Europe & CIS

Case Study - From pilot to policy: Introducing community-based social services in Bulgaria

Trade and Human Development: How to Conduct Trade Needs Assessments in Transition Economies

This guide is designed to help policymakers, trade officials and researchers conduct needs assessment studies on trade and human development under the Aid for Trade initiative conceived at the 2005 World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong. Despite the variations between countries and the challenges of linking trade and human development, it is possible to identify a number of analytical tools for conducting an assessment. The guide aims to show how this can be done with a focus on transition economies.

World Trade Organization. Notes on the content and process. Handbook in Russian

The Handbook explains the general principles and processes of the WTO. The author elaborates on the signifcant decisions that have been made in past negotiations, specifically those that are relevant to the current negotiations launched by the Doha Ministerial Declaration in 2001. The original publication was released by the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo in November 2006.

Social Enterprise: A new model for poverty reduction and employment generation

This report finds that traditional development initiatives in post-communist states often focus on bolstering the private sector or the state, while ignoring organizations that combine for-profit activities with social aims.  It covers 12 post-communist countries and includes three in-depth sections devoted to the social enterprise phenomenon in Poland, Serbia and Ukraine. It suggests a number of ways to promote social enterprises in transition countries, including efforts to make the legal and political environments more favourable, holding outreach and advocacy initiatives that engage decision makers and the public, setting up agencies specifically designed to support social enterprises, and providing ‘seed money’ and small grants aiming to sustain social enterprises.

Ethnicity as a statistical indicator for the monitoring of living conditions and discrimination

Slovak-language publication offering public policy makers and the broader public a review of ethnic data collection in Europe as well as an analysis of the situation in Slovakia. This report closely examines: 

1) concept documents, legislation and discussion at the supranational level – mainly at the levels of the Council of Europe and the European Commission;
2) legislation, institutions and practices in the area of ethnicity-related data in Slovakia; and
3) legislation, institutions and practices regarding ethnicity data in selected EU countries.

A comparison within these three contexts – European, Slovak and selected national states – leads to certain conclusions and recommendations.

Mapping of ex-ante Impact Assessment Tools and Experiences in Europe

This resource book for practitioners of ex-ante Policy Impact Assessment contains ex-ante IA methodologies and practical experiences, with particular focus on poverty reduction and on ensuring equal opportunities for vulnerable and marginalized groups. It builds on regional experiences of ex-ante Impact Assessment and Training Needs Assessment conducted in 4 countries (Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova), and lessons derived from experience gained at the country level in implementing IA-related projects.

The aim of the publication is to provide practitioners with available and usable methodologies and best practices for conducting ex-ante Impact Assessment in the region of Europe and CIS and so to contribute to proper policy-making that would be beneficial for the poor and vulnerable. The publication aims to support capacity-building regarding EU standards.

See the project page here.

Climate Change & Turkey

There is increasing consensus among the scientific community that climate change is having a significant impact on habitats, ecosystems and human development. This publication integrates and synthesises the findings of various working groups headed by researchers, working closely with relevant national ministries, private sector representatives and NGOs. The report provides a comprehensive compilation of the research completed to support the preparation of the First National Communication (FNC) of Turkey to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Welfare Improvement Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The Welfare Improvement Strategy is expected to promote the coordinated implementation of national and sector development programs and plans aimed at promoting stable economic growth and enhancing the living standards of the population. The process of developing the WIS has been undertaken by Inter-agency council and Sectoral working groups, including representatives of ministries and agencies of Uzbekistan, national policy analysis centers, international financial institutions, private sector and civil society. Valuable support has been provided by UNDP, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank according to a Memorandum of Understanding, regulating the Technical Assistance to the process of WIS formulation, signed with the Government of Uzbekistan.

National Human Development Report Azerbaijan 2007

Gender Attitudes in Azerbaijan: Trends and Challenges. The role of National Human Development Report (NHDR) in diffusing the concept of human development in Azerbaijan, with the first such publication issued in 1995, is crucial. This year, UNDP will focus on the aspect of gender, given that the Government has initiated developing a ten-year programme aimed at reducing poverty and enhancing economic development. With the financial support made available by the Embassy of Norway, UNDP will broadly address gender issues in Azerbaijan through piloting a survey on gender attitudes and eventual launching the 2005 NHDR reflecting findings of the survey, thereby stimulating public debate and triggering policy action for ensuring greater gender equality in the country.

National Human Development Report Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007

Social Inclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the sixth National Human Development Report produced for Bosnia and Herzegovina, examining a topical human development issue. This year the report analyses the different facets and causes of social exclusion in BiH and provides recommendations for promoting social inclusion. The concept of social inclusion, which is at the heart of EU social policy-making, is very much congruent with both the human development and the human rights-based approaches to socio-economic development. These approaches draw upon economic and social rights analyses and take into account all entitlements relevant for enlarging the choices of individuals to live a decent and meaningful life. In addition, they share a common concern about equity, non-discrimination and inclusive participation.

National Human Development Report Romania 2007

Making EU Accession Work for All. UNDP Romania's National Human Development Reports are among the most innovative and thought provoking analyses on economic political and social change. They cover subjects which include the transition process in Romania, and the implications of the EU accession process for Romania. Developed from the concept of UNDP's Human Development Report, these national policy reports are produced at a country level, and are written and produced in Romania.The NHDRs compare data from regions, provinces or localities on indicators such as education, life expectancy, gender disparities and income, pointing to achievements and disparities. They have transformed the global debate on poverty and development over the past decade.

The Silent Majority Speaks: Snapshots of Today and Visions of the Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Oxford Research International, on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme, with the support of the Royal Netherlands Government, has carried out the most comprehensive and thoroughgoing examination of the social and political health of BiH ever undertaken. This research places particular emphasis on the outcomes of the resettlement process, it provides a barometer of the views of all BiH citizens. Its purpose was both to take stock some eleven years after the end of the conflict, and to seek out a consensus, if one could be found, on where BiH goes from here.

Environmental Policy in South-Eastern Europe

The purpose of the Environmental Policy in South-Eastern Europe report is to provide an overview of the progress towards the development and implementation of environmental and sustainability policy in South-Eastern Europe. It has been prepared for the Belgrade Ministerial Conference in 2007. Its scope is to help the Environment Ministers and other decision makers in South-Eastern Europe, the EU, donor countries, international organisations and other interested parties in their decision making about their future work in the areas covered by the Report.

The Report tries to provide a picture of progress achieved in recent years across this broad range of issues. The selection of topics covered by the Report was made by representatives of UNDP Country Offices in consultation with country focal points at the Regional Workshop on September 14 and 15, 2006. It is based on the scope of the reference framework as well as the policy development and implementation situation in the region. The Report does not include individual country profiles, as they have already been presented in the report “Environmental Snapshot of South-Eastern Europe: REReP Country Profiles” published by the REC in 2006.

The Outlook for Development of Renewable Energy in Uzbekistan

Изучение и классификация методов и инструментария предварительной оценки

Исследование опирается на подробное изучение существующей международной литературы по процессам определения альтернативных курсов действий, которые представляются осуществимыми и уместными, и оценке их влияния в ряде стран ОЭСР и в странах-членах ЕС. В исследовании рассматривается опыт участия стран в такого рода процессах и разбираются четыре конкретных примера (Босния и Герцеговина, Хорватия, Молдова и Сербия). Затем авторы исследования определяют потребности и отправные точки для будущего обучения и подготовки кадров в данной области и предлагают ряд инструментов, которыми могут воспользоваться участники процесса для того, чтобы добиться максимальной эффективности своей работы в будущем.

Baseline Study on Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Hungary

This study represents an important milestone in the further development of Hungary, as CSR is one of the most progressive business activities, and is expected to contribute to the social inclusion of the disadvantaged; fight against corruption; and promote transparency and accountability.

Gender Mainstreaming in Practice: A Toolkit (2007, 3rd edition)

Практическое руководство по внедрению гендерного подхода (2007)

На стыке тысячелетий концепция внедрения гендерного подхода была сравнительно новой для стран Центральной и Восточной Европы и Содружества Независимых Государств (СНГ). Активисты, политические деятели и законодатели, заинтересованные в обеспечении более высокого уровня равноправия между женщинами и мужчинами, добились значительного прогресса в деле включения вопроса о правах женщин в законодательство. Однако, внедрение гендерной перспективы во все сферы деятельности и политические процессы значительно отставало. Это и послужило основным стимулом для подготовки первого издания практического руководства по внедрению гендерного подхода.

Настоящее Pуководство было расширено за счет включения большего количества разнообразных инструментов и методик, поскольку не все разделы прежних изданий могли соответствоставляет собой подборку методических материалов. Во вторую часть вошел Обзор гендерных проблем по секторам. 

Opportunities for Biomass Energy Programmes

Experiences & Lessons Learned by UNDP in Europe & the CIS. This report is is based on five UNDP-GEF projects in Belarus, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia which focused on the use of wood residues from wood processing and forestry to provide heat. Using interviews with project teams and other stakeholders, the report gleans lessons learned for biomass project development and implementation for market transformation in this region, and makes recommendations for new biomass projects both in the region and beyond.

Monitoring and Investigating the Security Sector

Recommendations for ombudsman institutions to promote and protect human rights for public security. This report, jointly published by UNDP and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), focuses on the role of ombudsman institutions in monitoring and investigating the security sector. It argues that independent ombudsman institutions can play an important role in strengthening democratic oversight and furthering human and public security.