 |
United Nations Development Programme |
In Brief
The signing on April 4 of the new UNDP programme, Assistance to Develop the North Caucasus, launched a project to use extra-budgetary funds for easing the socioeconomic tensions produced in the region. The new UNDP project provides for the creation, within a short period, of favourable conditions and a mechanism to attract additional resources from UN specialized agencies and other international organizations, on the one hand, and through investments contributed by international and domestic donors. The investment projects in the region will enjoy the support of federal and regional authorities and, by a decree of the Federal Government, they will be given tax, customs and other privileges.
* * *
An international conference was held at the Legislative Assembly in St. Petersburg on April 20-21, 2000, to discuss problems of justice administration for juveniles. The Conference was sponsored by the UNDP Representative Office in Russia, jointly with the St. Petersburg City Court, which has cooperated with UNDP for 18 months already in implementing a joint juvenile justice project. The Conference was attended by prominent Russian jurists, practicing experts, city administration and Leningrad Oblast representatives, experts of the Council of Europe, specialists of the International Crime Prevention Center, and members of diplomatic missions.
* * *
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning the coordination of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) operations has been agreed upon and signed by the Government of the Russian Federation, UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank. UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank are GEF implementing agencies. UNDP initiated the development of the MOU in September 1999 in order to support Russian Government efforts to coordinate GEF programming activities. The MOU was signed by the Russian Government, UNDP and the World Bank at a ceremony, hosted by the Government of Russia, on January 28, 2000. UNEP signed the MOU when its Regional Representative for Europe, Mr. Fritz Schlingemann, was in Moscow in May.
* * *
UNDP/GEF is developing a medium size (MSP) biodiversity project for the Commander Islands. It is being developed in collaboration with the Biodiversity Conservation Centre (BCC) and WWF-Russia. The UNDP/GEF project will contribute to biodiversity conservation in the Commander Islands by strengthening the existing Commander Biosphere Reserve, and by developing a sustainable management plan for the islands. The management plan will include, among other activities, education and training for local residents, implementation of alternative livelihoods, and support for appropriate traditional economic activities.
* * *
A tripartite project document on support for the implementation of an integrated programme to sustain industrial development of the Republic of Komi was signed between the administration of this northern Russian region, the United Nation Industrial Development Programme and the UNDP Country Office in Russia in Vienna on May 12, 2000. Yuri Spiridonov, Head of the Republic of Komi, UNIDO Director General Carlos Magarinos and Philippe Elghouayel, UNDP Resident Representative in Russia, put their signature under this document. The project document they signed is actually the result of a bilateral agreement between UNIDO and UNDP of 1998. The project addresses the Komi Government’s concerns, such as improvement of industrial performance, development of an investment strategy, use of environment-friendly technologies, better utilization of the republic’s abundant natural resources, energy-efficient technologies, and job creation. The administration of the Republic of Komi will finance the project. A cost-sharing agreement was signed between the Republic of Komi and UNDP Country Office in Russia to this effect.
* * *
On 15 May, 2000 a round table on mortality in Russia which has become a very acute issue in the last decade was held in Moscow. At the round table a UNDP report "Policies for the Control of the Transition’s Mortality Crisis" was presented. It was prepared by a group of experts from the Transnational Family Research Institute, and financed by UNDP Country Office. High mortality rates, especially among working population, is a major human problem of contemporary Russia. In 1992-1994 life expectancy reached its lowest point in the whole post-war period, i.e. 57.5 years for mail and 70.5 for female. The participants noted that low life expectancy does not correlate with socio-economic development of the country. Among causes of death the leading part belongs to accidents and violent causes, which account for approximately half of all deaths among working population. They are followed by cardiovascular diseases, cancer, unhealthy way of living, and alcohol consumption.
The Russian Government and UNDP Discuss a New CCF for 2001-2003
A working meeting to discuss the second Country Cooperation Framework for the Russian Federation in 2001 to 2003 was held on June 8, 2000 at the Klyazma Rest House of the Russian President’s Business Office near Moscow. Almost 50 representatives from UNDP’s main partners, such as the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Finance and Labour, science, academic and business communities, NGOs, and also foreign embassies and international organizations - UNICEF, ILO, the World Bank and the International Migration Organization, took part in the event.
The UNDP Country Office led the initiative in organizing a concerned dialogue over that important governmental document. The meeting participants touched on the strategy proposed jointly by the Government and UNDP for solving the current problems of sustainable development in Russia, and subject areas of collaboration. In particular, the participants discussed governance for human development, sustainable growth for human development and struggle against poverty, environmental protection and environmental management, gender mainstreaming and also preventive development programmes. A frank exchange of views on all these issues helped to develop an objective picture of the actual socio-economic situation in Russia. The discussions provided also useful commentary to UNDP`s effective contribution to the Russian Government’s efforts in achieving sustainable development. With all of the meeting participants’ comments and proposals taken into account, the CCF project will soon be submitted for endorsement to the Governmental Commission on International Technical Cooperation, and in January 2001, it will be presented to the UNDP Executive Council for approval.
UNDP/GEF Works with Taimyr’s Reindeer Herds
UNDP/GEF is developing a new project that will address
the globally significant Arctic ecosystem in the Taimyr Peninsula. The project is called
"Conservation of Wild Reindeer Population as a Principal Component of Taimyr’s
Globally Significant Biodiversity". 
The peninsula is home to approximately 1,000,000 wild reindeer, Eurasia’s largest population. Their migration follows a 1,400 km route northwards in spring and southwards in fall within the region itself. Their seasonal presence in different parts of the peninsula as part of this ancient migratory process has been revealed by many scientific investigations to be crucial to maintaining the web of life in the tundra ecosystem. Consequently, these wild reindeer are considered by ecologists to be a "central" species in this northern arctic ecosystem.
The Governor of the Taimyr Autonomous Okrug Mr. Gennady Nedelin supports the project. It will focus on priority areas along the central migratory corridor of the peninsula (approximately 10% of the peninsula). The corridor, stretching the full length of the peninsula, includes winter grounds in the south near the Putorana Nature Reserve, key calving grounds in the middle of the peninsula in the Taimyr Nature Reserve, and summer grounds on the northern coast of the peninsula in and around the Great Arctic Nature Reserve. The area has also been chosen because it represents a strategic cross-section of the various plant and animal communities of the greater Taimyr arctic ecosystem. The peninsula’s vast wetlands serve as one of the northernmost endpoints for the East Atlantic Flyway and the Central Asian Flyway, providing crucial nesting habitat for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds.
The project will apply a landscape-scale biodiversity conservation approach to sustainable management of important reindeer calving grounds and migratory pathways, and key bird nesting and molting refuges. In doing so, the initiative will strengthen the legislative and policy framework; contribute to the development of traditional livelihood options for indigenous people; increase public awareness and advocacy concerning biodiversity conservation; and enhance coordination among the protected areas, regional authorities, and the private sector.
UNDP/GEF is developing the project with the Arctic Ring Foundation (ARF). Other key partners include federal and regional authorities of the Russian Federation, the Norilsk Ecological Foundation, the Association of Indigenous Minorities of Taimyr, the Research Institute for Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Science, Taimyr and Putoran State Nature Reserves and local and regional communities. The Norilsk Nickel Company, the Norilsk Research Institute of the North, the Government of the Netherlands, and WWF-Russia are actively supporting project development.
UNDP Fosters Ties Between Russian and Canadian Universities
Development of university ties between Russia and Canada was discussed
during a trip by Mr. Anatoly Torkunov, Principal of the
International Relations Institute (University) in Moscow, and Mr. Alexander
Avanesov, UNDP Senior Regional Councilor in the Russian Federation, to Ottawa and
Montreal. Their mission to Canada included talks at the Canadian Foreign Ministry, top
officials of MacGill, Concordia, and Carlton universities, the University of Montreal, and
the Asco and Globe insurance companies.
In 1999 and 2000, UNDP in Russia has given vigorous support to initiatives launched by higher educational establishments in this country to promote international collaboration. These initiatives include a project to start an Internet-based human development programme at the Moscow State International Relations Institute (University) and exchanges between insurance business specialists. According to the Canadian experts, Mr. Serge Poitras and Mr. Pierre Danis, the talks they have had with the Russians highlighted good prospects for successful cooperation, with UNDP paying an active role. The future projects, said Mr. Ivon Le Duc, Montreal Deputy Mayor, could make a major contribution to the development of business collaboration between Moscow and Montreal, and between Russia and Canada in general.
For your UN file
The Main Organs of the United Nations
The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership now totals 188 countries.
The United Nations has six main organs established by the Charter. Five of them – the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat – are based at UN Headquarters in New York. The sixth, the International Court of Justice, is located at The Hague, the Netherlands.
Appointment
Jean-Victor Gruat, ILO Moscow Director, has been appointed the UN Resident Coordinator ad interim for the Russian Federation.
Jean-Victor Gruat: "It’s very important to achieve in Russia what has been done in many other transition countries"
Mr. Gruat, you’ve been working in
Russia for two years. Taking into account your great experience in the UN what differences
have you noticed working here?
Russia is one of the countries where you face a number of challenges for international cooperation, which stands from the size of the country and its history. Russia always was one of the major players in world politics.
For the last 10 years it has undergone considerable changes. Russia has changed its status from donor to a recipient country and stability is something quite difficult to achieve. So all this makes it very specific and at the same time interesting to work here, because there is openness, desire to cooperate and the need for us, all international organizations. In Russia you have to discuss and adopt projects after consultations with the Government. But I think that the UN globally from the development side of our activity has good prospects in integrated mutual development programmes.
What is the UN role in a new global context?
In September in New York a special session of the UN General Assembly with foreign heads of states and governments will occur, dedicated to the beginning of the third millennium. And the discussion will touch upon how to renew the UN, to breathe fresh air into it.
The World has greatly changed for the past 55 years since the creation of the UN. But the UN must be what the member states want it to be. And if all countries want to live in some rational world order, then some kind of intergovernmental forum is necessary for countries to address issues from a common prospective. That is the purpose of the UN.
How can we further improve the UN work in Russia?
Emergency assistance works quite well, we don’t need to change what works. But the main role of the Resident Coordinator is to coordinate development assistance and this aspect was not taken into account. Over the last two or three years UNDP was left alone to take care of development assistance. There is no sense if the ILO works isolated or if UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, or WHO, all those who deal with the social sector do.
The role of the UN is to bring the donors together, then to consult the Government and all authorities concerned and to take an integrated approach. Now we are starting this process. On May 15, we had a first meeting of all agencies in Russia to discuss assistance for development. So, there will be six or seven interagency working groups created to deal with important issues, such as HIV/AIDS, the environment, poverty, migration, health, governance and youth. To my mind, the main idea is to achieve in Russia what has been done in other transition countries, through discussion with the Government and civil society.
Our readers want to know more about activities of the ILO Office in Moscow, that you are heading. What projects does the ILO implement in Russia?
We try to help the small enterprise sector to exist. We have specific programmes that provide training to entrepreneurs in starting their own businesses. We have developed some pilot activities conserning direct support to creation of enterprises through self-help financing mechanisms and a whole range of professional training.
Pension reform is one of the sectors where you see real difficulties of transition. We’ve been working with a pension reform in Russia for 12 years. The existing pension system was perfectly adapted to the centrally planned economy. It cannot survive in a market economy not because it wasn’t good but just because it’s not more applicable to a market economy. I think that regular readers of the newsletter "UN in Russia" have to be well informed of the ILO activities in Russia. And I hope that I will have more opportunities to speak out and to let our readers know about new projects that the ILO Office in Moscow will implement in Russia. Thank you.