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United Nations Development Programme |
Agreement on Cooperation in the RF Signed by UNDP and UNIDO UNIDO Director-General Carlos Magarinos’ recent visit to Moscow was crowned by the signing of an agreement on cooperation between the UNDP country Office in the RF and the UN Industrial Development Organization. The document, signed 25 January follows the 31 October 1998 corporate agreement on cooperation between the two UN organisations. It is intended to facilitate a mutual supplementing of resources for the sustainable human and industrial development of Russia, as well as providing employment and preserving the environment. The UNIDO Director-General thus delegates authority to the UNDP Resident Representative in the RF Philippe Elghouayel. A UNIDO office will be opened on the premises of the UNDP. The parties agreed that the joint planning of programmes and the implementation of projects utilising UNIDO’s capacities and expertise for a stable industrial and human development, could become key areas of cooperation between the two UN organisations in the RF. This would strengthen the role of the UNDP as an organisation providing overall coordination for all UN devepolment assistance projects in Russia. The effective use of energy resources in industry, the transfer and adaptation of clear technology in industrial production, partnership between the state and private sectors, ecological programmes, attracting investment in Russia’s regions, providing employment and support for small and medium-sized enterprises will be the main thrusts of UNDP/UNIDO programmes in Russia. |
UNDP and St. Petersburg Administration Signed Protocol of Intent
At the signing ceremony. A Protocol of Intent was signed in St. Petersburg on 24 February by the UNDP country Office and the St. Petersburg Administration. The document signed by the Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Yakovlev and the UNDP Resident Representative in the RF Mr. Philippe Elghouayel puts special emphasis on the inhancement of the quality of life of the population of the North-West Region. After holding bilateral talks and negotiations, the two parties expressed their joint conviction that cooperation between the UNDP and the Administration of St. Petersburg will make it possible to contribute to solve vital problems in the region’s socio-economic development. Taking into consideration their common interest in developing and strengthening cooperation among the agencies of the UN system and with the organs of government, NGO’s, the parties agreed to hold regular consultations for the development and implementation of various projects, as well as the joint development of plans to implement the development projects in the region by UN agencies in the period 1999–2000. A permanent consultative board, whose functions will include the monitoring of and control of the preparations and implementation of development projects carried out jointly in the Northwestern region, is to be established.
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United Nations Development Programme |
Presentation of the Human Development Report ’98 for the Russian Federation |
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The UNDP National Human Development Report ’98 for the Russian Federation was warmly received by the audience at the launching session on 17 February in Moscow. Renowned Russian politicians, public figures, scholars, specialists in political and social science, foreign diplomats, journalists, representatives of clergy and business circles participated in the launching ceremony. Mr. Leonid Ivanchenko, Chairman of the Committee on Federal and Regional Policies of the State Duma, gave a positive assessment of the UNDP activities in Russia. He stated that such analytical documents prepared by groups of independent leading Russian scholars on the basis of an exclusive methodology, developed by the UNDP, provides for more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of the social, economic and human situation in Russia. Mr. Philippe Elghouayel, UNDP Resident Representative in the Russian Federation, mentioned, however, that the National Human Development Report is only part of many activities carried out by UNDP in assisting Russia to overcome and mitigate the difficulties of transition towards a market economy and democracy. |
Launching the Human Development Report in Moscow. |
| The NHDR 98 for the first time
contains a comparative analysis of the situation in Russia by region and a Human
Devepolment Index for each of the 89 regions of the Russian Federation. The chief author
Prof. Yuri Fedorov (Moscow State Institute of International Relations under the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs) stated that the authors were selected for their research work on the
regions of Russia, where the socioeconomic situation is typical especially in certain of
them. Thus, for instance, if Yakutia is an example of a newly developed territory, the
Krasnodar Territory represents a traditional agricultural zone. For the Novosibirsk
Region, as for the majority of the regions of Siberia, the presence of the military
industrial complex and the declining tendency as a result of the drastic reduction in
state orders remains characteristic. Finally, if the Pskov Region may serve as the example
of most depressed regions, the City of Moscow provides a vivid example of the rapid
development of market structures. Mr. Serguei Ordzhonikidze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his gratitude to the team for the most detailed analysis of the situation in the regions of Russia, which will certainly facilitate a better understanding of the social, economic and political transition. The Report also contains statistical data and forecast of human, social and economic development, migration and refugees status, health care and educational system, labour market, income distribution and crime indicators. The participants underlined that such a publication should be continued and that the future issues should develop further the human development indicators for the 89 regions of Russia. |
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| 1999 – International Year of Older Persons | |
| Pursuant to resolution 47/5 of the UN General Assembly of 16 October 1992, 1999 was declared the International Year of Older Persons, “taking into account that in every country of the world the number of elderly people is increasing as never before, and we need to remember that this means a mature approach and the ability to implement various undertakings in the social, economic, cultural and spiritual spheres which play a vital role in ensuring peace throughout the world and development in the next century.” | In 1995 (resolution 50/141 of December 21), the Assembly requested that the UN member-states submit a program conception for the Year proposed by the Secretary-General in harmony with the conditions in their own countries, and begin national development programs for conducting the Year of Older Persons. The UN and its specialized institutions have been asked to define specific spheres of action within the indicated program. The topic of the Year could be defined as “Society for People of All Ages.” |
