UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2021-2025)
UNECE is a signatory of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and contributes in particular to the following strategic priorities:
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Outcome 1.1: By 2025, the living standard of all people in North Macedonia is improved through equal access to decent work and productive employment generated by an inclusive and innovative business ecosystem.
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Outcome 1.2: By 2025, people in North Macedonia have universal access to rights-base quality social services – healthcare, education, and necessary social and child protection – rooted in systems resilient to emergencies.
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Outcome 2.1: By 2025, people in North Macedonia benefit from ambitious climate action, sustainably managed natural resources and well-preserved biodiversity through good environmental governance and disaster resilient communities.
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Outcome 3.1: By 2025, people in North Macedonia benefit from improved rule of law, evidence-based, anticipatory and gender-responsive policies; greater social cohesion and effective service delivery by transparent, accountable and response institutions.
UNECE works in close cooperation with the Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team.
Key highlights
Energy
Together with UNDP and IOM, and under the overall coordination of the Resident Coordinator Office in North Macedonia, UNECE is implementing a project to improve the national capacity on renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies for small and medium enterprises and households in North Macedonia.
North Macedonia is one of the beneficiary countries of a UNECE project to develop member States’ sustainable hydrogen production strategies while raising awareness and overcoming economic, technical, policy and investment barriers (SDG7).
Environment
North Macedonia is a Party to UNECE’s 5 environmental conventions and several of their protocols.
The country is invited to complete the ratification of the 2001 and 2004 amendments to the Espoo Convention (SDG9, SDG11 and SDG13).
Forests
With 39.71% of land covered by forests, North Macedonia is considered a high forest cover country. Public ownership of forests largely prevails (87.8%). However, forests are challenged by degradation due to human-induced fires, natural disasters, and illegal logging, as well as land-use change for agricultural production and infrastructure projects of the energy sector. Accordingly, UNECE is focused on supporting national monitoring, assessment and reporting on forests and sustainable forest management (SDG12, SDG13 and SDG15).
Gender equality
The standards body of North Macedonia is invited to sign the Declaration on Gender-Responsive Standards and Standards Development (SDG5, SDG9 and SDG12).
Trade
North Macedonia is one of the strongest partners of UNECE in the implementation of UN/CEFACT recommendations, standards and tools for trade facilitation and e-business. It was the second country in Europe to implement a Single Window, in close collaboration with UNECE.
UNECE collaborates with the Customs Administration of North Macedonia on trade facilitation, advancement of the Single Window projects in the region and data sharing using UN/CEFACT standards.
There is an opportunity to accelerate circular economy transition by active participation in Circular STEP stakeholder engagement platform to exchange experience, challenges and learn about good practices and tools for circular economy transition (SDG8, SDG9, SDG12).
Transport
North Macedonia has acceded to 17 UN legal instruments on inland transport.
It is invited to accede to the 2008 Additional Protocol to the CMR concerning the Electronic Consignment Note (e-CMR) to receive benefits from the digitalized document under the CMR Convention, as well as to accede to the Agreement concerning the Adoption of Uniform Conditions for Periodical Technical Inspections of Wheeled Vehicles and the Reciprocal Recognition of Such Inspections (1997) to improve vehicle safety.
The country is also invited to operationalize eCMR (SDG8 and SDG9).
Urban Development
UNECE is conducting a pilot study on the legalization of informal settlements and related capacity building activities, and is organizing capacity building activities to support policy reform to promote access to decent, adequate, affordable and heathy housing for all through the implementation of the principles of The Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing, The Geneva Declaration of Mayors and San Marino Declaration (SDG3 and SDG11).