HIGHLIGHTS

In December 2007, the sixty-second session of the UN General Assembly approved technical cooperation projects proposed for funding from the sixth tranche of the UN Development Account (2008-2009). The overall theme of the sixth tranche is “Supporting progress towards achieving internationally agreed development goals, through innovation, networking and knowledge management”. The projects approved for the sixth tranche will be implemented during the period 2008-2010 by the UN regional commissions, programmes and funds in partnership with other entities of the United Nations system and international and national organizations.

Under the sixth tranche of the UN Development Account, the UNECE will be involved in the implementation of the following five new projects:

-  Enhancing the capacity of developing countries to implement international standards for commercial agricultural products to improve their trade competitiveness (ECE, jointly with the other Regional Commissions and UNCTAD; project budget $703.000);

- Water Quality in Central Asia (ECE, in collaboration with ESCAP and UNEP; $443.000); 

- Strengthening national capacities to deal with international migration (ECLAC, jointly with ECE and other Regional Commissions and DESA; $1.193.000);

- Enhancing capacities to eradicate violence against women through networking of local knowledge communities (ECLAC, jointly with ECE and other Regional Commissions and DESA; $736.000);

- Enhancing trade competitiveness of LDCs, countries in transition, and transit countries through the implementation of Single Window facilities (ESCAP, jointly with ECE and UNCTAD; $763.000).

The UNECE Working Group on Technical Cooperation held its seventh meeting on 9 October 2006. Minutes of the seventh meeting can be accessed here.

UNECE Technical Cooperation Strategy

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe at its 62nd Session (25-27 April 2007) adopted the revised ECE Technical Cooperation Strategy. 

The revised ECE Technical Cooperation Strategy builds on the 2004 Strategy document. It delineates the rationale for ECE technical cooperation and brings its principles and main goals in line with the Work Plan on ECE Reform. The revised Strategy introduces a number of new components, such as the role of intergovernmental bodies and the secretariat following the ECE Reform, and streamlines the ECE fund-raising, focusing on the role of the ECE Divisions and Regional Advisers. Particular attention is given to the elaboration of the functions of the Technical Cooperation Unit and delineation of the responsibilities and areas of work of the UNECE Regional Advisers.

At its 13th meeting held on 7 March 2007, the UNECE Executive Committee considered the report "UNECE Technical Cooperation Activities in 2006: An Overview". This paper contains an overview of the work of the UNECE in the field of  technical cooperation, including activities of UNECE Regional Advisers, and UNECE’s cooperation with sub-regional country groupings and initiatives, as well as with other United Nations agencies and regional organizations. 

In 2006, the demand for UNECE technical assistance services continued to be strong. To a significant extent, it was stimulated by current development and policy challenges of consolidation in the areas of institutional frameworks, market infrastructure and competitiveness faced by many of the countries with economies in transition in the ECE region.

Responding to member States' requests, the UNECE Divisions and Regional Advisers carried out 153 advisory missions and organised 55 capacity building workshops/training activities in 2006. A number of technical assistance projects were being implemented by the UNECE in 2006 in those areas where it has mandate, recognised expertise and competence, in particular: 9 projects funded from the UN Development Account, of which 3 were led by the UNECE and 2 newly launched; projects/activities funded from extra-budgetary resources contributed to more than 40 UNECE General and Local Technical Cooperation Trust Funds. 

Although it may now be premature to assess the overall impact of UNECE 2006 technical assistance, it should be noted that technical cooperation activities undertaken in 2005-2006 contributed to a number of  new ratifications of and accessions to ECE legal instruments in the fields of environment and transport in 2006. Two new environment performance reviews, as well as three new country housing profiles and land administration reviews were carried out in 2006. National reporting shows significant progress made in 2006 by member States in implementing both ECE legally binding instruments and “soft laws”, in particular recommendations resulting from environment performance reviews, statistical standards, guidelines on housing policies, recommendations on land administration, guidelines for energy efficiency, and standards and recommendations for trade facilitation and electronic business. As many as 230 transport infrastructure projects along the Euro-Asian transport routes with a total value of US $42 billion were evaluated and prioritized. Advisory services in the field of energy completed in 2006 assisted national government agencies in the formulation and/or implementation of sustainable energy projects for a total value of US $32 million in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation and Ukraine. Technical cooperation services delivered in 2006 will also contribute to strengthening of the impact of ECE technical assistance in 2007-2009.

The UNECE Working Group on Technical Cooperation held its sixth meeting on 4 December 2006. Minutes of the sixth meeting can be accessed here.