The green transition is primarily an economic opportunity for rural areas of Montenegro, but it remains untapped without adequate financial literacy of the population, it was announced at the Green Growth and Empowerment of Rural Communities conference in Podgorica.
Marina Tomović, on behalf of the United Kingdom Alumni Network in Montenegro (MAUK), said that Chevening scholarship holders are returning their knowledge gained in the UK to the community, recalling that this event is a continuation of successful previous initiatives, such as last year's Tech4Rights program.
"Green growth is not possible if it is exclusive. For us, "green" is primarily an economic issue, and rural areas are our only sustainable future. However, this development remains blocked because the money does not reach those who need it most. Therefore, financial literacy must be the key that unlocks green funds, especially for women and youth in rural areas, thereby directly empowering the entire community," said Tomović.
The event, organized by the Center for Finance and the United Kingdom Alumni Network in Montenegro (MAUK), with the support of the British Embassy in Podgorica and the Reinforcing Project, brought together representatives of the Government, international organizations and the civil sector.
She stated that such projects combine knowledge gained in the UK and the needs of Montenegro.
The Executive Director of the Center for Finance, Ivana Katnić, warned that green funds are useless if people on the ground do not know how to access them.
"Green growth is often presented through large infrastructure projects, but its real power is measured by changes in the lives of people and communities. That is why financial literacy and entrepreneurship in rural areas are not an 'add-on' to green policies, but their key condition. The Center for Finance was founded precisely to build the capacities of individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises and institutions at the intersection of finance, innovation and sustainable development, working to bring complex financial topics closer to citizens and businesses, especially those outside urban centers," said Katnić.
The Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy, Sarah Pilbeam, emphasized the importance of transferring good practices, especially on issues of green growth and empowering communities through financial literacy, entrepreneurship and the smart use of natural resources.
"Sustainable development for Montenegro is not only an environmental issue, but also an economic one. Long-term progress depends on the smart use of natural resources and responsible policies. Rural communities have enormous potential in agriculture, eco-tourism and green business, but without financial literacy, this potential remains untapped. Connecting finance, knowledge and people is crucial to ensure that funds reach those who need them most. United, we can build an inclusive, resilient and sustainable future," Pilbeam said.
During the first day of the conference, initial results of a research on the needs for developing tools for financial inclusion of rural communities were presented. The aim of the research is to collect data necessary for the creation of specific and customized educational tools.
Today's program focused on practical aspects, including lectures and a keynote workshop on Creating Content for a Digital Platform and Educational Materials for Financial Literacy. This workshop will provide concrete inputs for the development of an open-source online educational platform for financial literacy.
The platform will be accessible to all, supporting key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality), thus directly working towards inclusiveness and empowerment of rural populations.
The conference is intended for decision-makers, entrepreneurs, representatives of local communities, students and anyone who wants to contribute to the green and inclusive development of rural areas.
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