OREANDA-NEWS. The Russian Government and the United Nations Development Programme (hereinafter UNDP) have an agreement in effect since 1993, which regulates the principal conditions for Russia receiving aid from the UNDP. In connection with the change in Russia’s status from a donor assistance recipient country to an international development donor nation, a need has arisen for legal confirmation of the new stage of Russia’s cooperation with the UNDP.

Under a mutual agreement with UNDP Secretariat, a framework partnership agreement (hereinafter Agreement) was drafted and approved during consultations between the parties.

The Agreement establishes a framework for the interaction between Russia and the UNDP, and determines geographical and conceptual areas of the cooperation. The implementation of the Agreement will let Russia, together with the UNDP, to render expert aid and practical experience in the development area to partner nations, primarily in the CIS space.

The Agreement envisions the creation of the Russia-UNDP Trust Fund. The trust fund will make it possible to cut costs and bureaucratic procedures when approving projects. The Managing Council of the Trust Fund, which will be made up of UNDP representatives and officials of the Russian agencies, will be in charge of project selection and monitoring.