What is the Programme Engagement Facility?

The Programme Engagement Facility (PEF) is UNDP’s flexible mechanism that enables rapid, adaptive responses to emerging priorities and opportunities. It supports activities such as policy advice, research, evaluations, crisis response and pilot initiatives with potential for scale-up. By streamlining processes, the facility enables country-level offices and regional hubs to act with agility, foster innovation, and strengthen partnerships. It does not fund infrastructure projects or cash transfers but focuses on initiatives that align with UNDP’s strategic goals and deliver tangible impact.

In Cyprus, the overall objective of the PEF is to contribute to building trust and enhancing cooperation between the two communities of the island, through the implementation of key programmatic actions that complement and amplify UNDP Cyprus’ ongoing projects while also identifying new island-wide approaches to address complex development challenges of concern to both communities, in the areas of environment, energy and social cohesion.

Actions under the PEF

A Portfolio on Green and Just Growth

In its initial iteration, this includes the development of the portfolio on Green and Just Growth that will bring together communities in Cyprus through joined climate positive action, as well as implementation of activities for the 20 years of EU-UNDP partnership in Cyprus, showcasing to the public at large the benefits to both communities when they work together on critical issues that are of importance to all inhabitants of Cyprus. The purpose of this output is the finalisation of UNDP Cyprus’ first portfolio with the objective to accelerate green and just growth in Cyprus in a way that regenerates and conserves nature, enhances quality of life, shared prosperity and wellbeing while building trust and creating strong bridges between all groups on the island, especially between the two communities. Specifically, the funds will be used to conduct key actions to reaffirm the chosen direction for transformative systems change on Green and Just Growth while also kickstarting select initiatives. Embedding a gender informed outlook is important in this process, therefore the support of UNDP Gender specialists will be sought for guidance and building capacity for gender mainstreaming.

Celebrating EU-UNDP Cyprus Partnership

The longstanding partnership between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) marked a significant milestone in 2024 as it celebrates 20 years of collaboration globally and over two decades in Cyprus. Since its beginning in October 2001 with the pioneering Nicosia Master Plan, the EU-UNDP partnership has played a vital role in the peace building process through infrastructure development, private sector growth and the preservation of cultural heritage. The cooperation has also been instrumental in supporting the work of the Committee on Missing Persons as well as the functioning of the bicommunal technical committees dealing with important public issues from health to environment across the island. Under this output, a series of activities were organised to commemorate and showcase the work that has been achieved through this partnership towards enhancing cooperation between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and showcasing to the public at large the benefits to both communities when they work together on critical issues that are of importance to all inhabitants of Cyprus.

The UNDP Youth Innovation Factory