News

UN To Mark First World Day of Social Justice

20.02.2009

20 February 2009, Bucharest– The United Nations System in Romania, together with the Romanian National Anti-Poverty - Social Inclusion Network / EAPN Romania (RONAPSIN) and the Romanian Development NGOs Platform (FOND) marked the first celebration of the World Day of Social Justice with a round table on February 20, 2009, 10.00 am.

The Roundtable was chaired by Mr. Jan Sorensen, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Romania, and attended by representatives of Romanian Presidency, Government, Civil Society and UN agencies. At its sixty-second session, in November 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 20 February as World Day of Social Justice. The day is to be observed for the first time in 2009. (More...)

Romanian funded UNDP project in the Republic of Moldova wins international recognition

10.02.2009

New York - Although Romania joined the prestigious donor countries club only two years ago, following the accession to the European Union in January 2007, the official development assistance (ODA) contribution is already bringing noteworthy results. The project ‘Better Opportunities for Women and youth’ implemented in Republic of Moldova with help from the governments of the United States and Romania, received an award during the global South-South Development Expo (GSSD) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. (More...)

Click for more information on the Romanian Cooperation for Development and UNDP Moldova.

UNDP's project Maramures Mountain Nature Park finalizes architecture pattern book

20.01.2009

20 January 2009 - The Maramures traditional architecture pattern book was finalized. The book, drafted by INDBAU Romania, is the main outcome of the architectural summer camp organized by UNDP's project Maramures Mountain National Park and held in Petrova (Maramures) in July 2008. Here, architects from several countries in Europe got together to study the main local architectural patterns that occur in the commune of Petrova, which are representative for the Maramures area. These findings will improve the local development planning processes, and the Park administration, with the UNDP-GEF project’s support, is mainstreaming the local architectural guidelines in any new building development within the protected area, in order to preserve the rich cultural and environmental heritage of the park and at larger extent contribute to the preservation of Maramures traditions.

The countryside in Eastern Europe and Central Asia lags behind the cities, which offer more and better jobs, social services, and cultural opportunities - UNDP Regional Study Finds

12.01.2009

UNDP Regional Center Bratislava - The last issue of “Development and Transition”published jointly by UNDP and the London School of Economics, explores the links between food prices and global economic trends on the one hand, and poverty reduction and sustainable rural development on the other. The post-communist transition introduced new rural/urban imbalances: while cities benefitted from foreign investment and private enterprise, collective farms and their social infrastructure collapsed. Poverty and unemployment rates in rural areas have worsened; and rising food prices have generated food insecurity fears, the authors say.

One of the most interesting articles, written by John Bachtler, Professor of European Policy Studies and Director of the European Policies Research Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, explores how rural development continues to suffer from a lack of coherent policy and approaches. With responsibilities split between the CAP and Cohesion Policy, rural development faced new challenges with the accession of the new EU member states in 2004 and 2007. One of the most contentious enlargement issues was the EU15 decision to phase in CAP funding for the new member states over the 2004-13 period. Consequently, the rural development pillar is much more important in the new member states than in the EU15. The total allocations for the new member states are significantly lower than for the EU15: for example, Poland receives less than half the allocations for France. Moreover, the share of rural development in total CAP spending is considerably higher, ranging from 37-38 percent in Hungary and the Czech Republic to 69 percent in Estonia, Latvia and Romania, and 79 percent in Malta. This compares with rural development shares of 6-10 percent in Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and United Kingdom. Many new member states are also devoting larger shares of their rural development allocations to non-farm areas of intervention.

The article by Thomas Sikor, a Senior Lecturer in Development Studies at the University of East Anglia (United Kingdom), compares case studies on civic engagement and rural development from Bulgaria, Albania and Czech Republic. His Bulgarian example is about small producers in the Plovdiv region who have formed water user groups in reaction to chronic problems with mismanagement of the irrigation infrastructure. Groups of 10 to 50 small village producers coordinate water delivery, liaise with the irrigation company, and maintain secondary canals.

The issue features a comprehensive analysis of the interrelated problems of rural development, food prices and regional disparities. The next issue of development and Transition will focus on Reforming the State and will be published in April 2009.

Strand Park, Sibiu – new initiative within the Beautiful Romania Project

23.12.2008

23 December 2008, Sibiu - UNDP, in partnership with the Ministry of Regional Development and Housing and Sibiu Municipality, has launched a new public space rehabilitation initiative in Sibiu, as part of the Beautiful Romania Project. The activity will target the Strand Park (Strand neighborhood), aiming at transforming it into a modern and multi-functional public space. As a first stage of this initiative, at the beginning of 2009, a design company will be contracted to draw a new spatial development concept of the area.

Macin Mountains National Park refurbished Catatuia visitor center

22.12.2008

22 December 2008, Macin Mountains National Park, Cetatuia, Tulcea – The project finalized the refurbishment of the Catatuia visitor center, through the project . The building was donated by the National Forestry Administration and served as a forestry check point until recently. The center is located on touristic routes and will serve as information center for the tourists and for scientists and students conducting biodiversity research in the park.

Human Development Indices: A Statistical Upate - Island first, Romania 62nd

19.12.2008

Friday, the 19th of December 2008 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today released the Human Development Report titled this year: "Human Development Indices: A statistical Update." The report presents the Human Development Index (HDI) which looks beyond GDP to a broader definition of well-being. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and enrolment at the primary, secondary and tertiary level) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income). More...

For a Statistical Update click here. To review the Report's website click here.

UNDP's project Beautiful Romania completes rehabilitation works at the Miko Citadel in Miercurea Ciuc

10.12.2008

10 December 2008, Miercurea Ciuc - The rehabilitating works for Miko Citadel - the Historic Center of Miercurea Ciuc - have been finalized. The works were completed with financial support from the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Housing, following an existing design plan. The building now serves as museum and public space open for cultural events.

UNDP Sets up and Develops a new Business Incubators in Mangalia

10.12.2008

10 December, Mangalia, Constanta - UNDP's Business Incubators national project expanded with a new unit, finalizing the refurbishment of a future business incubator in Mangalia. The building that will host the incubator is part of Municipality's contribution to the project, and it has the capacity of hosting 20 companies, with both their administrative and production activities. In the next phase of the project in Mangalia the business incubator will receive furniture and IT equipment, for assuring the best working conditions for the project's beneficiaries. The business incubator is located within the Mangalia Industrial Park and it will serve as an economic development pole in the area, functioning within the national business incubators network. It is expected to become fully functional towards the end of 2009..

International Human Rights Day - 60th Anniversary

10.12.2008

10 December 2008 - The United Nations Development Programme today marked the 60th anniversary of the Human Rights Day with the start of a national awareness campaign on Millennium Development Goals. The campaign is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and carried out by several NGOs, CENTRAS, SECS, APD and World Vision in Bucharest, Cluj, Iasi, Timisoara and Constanta. The duration of the campaign is two and a half months. More...

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