ECE REGIONAL ADVISORY SERVICES 

ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION

 Background

Technical assistance services provided in the framework of the Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation are carried out by the Regional Adviser on Economic Cooperation and Integration in collaboration with the ECE Economic Cooperation and Integration Division. They are linked to UNECE's normative work, limited to those particular areas where the UNECE has recognised expertise, and aim at ensuring effective and efficient responses to the particular demands of UNECE member States. The work is focused mainly on the countries with economies in transition of Central Asia and the Caucasus.  

In accordance with the work program approved by the ECE Committee on Economic Cooperation and Integration (CECI) in September 2006 the Regional Adviser focuses on translating the outcomes of normative activities of CECI into capacity building activities. At the present stage this includes needs assessment and consultations on mobilizing partnerships with and resources from partner organizations as well as assessment of potential donor support for capacity building activities. In addition, he supports the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA). This Programme was launched in 1998 by five Central Asian states with the objective of strengthening regional economic cooperation. Azerbaijan joined the Programme in 2002 and Afghanistan in 2005. SPECA today has six Project Working Groups: Trade, Transport, Water and Energy (covering also the environment), Statistics, ICT for Development, and Gender and Economy. The Governing Council (deputy prime ministers or ministers of economy) and the Coordinating Committee (deputy foreign ministers) coordinate and oversee the work conducted in the framework of the Programme. SPECA works closely with a number of partner organizations, which are active in Central Asia. The newly established SPECA Economic Forum provides strategic guidance for the Programme. SPECA activities are underpinned by research conducted by Central Asian economic research institutes supported by the newly established Partnership for Economics Education and Research Support (PEERS). 

Besides supporting the work of SPECA, the Regional Adviser undertakes coordination with partner organizations active in Central Asia and provides advisory services upon request on issues pertaining to key aspects of regional economic cooperation and its role in promoting sustainable economic development and rapid integration into the world economy. 

Brief information about the objective, expected accomplishments, indicators of achievement and summary of outputs, related to ECE Regional Advisory Services on Economic Cooperation and Integration in 2008-2009 can be accessed here.

Main activities and achievements 

More detailed information on Regional Adviser's main directions of work, specific technical cooperation activities and their main results is available here. 

Links to main projects/activities  

UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA)