Emerging Donors Initiative (EDI) Promoting East – East Cooperation through Sharing the Transitional Experience

What is EDI? UNDP RBEC Regional initiative managed from RC in Bratislava Facilitates cooperation between EDs and both recipient countries and traditional donors Assists EDs in assuming their role as strategic partners in the global partnership for development (MDG 8)

EDI – when it started? Regional activities (study tours, workshops) since 1998 National capacity development projects since 1999 Regional EDI project document formulated in the fall of 2003 with seed funding 300,000 USD and structured output matrix, available at under Other regional Activities and East-East Cooperation heading

Who are the “Emerging Donors”? EDI has got close working contacts with most Central European and Baltic Countries and it is open to all NMS, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia and Turkey These countries have made considerable success in their economic and democratic reform process and their transition experience is of utmost relevance for the recipient countries, especially in the RBEC region Demand for this expertise that is also linked to EU accession process has been constantly growing

EDI – Main Directions Strengthening capacities in emerging donor countries to effectively deliver development assistance; Promoting development cooperation between emerging donor countries and recipient countries, with a special focus on Southeast European and CIS countries; enhancing the role of UNDP, and the UN system overall, as a major partner for and facilitator of East-East and East-South development cooperation.

EDI – capacity building for development cooperation (DC) at the national level National projects in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania Slovenia and possibly Poland to come soon Cost-shared by the governments in some countries – first steps in ED resource mobilization Close cooperation between ED unit and CST Excellent tool for establishment of close working relationships with the partners, namely MFAs

EDI – Slovak TF 2,4 millions USD in 2003 (two thirds of the Slovak ODA) To be replenished with at least the same amount in 2004 Main delivery mechanism for the Slovak ODA Administrative and Contracting Unit established in 2003 to perform the project cycle management functions First Slovak ODA projects (8) proposed by the Slovak entities selected few weeks ago (Steering Committee with the majority of Slovak MFA decides about funding) Cooperation with regional program and COs envisaged in the second half of 2004

EDI – Czech TF 400,000 USD in 2004 To be replenished for 2005 Follow up of the previous TF New qualitative stage ODA is programmed and administered from Bratislava RC Complementary mechanism for the Czech ODA

EDI – Hungarian TF 1 million USD in 2004 Hungarian MFA opted for an implementation modality through a nationally executed project UNDP’ s role is to assist in programming, monitoring and facilitating the process Close cooperation with COs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro and with the regional programme

EDI – Strengthened role of UNDP as a donor and facilitator of East – East cooperation Important role in several ED countries Partnership with CIDA, WB, EU and some bilateral donors like Austria, Germany etc. Respected partner at, and promoter of, the Donor Coordination meetings Potential for new partnerships might increase after May 2004 – flexible modalities of ODA delivery and trilateral projects

EDI – next steps Increased coordination inside UNDP in regard to development cooperation in ED countries (new member states) Further resource mobilization and fine- tuning of ODA delivery mechanisms Increased role of UNDP in programming and management of the ED funds

EDI and MDG 8 As bilateral donors, EDs are being assisted to become ODA partners so that they can effectively enter the MDG 8 “global partnership for development” and thus contribute to the achievement of all eight MDGs Linking financial resources, expertise from ED countries with UNDP “MDGized” programming clearly contributes to achieving MDGs To become true ODA partners, they are building up their own policy, financial, institutional frameworks including transparent and efficient ODA delivery mechanisms, including human resources for ODA management