Activities / News

Ulcinj is the first municipality in Montenegro to officially adopt a Social Cohesion Pladge – a strategic document through which the local government demonstrates its commitment to building a more open and interconnected society, with equality and respect at its core. 

This decision emerged directly from the local community. The formulation of the Pledge was preceded by the Local Dialogue The Community Drives Change, an inclusive process in which the citizens of Ulcinj jointly defined priorities and challenges, as well as ideas on how to address them, with organizational support from UNDP and the Together for the Common Good program.

Through these innovative methods of cooperation, priorities were defined and are now being institutionalized: from combating discrimination and social divisions, strengthening inclusion and trust between citizens and local authorities, improving access to services, to creating a safer, culturally vibrant, and infrastructurally well-developed city.

The document is based on international human rights standards and includes concrete measures aimed at improving healthcare, education, culture, and urban infrastructure, as well as strengthening intercommunity dialogue, institutional transparency, and civic activism.

The Pledge is already being implemented in practice through four civic initiatives developed immediately after the Local Dialogue. Dedicated teams from Ulcinj responded to the key challenges identified by fellow citizens, with support from UNDP and the Municipality of Ulcinj.

This led to the creation of the play Theatre for Change, an interactive and socially engaged comedy in Albanian, which uses humor to raise serious issues such as gender norms, urban planning, and youth emigration. The project Learning and Growing Together revives the concept of open-air schooling in the village of Vladimir, while The Heart of Ulcinj adapts playgrounds for children with disabilities, creating inclusive spaces for intergenerational connection. The initiative Flavors of Ulcinj uses traditional cooking workshops to connect generations, empower women, and preserve local heritage.

By adopting this document, the Municipality of Ulcinj sets up an operational framework that guides the actions of the local government, public institutions, the civil sector, and citizens toward strengthening trust, inclusiveness, and collective action. 

The program Together for the Common Good – Enhancing Citizens' Trust in Institutions and Building Resilient Communities is implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, and UNESCO, in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro. It is carried out in Ulcinj, Bar, Bijelo Polje, Pljevlja, and Podgorica, and is funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund.