UNDP in the Russian Federation

UNDP in the Russian Federation
General Overview

The UNDP Country Office began activities in the Russian Federation in Moscow in 1997, though UNDP has been present in Russia since 1993, when a framework Agreement was signed with the Government of the Russian Federation. UNDP implements programmes both at the federal level and in a number of regions of the Russian Federation, providing policy advice, technical assistance, and capacity development to the government and the civil society.

The number of UNDP staff in the Russian Federation for July 2009 totals 36 people. The head of the UNDP office is UNDP Resident Representative.

UNDP priorities, in Russia are defined in the Country Programme for the Russian Federation (2008-2010), which is based on extensive consultations with the Government, United Nations organizations, civil society groups and other partners. It builds on experiences gained from the implementation of the previous Country Programme (2004-2007), as well as earlier Country Cooperation Frameworks (1998-2000 and 2001-2003).

It is a plan of action developed in collaboration with the Russian government and aimed at bringing about concrete positive changes for people and the improvement of living standards in the Russian Federation. In line with the Country Programme, UNDP Country Office addresses a range of topics within five Focus Areas.

Currently, UNDP programme priorities include the support of the Government in achieving the sustainable human development in the country and the promotion of the Human Development concept, including through the production of the National Human Development Report, Regional Human Development Reports, in partnership with regional administrations, and human development education. UNDP is also focusing on projects in the area of energy efficiency, climate change and biodiversity; supporting Russia’s emerging donor role; and private sector engagement through the Russian Global Compact network and facilitation of public-private partnerships as a means of social and economic development and poverty reduction.

Total funds disbursed in implementing UNDP projects from 1997 through 2008 amount to over US $139 million. UNDP Russia works with the government and other partners to promote and support Russia’s human development from different angles: from governance reform to export promotion to environmental protection to human rights. The uniqueness of its approach is in putting people and their needs at the core of policy. UNDP does so by using mainly national capacity and by strictly monitoring and evaluating the impact of its work.

Programme Resources delivery 2005-2008 in US$ Thousands Dollars

Programme Components
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 
Economic Development & Poverty Reduction
 25,232
 10,883
 3,361
 655
 
Crisis Prevention and Recovery
 1,931
 2,493
 2,617
 2,550
 
Environment
 2,792
 2,792
 5,944
 6,430
 
Democratic Governance
 263
 262
 130
 460
 
HIV/AIDS
 470
 191
 837
 1,250
 
other
 8
 -4
 303
 528
 
TOTAL
 30,695
 16,618
 13,191
 11,873
 


As result of this strong partnership approach UNDP Russia can rely on several categories of donors: bilateral and multilateral, government, corporate, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other trust-funds, as well UN agencies (pls.see Joint Projects Documents). This is especially important in a situation when UNDP Russia’s access to the organisation’s global funds composed of contributions of UN member-countries is limited because Russia has rich resources and potential. The country office depends on funds generated within the country, traditional donors and the Russian federal and regional governments.

Bilateral donors consist of developed countries that provide assistance to developing countries or countries in transition, multilateral donors are those comprising several governments, such as EU. Corporate donors consist of private and state-owned commercial companies. Trust funds offer a mechanism to receive contributions to receive contributions from governmental or non-governmental donors.

Donor Contributions by Category in 2007 in US dollars

Private sector
 270,000
 
Government
 584,000
 
Bilateral and multilateral donors
 1,968,000
 
GEF
 6,509,000
 
Other trust funds
 1,110,000
 
UN agencies
 573,000
 
Total
 11,014,000
 


UNDP Country Office serves as coordinator of all UN development activities in the country. UN work is focused on supporting countries in achieving the so called Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – a set of concrete goals and targets in priority areas of poverty reduction, health, education, environment, human rights and partnership, adopted by the world leaders at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000. In Russia, as in some other middle-income countries, internationally accepted MDGs need to be customized to better fit the country-specific context.

UNDP Resident Representative serves as the Resident Coordinator (RC) for the entire United Nations system in Russia as typically is in other country offices. RCs are the designated representatives of the UN Secretary General for development operations in a country. The Resident Coordinator system aims to bring together different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at the country level. It encompasses all organizations of the UN system dealing with development, regardless of their formal presence in the country. The RC system is funded and managed by UNDP. The RC leads the UN country team, supported in the everyday function by a secretariat, RC Office. The RC Office was established in the RF in accordance with a relevant Agreement with the Government. The RC and country team advocate the interests and mandates of the UN drawing on the support and guidance of the entire UN family.

Apart from supporting the Resident Coordinator system, UNDP provides central administrative support to other UN agencies in Russia, including in processing of payments, reporting, logistics, procurement, contracting, recruitment, etc. In 2008, UN agencies expenditures through UNDP CO equaled to USD 17,578,784 vis-a-vis USD 17,415,005 in 2007.On behalf of UN agencies, it has been conducting administrative and financial work related to the renovation and relocation to the new UN House at the end of 2008, which accommodates 10 UN agencies. The Resident Coordinator function supports UN joint efforts in areas of high relevance and added-value undertaken by UN theme/working groups, such as the ones on Gender, HIV/AIDS, North Caucasus, Youth, Human Trafficking and Arctic, where UNDP plays an active part or leads, such as Arctic theme groups. In addition, UNDP is a regular contributor to joint advocacy and communications initiatives, carrying the bulk of responsibility and expenses for the production of the joint UN in Russia bulletin and maintenance of the UN in Russia website.

You can learn more about the composition of the country team and its priorities in the Russian Federation on UN in Russia site at http://www.unrussia.ru/en/Default.asp

http://www.undp.ru/index.phtml?iso=RU&lid=1&pid=39