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United Nations Development Programme |
| Seminar Held in Moscow on Installing
Independent Heating Systems as Part of a Joint UNDP-RF Government Project A seminar held in Moscow in mid-March was dedicated to the problems and ways of developing independent heating systems for residential buildings. Discussion focused on the legal, technological, ecological and economic aspects of independent heating systems in the residential sector. Mr. Boris Reutov, the project’s national advisor presented a paper that highlighted the project’s innovative approaches for improving the energy efficiency. The project’s basic goal is the creation and development of widely manufactured independent heating systems for the Russian market. Mr. V. Lipatov, National Project Manager described the work being done to determine the role and place of independent sourcy heat supply in the residential sector’s in the city of Vladimir. The concept of introducing independent sources into Vladimir’s residential heating system was discussed in detail. Leading experts noted the benefits of integrating automated gas-burning water heaters into residential construction. The experts stated that automated gas-burning water heaters meet strict ecological regulations. The seminar was a result of work done by the ROSDEM Association, under the auspices of the RF Ministry of Science and Technologies. The work included an analysis of the legal, technical-economic and ecological prerequisites for introducing independent heating in Vladimir. The project, implemented jointly by the government of the RF and UNDP in the Vladimir Electroefficiency Demonstration Zone since 1998, is an example of how to effectively implement international technical programmes cooperation. Coordination of the federal, regional, and international participants is done by the project’s committee, making widespread use of Russian experts and specialists. The Russian side selects the foreign consultants. The project also involves the creation and development of model systems for regulating and monitoring heating energy, and the creation of a pilot metering/billing service. In current circumstances, where 70% of the payment for energy resources comes out of local budgets, the solution of this problem is of great importance for the development of the Russian economy. The project is dedicated to creating conditions for overcoming the obstacles on the path to preparing and implementing energy-conservation projects in the residential sector and Russia’s heating supply system. Another goal is the creation of a regional organisational infrastructure capable of putting together and implementing any kind of energy-conservation project. The Vladimir project’s most important task is facilitating its implementation and coordination with federal programmes and World Bank projects, and analysing and reporting on the results with the aim of large-scale duplication in Russia. ROSDEM Association telephone and fax are 362-72-71 and 362-78-64. |
Sixth Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC)
Meeting Held in Bodo, NorwayA two-person UNDP delegation attended the Sixth Barents Euro-Arctic Council
Meeting held in Bodi, Norway from 4 to 5 March. The highlight of the meeting was the
signing of the Multilateral Nuclear Enviro-nmental Programme in the Russian Federation
(MNEPR). The main objective of the MNEPR, a binding multilateral agreement, is to
contribute to the clean up of radioactive waste in the Russian Federation.
It will establish a framework that will help to improve the safety and ecological conditions in regions of Russia where large amounts of nuclear fuel and radioactive waste have accumulated. UNDP welcomed this development and also took the opportunity to update the Council regarding its plans for Phase II of the UNDP Capacity Building Programme for Northwest Russia. Phase II will be implemented in the Murmansk and Leningrad regions, and the Republic of Karelia. The integration of biodiversity conservation priorities in the sustainable development action plans of the three regions is the main goal of the Programme. Other objectives include contributing to the creation of a more favourable climate for environmentally sustainable development, strengthening institutional capacity to promote energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy resources. Several countries expressed their interest in and support for UNDP’s Phase II plans. A UNDP-led design and planning mission will work with representatives of the three regions and potential partners in neighbouring countries in May to develop and finalise the project documents. In addition to nuclear and sustainable environment issues, the Barents Council also addresses economic co-operation and trade, energy, health, transport, education, and indigenous people issues. The Council was established in 1993 to boost co-operation between Russia and the Nordic nations of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. |
Inter-Agency Assessment Mission to the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) As part of an ongoing series of UN inter-agency assessment mission, UNDP/UNFPA and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) undertook a trip to the Republic of Sakha on 2–8 February to assess humanitarian conditions and to identify relief and development needs. The mission, organized in conjunction with the regional government, included detailed consultations with relevant ministries and site visits to social institutions in Yakutsk and neighbouring settlements. The mission recommended that the UN system accelerate programming support in a number of priority areas. Of immediate concern is the need to provide food and energy assistance to populations in the north where deliveries of supplies were interrupted last winter due to financial constraints. It was also recommended that support be provided for the control of communicable disease, especially TB, hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). Other projects would be designed to stimulate income generation and job creation activities and a concerted developmental approach by the UN to assist in elaborating micro-credit schemes. In the energy sector, major distribution problems had affected supply – a serious problem due to the fact that almost all supplies had to be delivered by air for at least nine months of the year. The mission noted that international programmes had been successfully completed to provide assistance in meeting shelter, food, health and clothing needs of some 47,000 persons affected by flooding in 1998. In the education sector, UNESCO would accelerate implementation of its project to assist long-distance education and explore with the Sakha authorities assistance requests. |
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United Nations Population Fund |
| UN
Population Fund Finances the Project on the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles among Russian
Adolescents
The Project on “Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles
for Russian Adolescents”, now being implemented jointly by the Russian Ministry of
General and Professional Education and UNESCO with financial assistance from the UN
Population Fund, is intended to contribute to the prevention of the negative processes
currently finding wide acceptance among Russian youth (drug addiction, substance abuse,
alcoholism, smoking and use of tobacco products, the growth of sexually transmitted
diseases, including HIV/AIDS, as well as the high level of teen pregnancies, abortions,
etc.), and having an extremely negative impact on the health of children and adolescents,
including their reproductive health. The project’s main goal is to instil in the
generation of Russians now coming of age a responsible attitude to their own health, and
the health of those around them, as a basic human value, and to make this attitude a
standard in their lives.
One of the project’s purposes is the integration of issues of healthy lifestyle into project schools’ curriculum. In addition, UNESCO together with the Ministry of Education plans to publish a series of books and brochures on healthy lifestyle for various categories of readers, such as students, school health care workers, parents, etc. The development of a working model of extracurricular activity for promotion healthy lifestyle for Russian adolescents is also planned as part of the project. The Ministry also plans to conduct a widescale information and advocacy campaign. |
Humanitarian Shipments
Delivered to the Hospitals of Yakutia Humanitarian shipments with contraceptives and medications were delivered to the regional hospitals in Olekminsk and Srednekolimsk in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) within UNFPA project on “Strengthening of reproductive health services”. In the next few months, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) will receive additional packages of disposable supplies and equipment. The UN Population Fund earmarked $120 thousand for the purchase of medical equipment. Within the project framework WHO organized training seminars for the local health care personel which contributed positively to their professional performance. Seminar Held on the Reproductive Health of Adolescents The seminar “Counselling skills in Adolescent Reproductive Health” arranged jointly by the Russian Family Planning Association (RFPA) and the World Health Organisation as part of a project fully funded by the UN Population Fund, was held in Moscow on 15–20 March. More than 20 representatives of regional RAFP, working in the area of reproductive health, took part in the seminar/workshop.Among the subjects discussed were the economic, social, and individual conditions of life for Russian adolescsents, the psychodynamics and counselling skills and involvement of young people in this type of work. As was noted at the seminar, counselling today remain one of the most productive forms of working with youth. In addressing the seminar’s participants, RFPA director Inga Grebesheva emphasized the special importance of continuing work in this direction. According to Ms.Grebesheva “At a time when Russian youth are experiencing the negative consequences of economic reform more than anyone else, a return to family values and raising the personal responsibility of young people for their own health acquire a great significance.” |
| The Hague Youth Forum The participation of young people in
public life and the right to define their life values and modes of behaviour are important
indicators of the formation and development of civil society. This theme was the major
topic of the Hague Youth Forum, held on 6-7 February 1999, which gathered 120 young
representatives from the countries of Asia, Africa, North and South America, and Eastern
and Western Europe in the context of the intergovernmental Hague Forum on Population and
Development, organised with the help of the UN Population Fund. Russia’s representative
at this international meeting was Olga Miroshnichenko of the RFPA.
According to Ms.Miroshnichenko, the forum offered young people an opportunity to be heard on a high level, and to express their opinions on the implementation of the Cairo Conference’s Plan of Action, discuss problems common to youth around the world, and formulate their appeal to governments, UN agencies, and international non-governmental organisations. The friendly, informal atmosphere of the conference
generated lively group discussions on issues of direct interest to young people:
education, individual development, reproductive health, violence, youth participation in
decision making, governance and democracy. Olga’s presentation on the status of youth in
Russia aroused interest of many participants. As she explained, the youth of the former
socialist bloc has many common problems in the area of reproductive health and its
relations with governmental and public organizations. Working in the Russian Family Planning Association, Olga Miroshnichenko is professionally involved in the development and implementation of projects with a comprehensive approach to youth problems. She believes the participation of young people in the management and solving their problems is necessary and very relevant, as it is contemporary youth who will be making the management decisions in the 21st century. Olga was inspired by the Forum’s ideas to organize a youth conference in Moscow with participation of young people from the CIS countries. Her initiative was strongly supported by her colleagues who were present at the Forum. In order to develop regional cooperation network youth representatives from eastern European countries can be involved as well.
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