDP Resident Representative stated.

Support for the development and application of AI tools in the public sector and academia will also be provided by the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro, as highlighted by Executive Director Valentina Radulović during the event.

The AILA Report comes at a time when artificial intelligence is at the centre of both European and global development debates, while Montenegro works to align its national legislation with the European Union’s new regulatory framework in this area.

Artificial intelligence is also the focus of this year’s UNDP Global Human Development Report, titled “A Question of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, which calls for responsible and inclusive technological development. Together, the AILA Report and the HDR provide a broader perspective – while AILA assesses institutional readiness for AI at the national level, the global HDR offers a framework for shaping a future in which emerging technologies reduce inequality, drive sustainable development, and strengthen human capabilities.

 Artificial Intelligence Landscape Assessment is avaliable here.