Country Support Team in Europe & CIS

Country Programmes - Malta

Background

Malta has a functioning market economy and an adequate degree of macroeconomic stability. It started receiving assistance from UNDP in 1964, and became a net contributing country in 1992. Because of its relatively high level of economic and political development, Malta stopped receiving UNDP funds in 2001. After Malta entered the EU in 2004, UNDP has continued to play an advisory role in compliance with UN environmental conventions.

The government is committed to reforms in the environmental sector. Funding opportunities are limited, however; particularly for waste management, water purification, conservation, and industrial pollution control and risk management. The government is fully committed to several agreements and conventions, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Environment and Sustainable Development - Enabling the Republic of Malta to Prepare its Initial National Communication in Response to its Commitments to the UNFCCC

Since the Republic of Malta is an active member of UNFCCC, it has certain commitments, such as providing periodic reports on climate change. With funding from the Global Environment Facility, UNDP helped Malta prepare its first national communication. The project increased general awareness and knowledge of climate change, and strengthened the exchange of information and cooperation between the government, NGOs, and academic as well as private sector agencies. A second phase of assistance to Malta under the framework convention is on-going, and supports the preparation of a second national communication.