UNIDO-EC cooperation
The cooperation between the European Union, the world’s biggest aid donor, and UNIDO has helped a considerable number of developing countries and countries with economies in transition address the huge challenges of globalization and poverty alleviation. The objective of the cooperation is to assist developing countries in their efforts to design and implement relevant sustainable industrial development strategies and programmes that will alleviate poverty while preserving the environment. This will ultimately contribute to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
The EU-UNIDO partnership is based on common values and convergent objectives. This is particularly derived from the common interest of both organizations in providing economic support to developing countries. Therefore, the cooperation between UNIDO and the EC is progressively increasing in terms of funding, information exchange, invitation to and participation in respective meetings and conferences. The actual EC funded ongoing programmes is now about € 52 million. In 2008, the total of Contribution Agreements signed was around €15 million (€ 26 million in 2007).
On 23 October, 2003 the EC and UNIDO have signed a Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement (FAFA), in order to strengthen their collaboration. This agreement covers all practical aspects of the cooperation and has contributed to the facilitation of the administration and implementation of joint projects.
