The initiative is supported by EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank, which is providing €20.3 million in funding. This includes an €18 million loan to the Montenegrin government for nationwide school renovations and digitalization efforts, complemented by a €2.3 million grant for UNOPS to provide essential technical support. The agreements were formally signed today at EIB headquarters in Luxembourg.

“Today's new financing for Montenegro’s education sector is set to bolster the country’s economic resilience,” said EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot.

“By creating a cutting-edge learning environment, we are delivering immediate and lasting benefits for students and teachers across Montenegro,” he added.

The EIB loan will fund the renovation and digitalization of pre-primary, primary and secondary schools in Montenegro over the next two years. This extensive work will encompass energy-efficiency improvements and the installation of modern equipment for vocational training.

“This represents the most comprehensive investment in education infrastructure in the history of our country. My special thanks go to the EIB and UNOPS for their continued trust, support and commitment to our shared vision for the future of education in Montenegro,” said Montenegrin Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Andjela Jakšić-Stojanović.

UNOPS, supported by a grant provided under the EIB’s Economic Resilience Initiative, will provide critical technical assistance to the Montenegrin Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation. This support will focus on assessing existing school infrastructure and preparing key investment projects, ensuring a strategic and impactful deployment of funds to maximize benefits for students and educators.

“This agreement marks a milestone in UNOPS partnership with the EIB and the government of Montenegro,” said Kirstine Damkjaer, Assistant Secretary-General and UNOPS Deputy Executive Director for Delivery and Partnerships.

“UNOPS is proud to play a role in driving a transformative shift in Montenegro’s education system to ensure that appropriate infrastructure addresses the needs of people and becomes the enabler of key reforms in the country,” she added.

UNOPS and EIB expand strategic cooperation

Earlier this week, UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva and EIB Vice President Ambroise Fayolle signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), further solidifying the cooperation between the two organizations.

By scaling up their collaboration, UNOPS and the EIB will enhance their collective ability to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The partnership is designed to empower partner governments in their efforts to combat poverty and inequalities, and to build a better future for vulnerable communities worldwide.