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• Georgia: EU and UNDP support partnership to enable better waste management in Imereti

  The EU and UNDP are supporting a partnership agreement signed between twelve municipalities of the Imereti region in Georgia and a number of waste and packaging organisations, aiming to develop better, more efficient and sustainable waste management systems.

  “Developing a public-private partnership on waste collection, separation, and recycling is important for a circular economy as it allows resources to be collected and reused more efficiently,” says a press release from UNDP Georgia.

  The initiative was supported by the ‘EU innovative action for private sector and competitiveness in Georgia’ project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Georgia, as part of the wider EU4Business programme, which promotes private sector development in Georgia.

  The partnership agreement was signed between the twelve municipalities and the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), Georgian Packaging Waste Producers Union ‘Georgia Plus’, PMAG Packaging Cluster, and Georgian Waste Management Association (WMA Georgia).

  Find out more

  Press release

• TEIMURAZ JANJALIA HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE SENIOR OFFICIAL MEETINGS (SOM) HELD IN BRUSSELS

  The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teimuraz Janjalia participated  in the Senior Official Meetings (SOM) held in Brussels, on 30 March 2023. The meeting was attended by representatives of the European Union External Action Service, the European Commission, the Member States of the European Union and the countries of the Eastern Partnership.

  Within the framework of the meeting, the sides discussed the priorities in order to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership; In this regard, the 2023 work plan of the "Eastern Partnership" was discussed. In addition, the sides spoke about the implementation process of the flagship projects developed within the framework of the Eastern Partnership economic and investment plan.

  In his speech, the deputy minister emphasized the importance of effectively using all formats with the European Union, including the Eastern Partnership, which ensures even greater rapprochement with the European Union. Teimuraz Janjalia paid particular attention to the role of the Eastern Partnership economic and investment plan and the economic and political importance of the implementation of the flagship projects developed for Georgia within the plan. The deputy minister spoke about deepening cooperation with the European Union in the direction of connectivity, energy security and transport, as well as digital infrastructure. In this context, emphasis was placed on the need to fully exploit the potential of the Black Sea and future plans for the development of Black Sea infrastructure connecting the European Union and Georgia. In this context, Teimuraz Janjalia put forth the idea of holding a high-level seminar on connectivity issues in Tbilisi in 2023.

  The deputy minister focused on the importance of strengthening strategic communications and combating disinformation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, as well as deepening cooperation in the field of security.

• TEIMURAZ JANJALIA HAS MET WITH THE LATVIAN AMBASSADOR TO GEORGIA

  On 27 March 2023, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teimuraz Janjalia, held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to Georgia, Edite Mednes.
  At the meeting, the sides reviewed the issues of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The importance of regular political dialogue, including the importance of exchanging high-level visits was also highlighted. Discussions focused on the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union. The Deputy Minister informed the Latvian Ambassador of the progress achieved by Georgia in the process of fulfilling the European Commission’s 12 recommendations. The Deputy Minister and the Latvian Ambassador also discussed other pressing issues on the agenda.

• With us, not for us: conference in Georgia calls for inclusive environment for people with Down Syndrome

  On the occasion of World Down Syndrome Day, a conference entitled “With Us, Not for Us” was held in Georgia on 21 March. 

  The event was organised by the Down Syndrome Association of Georgia with the support of the European Union (as part of ‘HumanRights4All’ initiative) , the United Nations Development Programme, and Open Society Georgia.

  Non-governmental organisations, organisations of persons with disabilities, and organisations of parents of children with Down Syndrome took part in the conference.

  Participants discussed existing problems and the possibility of creating an inclusive and equitable environment for people with Down Syndrome.

  World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on 21 March and has been held for 18 years. This year, its slogan is #StandWithUs.

  Find out more

  Press release

• UNDP and the Government of Turkmenistan expand cooperation to create sustainable health systems

  27 February the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan signed new projects on health to improve access to treatment of the noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and enhance national capacity for clinical laboratory diagnostics.

  “We are happy to note the increased collaboration between UNDP and the Government of Turkmenistan on strengthening health system of the country, which demonstrates a growing trust in UNDP as a strategic partner to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, by ensuring no one is left behind,”- said Ms. Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan.

  More specifically, UNDP launched the following new joint projects to support the national efforts to strengthen the country’s health system:

  The project “Provision of medicines necessary for prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases and for maternal and child health in Turkmenistan in 2023-2024”, which is aimed at strengthening the national health systems capacities to control the noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), rare diseases, and improve maternal and newborn health in Turkmenistan. . The project will ensure access to free, good quality, available, affordable medicines across the country through the provision of medicines for treatment of NCDs and other diseases. This project will continue providing quality and affordable medicines initiated by the first NCD project between UNDP and MoHMI for 2020-2021. Notably, the project includes: i) the provision of medicines for rare and orphan diseases which are very costly, making the patients with the rare and orphan diseases most vulnerable to financial hardships; ii) provision of essential medicines for NCD patients, including the most vulnerable people; iii) contribute to women’s health by providing medicines for pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period;

  The project “Strengthening clinical laboratory services in Turkmenistan in 2023-2024” will focus on strengthening the national health system’s capacity for clinical laboratory diagnostics of diseases. The project will support health services to ensure availability, accessibility, reliability, and most-up-to-date laboratory investigations for accurate and timely diagnosis of the most common diseases, such as common infectious, non-infectious diseases, surgery, emergency cases, maternal and child health, and other. Important to note that the project will support laboratories of primary health care which serve most of the population. The availability of lab services at the PHC level in close proximity to the place of residence, reduces gender-related barriers and ensures equal access to a full range of lab investigations for women and girls, including lab investigations during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period. The project will particularly help vulnerable people with access to lab services by reducing the cost of the services and the cost of transportation if such services are not available at PHC.

  It is expected that both projects, fully funded by the Government of Turkmenistan with a total budget of around 78 million US dollars, will help Turkmenistan to contribute significantly to the achievement of the universal health coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals.

  “Ensuring Universal Health Coverage in the country and enhancing the resilience of the national health system to pandemics and acute diseases is one of the main areas of our cooperation with indeed impressive results. The volume of our past and ongoing cooperation only on health totals approximately $150 million, with the vast contribution coming from the government of Turkmenistan,” – said Ms. Sahakyan. “The remarkable achievements and outstanding collaboration between UNDP and Turkmenistan on public health have been reflected in the letters of recognition and appreciation from the UNDP Administrator and the Global Fund Executive Director addressed to His Excellency President of Turkmenistan, demonstrating readiness of UNDP and our partners to further improve national health system, leaving no one behind”.

  UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.