Europe & CIS

From Russia With Love

A national chapter of the global CSR agenda, an original research undertaken between June and September 2008, is based on a survey of 258 senior executives from international companies with a turnover over USD 1bn, along with more than 20 in-depth interviews with business leaders and CSR experts. This is the first research to provide a comprehensive analysis of CSR practices by Russian majors as well as comparing them with those of the peers worldwide and in the most dynamic economies.

Baseline Study on Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in the Western Balkans

The Baseline study on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices in the Western Balkans is the first comprehensive CSR analysis conducted in the region. The report covers Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo/UNMIK, Montenegro and Serbia. It provides a detailed analysis of CSR practices in the region and illustrates existing drivers, barriers, and resources for CSR engagement and promotion. The reports makes a number of recommendations that can be widely utilized by all stakeholders involved in CSR implementation – including businesses, governments, civil society, academia, development partners, and the media – in assessing their current CSR policies and in designing new initiatives.

How to Conduct Trade Needs Assessments in Transition Economies

This guide is designed to help policymakers, trade officials and researchers conduct needs assessment studies on trade and human development under the Aid for Trade initiative conceived at the 2005 World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong. Despite the variations between countries and the challenges of linking trade and human development, it is possible to identify a number of analytical tools for conducting an assessment. The guide aims to show how this can be done with a focus on transition economies.

Post-Conflict Economic Recovery: Enabling Local Ingenuity

The report, Post-Conflict Economic Recovery: Enabling Local Ingenuity, is a comprehensive analysis focusing on three critical factors:  the importance of local ingenuity to guide recovery, the state’s role in promoting this ingenuity, and the policies needed to rebuild battered economies and reduce the risk of conflict recurrence. The study cites examples of countries that have succeeded in rekindling post-conflict economies and those that continue to flounder, discussing the foundations that are so vital to foster post-conflict economic recovery.

Dignity and Justice for All of Us: stories from National Human Rights Institutions in Europe and CIS

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to highlight the role of National Human Rights institutions in protection and promotion of human rights, UNDP BRC, in cooperation with 8 Ombudsman institutions from CIS, has prepared this publication, presenting the stories about the work of these institutions.

Building Lasting Relationships Islandwide

The UNDP Peace Building Programme in Cyprus, Action for Cooperation and Trust, was launched in October 2005 and will end in September 2011. This publication outlines the achievements of the Programme over the last three years and highlights its successes in promoting reconciliation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and also describes UNDP’s peace building work for the period 2008-20011.  

World Trade Organization. Notes on the content and process. Handbook in Russian

The Handbook explains the general principles and processes of the WTO. The author elaborates on the signifcant decisions that have been made in past negotiations, specifically those that are relevant to the current negotiations launched by the Doha Ministerial Declaration in 2001. The original publication was released by the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo in November 2006.

Social Enterprise: A new model for poverty reduction and employment generation

This report finds that traditional development initiatives in post-communist states often focus on bolstering the private sector or the state, while ignoring organizations that combine for-profit activities with social aims.  It covers 12 post-communist countries and includes three in-depth sections devoted to the social enterprise phenomenon in Poland, Serbia and Ukraine. It suggests a number of ways to promote social enterprises in transition countries, including efforts to make the legal and political environments more favourable, holding outreach and advocacy initiatives that engage decision makers and the public, setting up agencies specifically designed to support social enterprises, and providing ‘seed money’ and small grants aiming to sustain social enterprises.

Development and Transition, 10th issue, "Climate Change"

Issue ten of the UNDP-LSE publication focuses on the challenges of climate change in Europe and the CIS, and the national and regional responses. Topics discussed include the threats posed to water supply by melting glaciers, Russian potential for renewable energy generation and the legal and regulatory steps needed to make carbon finance a viable activity in the region.  

www.developmentandtransition.net

Georgia 2008 National Human Development Report: The Reforms and Beyond

The report examines the extent to which post-Revolution reforms have impacted on human development opportunities. Specifically, the report looks at the way the reforms have affected the efficiency of the economy; the equity with which people are treated and resources are used; the sustainability of the political, economic and social environment; the physical and economic security of the population; and their level of empowerment to take control of their lives and make choices.