Europe & CIS

The Northwestern region of Croatia ranks first of its 21 counties

Croatia, 24 September 2008 - In collaboration with the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), today in Zagreb the National Council on Competitiveness (NVK) and the United Nations Development Programme presented research on "The Croatian Regional Competitiveness Index of 2007". This is the first time that research on Croatia produced a clear picture of the strengths and weaknesses of its three regions, and 21 counties, and the reasons behind the differences between these regions. It also provided suggestions on how to strengthen economic competitiveness on the local level. The research methodologies were based on those used by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Institute of management development (IMD).

Milking opportunities for participation in Armenia

Armenia, 28 August 2008 – The participation of local people in making funding decisions for spending in their communities has great benefits in several areas: as well as promoting active citizenship and accountability in local budgetary decisions, such a budget methodology ensures live concerns are reflected in these decisions, with tangible impact on local economic development. This method for the implementation of UNDP projects is used alongside decentralization efforts in Armenia, and most recently gave birth to three new milk collection centres in the northern Tavush region.

Governing close to the people in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan, 21 August 2008 – The UNDP Project “Local Self-Governance” has completed 24 trainings for over 400 representatives of local self-governance bodies (Gengeshi) and local administrations as well as some 50 partners from local communities in the pilot districts of Ahal, Balkan and Lebap provinces. The trainings lasted from June to August 2008. Issues related to participatory local development planning, social mobilization and partnerships, and development and management of projects were in the focus of training programmes. A team of eight experienced trainers recruited by the project and trained for this purpose by international local development experts facilitated the activities. Representatives of the Turkmen Parliament and UNDP Turkmenistan also attended as observers.

Alternative reporting: a door to equality

Uzbekistan, 19 August 2008 – Representatives of women’s NGOs from all regions of Uzbekistan were familiarized with the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and other issues on women’s rights protection at a UNDP-backed workshop. During the workshop, participants listened to presentations, engaged in practical tasks and discussions to determine the role of NGOs in CEDAW implementation and monitoring as well as in the preparation of alternative reports. In addition, an international expert came from Turkey to present participants with the Turkish experience on CEDAW implementation, on national and alternative reports preparation and submission.

Sustainable independent energy through hydro power

Montenegro, 12 August 2008 – As an environmentally and politically acceptable way of reducing the country’s dependence on energy imports, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Small Hydro Development Strategy in April 2006. Renewable sources of energy such as small hydro power plants, developed with respect for both socio-economic and environmental criteria, are a new economic sector for Montenegro with growth potential. The Project Power Sector Policy Reform to Promote Small Hydro Power Development in Montenegro will support the Government in realizing its goal of 15-20 MW of new small generating capacity by the close of the project in 2012, instead of 2015 as declared by their strategy.

Management training for Polish police

Poland, 12 August 2008 – In June 2008 the UNDP project ‘Strengthening of the administrative capacity of police in Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and Kaliningrad’ was finalized. The project trained 1500 Polish police employees in implementing quality management standards according to the ISO 9000 standard. Sixty of this group also received training in the more elaborate and flexible Dutch system for quality management. This project was implemented in close cooperation with the Polish Chief Command of Police, and had financial support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MATRA) and practical advice from the Dutch Police. Its implementation contributed greatly to the development of the Polish police force and its contacts with the police in other countries, especially those just across the border.

From the street to the school, to the future

Kyrgyzstan, 8 August 2008 – At the Youth Conference in Issyk-Kul, forty young leaders from vocational lyceums and universities developed skills in critical thinking, leadership and participation. The conference last week was organized by the UNDP project ‘Vocational Education for Street Children in the Kyrgyz Republic,’ which aims to ensure the right of a child to participate in the decision-making processes that impact their lives.  This event provided knowledge and skills to young leaders representing children from vulnerable families, orphans and street children obtaining vocational education in the lyceums of Bishkek.

Partner organizations invited to the conference to present their work included the UNV-UNDP Youth Programme, which provided information about the volunteer clubs and its activities, and the Center for Protection of Children, which conducted trainings on child participation, team building and leadership using interactive methods.

Studying statistics for social inclusion

Poland/Moldova, 6 August 2008 – In an attempt to share relevant development experience, UNDP organized a study tour to Poland for Moldovan civil servants from 16-20 June 2008. Moldovan professionals learned from their Polish counterparts about the collection and use of data in developing and monitoring social inclusion policies. Through the EU accession process, several countries in the region have recently introduced ways of monitoring levels and forms of people’s exclusion from broad socio-economic development trends.

Social inclusion has thus far been poorly understood by policy-makers and others in Moldova, with related measurements also being undeveloped. This tour was an opportunity to meet bodies in Poland involved in monitoring social inclusion, including at national level the National Statistical Office (GUS), ministries and government agencies and think tanks; and at local level, data administration agencies and experts involved in implementing local monitoring systems.

UN helps Moldova recover from 2007 drought

Moldova, 27 February 2008/New coverage 9 June 2008—Five UN agencies have banded together to help Moldova recover from last year’s devastating drought, providing emergency aid to vulnerable families and agricultural supplies to help struggling farmers recover. In total, the $8.5 million programme has helped 135,000 people. 

Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, was struck in 2007 by the worst drought in modern memory. The drought hit 80 per cent of the country’s territory and decimated farming —a particular threat given that Moldova depends on agriculture for one-fifth of its GDP.

The five UN agencies —the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the World Food Programme (WFP)—responded to a July 2007 appeal for help from the Moldovan Government.

Ozone down, skills up in Georgia

Georgia, 29 July 2008 – With today’s delivery of specialized equipment, three Vocational Education and Training (VET) centres in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Kobuleti will begin their activities giving training in refrigeration service. The three centres have been selected by UNDP in a project to help reduce consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

As a party to the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol, Georgia is responsible for taking necessary measures to protect the ozone layer and achieve phase-out schedules of the ozone depleting substances. Refrigeration and air conditioning take a lead in consuming substances that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Qualified service professionals, the tools they use and the training they get are central to reducing such consumption and controlling damaging emissions, on the way to completely phasing-out of CFCs by the end of 2009.