Democratic Governance in Europe & CIS

Ex-ante Policy Impact Assessment - 2nd Regional training with special focus on social inclusion issues and vulnerability patterns, Bratislava, 7-11 December 2009

7 December 2009 - 11 December 2009
The training will be based on the first regional training and the findings of the mapping of vulnerable groups and policy areas in SEE. It is expected to build on the general IA knowledge acquired by participants at the first regional training, advance this specialized knowledge on ex-ante PIA with regard to specific policy areas and vulnerable groups, and provide practical orientation on how to actually conduct ex-ante policy impact assessments in a way that is sensitive to the concerns and needs of vulnerable groups. Main objectives of the training are: (1) to enhance knowledge of targeted practioners on ex-ante Policy Impact Assessment methodologies and tools, and their practical application as part of policy development in thier countries; and (2) to build a community of professionals in ex-ante Policy Impact Assessment. Participating countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Moldova, and Serbia. Target groups: policy practioners, NGOs and UNDP COs.

Western Balkans HRM CoP - 4th Regional Workshop on Civil Service Reform in the Western Balkans, 17 - 18 November 2009

17 November 2009 - 18 November 2009
The main topic of this year workshop will be 'Managing Performance in the Work of Civil Servants'. The overall objective of the Workshop is to provide a forum for the civil servants and others involved in the civil service reform in the Western Balkans to examine issues related to the intriguing question of monitoring and managing the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the civil servants’ work and to engage in a constructive discussion outlining problems, common challenges and, if possible, workable solutions and directions for further action.

Regional Centre for PAR - 2nd Training for Network members, 9 - 13 November 2009

9 November 2009 - 13 November 2009
This training aims to enhance the capacity of the RCPAR network members to interact effectively and engage in regional programming. Specifically, the network members will be trained on such topics as: (1) preparation of multi-country proposals; (2) access and use of the RCPAR online workspace; and (3) virtual cooperation, communication and teambuilding. All sessions will be a combination of brief presentations, plenary discussions, group exercises, and small group task-oriented interaction, and we will draw on the expertise and resources of external facilitators and own staff.

Workshop for Anti-Corruption Agencies of Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey: Country-owned assessments in support of national anti-corruption strategies, 27 - 29 October 2009

27 October 2009 - 29 October 2009
This workshop, held on 27-29 October in Oslo in collaboration with the Regional Centre in Bratislava, was organized in response to a growing demand and interest on the part of national anti-corruption agencies (ACAs) in strengthening their monitoring capacities. In addition to tracking progress in the implementation of national anti-corruption strategies, there is an opportunity for ACAs to play a more active role in the reporting processes related to the implementation of UNCAC and to the EU accession process (the political criteria for EU accession include anti-corruption).

Regional Workshop on Programming in Support of Anti-corruption Agencies

30 June 2009

Bratislava, Slovak Republic, 30 June - 1 July 2009 - Contries in Eastern Europe and the CIS are facing significant challenges in tackling corruption. After having ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), many of them have established specialized anti-corruption agencies (ACAs), and UNDP is sometimes called upon to help. However, these institutions are not only confronted with the complex issues of corruption, but as part of a country’s public system may suffer from the usual failings of post-communist administrations, such as lack of resources, vague mandates, poor coordination, defficient planning and performance monitoring, politicization, structural inefficiencies, lack of well-trained and qualified staff. With its significant track record both in supporting anti-corruption policies, as well as institutional development, UNDP is uniquely placed to support ACAs with regard to both technical and functional capacities that they need.

Regional workshop on programming in support of Anti-corruption agencies, 30 June - 1 July 2009

30 June 2009 - 1 July 2009

Regional Centre for PAR - Training for Network members, 3-5 June 2009

3 June 2009 - 5 June 2009
The main topics to be covered during the training are the following: * a general introduction to the RCPAR; * review and practical application of the RCPAR guidelines for multi-country proposals, with examples of actual proposals generated by network members; * presentation of the RCPAR workspace, including live demonstration and online interaction; * virtual co-operation, communication, teambuilding and networking. All sessions will be a combination of brief presentations, plenary discussions, group exercises, and small group task-oriented interaction, and the RCPAR will draw on the expertise and resources of external facilitators and own staff. All participants will receive a diploma issued by the ICT/ILO at the end of the training.

Regional Centre for Public Administration Reform - 2nd Advisory Board meeting, 1 April 2009

1 April 2009

Launch of the April 2009 issue of the regional Development and Transition newsletter, 31 March 2009

31 March 2009
Launch of the April 2009 issue of the regional Development and Transition newsletter.

Visit of Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, new DGG Director, 1-2 March 2009

1 March 2009 - 2 March 2009
Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, UNDP's Democratic Governance Practice Director in the Bureau for Development Policy, discusses the Bratislava Regional Center with Slovak media, as part of her visit to the Regional Center [see related content for more details].

Regional Centre for Public Administration Reform - Steering Committee and Advisory Board meetings, 11-12 November 2008

11 November 2008 - 12 November 2008
Steering Committee meeting (11 Nov) with participation of Greek Minister of Interior, Professor Prokopios Pavlopoulos, and of UNDP/BRC Director and Deputy RBEC Director Jens Wandel. Followed by the first meeting of the RCPAR Advisory Board.

3rd Regional Workshop on Civil Service Reform in the Western Balkans, 4-5 November 2008

4 November 2008 - 5 November 2008
This year's Regional Workshop will be held in Zagreb on 4th and 5th November, 2008. The main topic of this year's event will be 'How to Attract and Retain the Best People in the Civil Service'. The quality of discussions will be boosted by the research, which will be conducted across the Western Balkans centering on this very important issue. The event will be sponsored by UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre/UNDP Regional Centre for Public Administration Reform (RCPAR) and co-organised by Croatian State Office, Croatian Institute of Public Administration and the Western Balkans CoP on HRM in the civil service.

A bright democratic future

23 June 2008

Kyrgyzstan, 23 June 2008 – The Youth Programme run by UN Volunteers (UNV) and UNDP has launched a Summer School of Democracy for young leaders from all regions of Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). Building on a similar project in summer 2007, the main purpose of the Summer School of Democracy is to promote the idea of democracy and support the growth of young leaders in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, through their involvement into processes of management and country development. This initiative is funded by UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic and supported by experts from “SBDC consult” and various youth organizations in Central Asia.

Human Rights and Justice CoP meeting, Geneva, April 2008

28 April 2008 - 30 April 2008
Objective of the meeting:
1. Enhance UNDP focal points’ knowledge of the UN human rights machineries(including the Human Rights Council) to understand opportunities and support processes at the national level.
2. Explore partnership opportunities with different UN agencies and other organizations working in the area of human rights and justice.
3. Develop a human rights and justice CoP vision and steps forward.

Introduction to Capacity Development and Capacity Assessments - A training course for the Western Balkans Service Delivery project

14 February 2008 - 15 February 2008
Objectives: o Familiarize participants with UNDP’s approach to capacity development (CD), including the policy framework, capacity assessment (CA) methodology and CD response strategies o Train Western Balkans Project consultants in the application of CA/CD approaches specifically how to undertake capacity assessments. o Adapt Capacity Assessment methodology for utilization by Project consultants.

Localizing the MDGs: The role for local leaders and using disaggregated data for local development

21 November 2007 - 23 November 2007
The training event aims to strengthen the capacity of local stakeholders to mobilize all stakeholders for local development planning and budgeting and for improved usage of disaggregated data in local development decisions to support the achievement of the MDGs. By understanding the importance of and sources for sub-national data, the objective is to assist communities to set MDG targets that are tailored to local realities. The resulting targets and indicators would be incorporated into local development strategies and used to monitor their progress. The workshop is based on two training programmes developed and implemented by UNDP: “Local leadership for localization of the MDGs” and “Building Capacity and Statistical Literacy for MDG monitoring”.

Moldova has signed the „e-SEE AGENDA” at Sarajevo

2 November 2007

The Member states of the Stability pact for South-Eastern European countries (including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, former Yugoslavia of Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro, and UNMIK/Kosovo) as well as Romania have signed the „eSEE Agenda +” which outlines the development of the information society during 2007-2012.

Police spokespersons get training on communication skills

1 November 2007

Albanian Police spokespersons received a special training to help them improve their communication skills with the media and the public.
"This training was an opportunity to learn news things and get practice with TV interviewing skills,” said Mr. Klodian Branko, Public Relations Officer with the Albanian State Police. “We are looking forward to similar trainings, which combine theory and practice. We need to adapt ourselves to the changing times.”

Sarajevo – Center of The Initiative For Development of Information Society in Southeastern Europe

1 November 2007

The eSEE Agenda Plus document was signed, laying out the region’s common goals for the future with respect to the Information Society in South East Europe during the 3rd Information Society Conference: e-Government and Public Administration Reform held in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Kosovo Safe Houses get supported with equipment

29 October 2007

Kosovo safe houses for victims of domestic violence and trafficking received new equipment in the campaign as the part of a wider drive, in the month of anti trafficking announced by the Prime Minister of Kosovo Mr. Agim Çeku.