Venice - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) re-affirmed their partnership today with a memorandum of understanding signed by Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UNDP, and Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the EBRD.

The memorandum, signed on the margins of the G20 meetings in Venice, strengthens the organisations’ joint efforts to support environmentally sustainable recovery and development in the economies of central and eastern Europe, Central Asia, Mongolia and the southern and eastern Mediterranean.

The two organisations will also collaborate on issues including the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises and the promotion of equality of opportunity for women, youth and people suffering from disabilities.

“This renewed memorandum with the EBRD will strengthen our efforts to build forward better from the pandemic and to leverage digital transformation as a means of planting the seeds for tomorrow’s competitive and inclusive economies. By working together, we can focus on exploring new opportunities to promote a green recovery and equal opportunities for everyone,” UNDP Administrator Steiner said.

EBRD President Renaud-Basso said: “I am pleased to renew the partnership between the EBRD and UNDP here today. The areas of collaboration highlighted in the new memorandum capture well our common commitment to support countries in their economic recovery journey, ensuring that it is both green and inclusive, leveraging the opportunities offered by the digital transition.”

The memorandum builds on the cooperation established between the two institutions in 2014. Since then, they have developed several initiatives, including to promote vocational training in Turkey, develop the first social impact bond in Armenia and create the Skills for an Inclusive Future network, which promotes stronger private-sector engagement in skills development to facilitate the inclusion of underserved populations. The network was officially launched earlier in July 2021 on the sidelines of the UN High Level Political Forum in New York.

The UNDP is the leading United Nations organisation fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, it helps nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.