The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
UNOPS, the European Investment Bank and Montenegro join forces to enhance education for thousands of students
A partnership between UNOPS, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the government of Montenegro will enhance the country's education sector and improve learning conditions for around 11,500 students across Montenegro.
This article was originally published on 4 July 2025. It has been updated to reflect recent developments.
Latest updates
24 February 2026
- A nationwide assessment of 813 pre-school, primary and secondary schools in Montenegro has officially begun, with the first site visits conducted in Podgorica by a team of 25 engineers and architects.
- This marks the start of a comprehensive effort to examine whether school buildings meet national and international standards – covering safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, water and sanitation, ventilation, lighting, gender-responsive design, and inclusion of children with disabilities.
- “Through this initiative, we strengthen our commitment to accessible, equitable, and high-quality education, and reaffirm a long-term vision for the country’s education system”, said Andjela Jakšić Stojanović, Montenegro’s Minister of Education, Science and Innovation.
- “This project transforms data into action – both strengthening institutional capacity for managing education infrastructure, and ensuring that future actions deliver safer schools, better learning environments, and long-term impact,” said Michela Telatin, Director of UNOPS South East Europe Multi-Country Office.
- Read more here
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.
From improving access to health services in Serbia and Barbados to supporting the Ministry of Environment in Nigeria, @UNOPS and the @EIB work with governments to deliver concrete impact on the ground. The MoU signed today at #FFD4 will enable us to scale up our cooperation. https://t.co/3esogzhQ7Z
— UNOPS Brussels Liaison Office (@UNOPS_Brussels) July 1, 2025
“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.
The agreement marks a milestone in UNOPS partnership with the EIB and the government of Montenegro. Through the initiative, UNOPS will play a key role in driving a transformative shift in Montenegro’s education system – helping deliver appropriate infrastructure that addresses the needs of people and acts as an enabler of key reforms in the country.
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.
