UNDP wraps up partnership with Lithuania

  • 2013-05-15
  • From wire reports

VILNIUS - The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Lithuania on May 14 convened its final conference, which focused on partnerships in three important sectors: social integration of vulnerable groups, Corporate Social Responsibility and the potential for regional cooperation and youth employment, UNDP Lithuania said in a statement, reports ELTA.

The conference was opened by the UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Europe and the CIS, Cihan Sultanoglu and the Minister of Social Security and Labor of the Republic of Lithuania, Algimanta Pabedinskiene. “UNDP feels very privileged to have been a partner to Lithuania since 1992. I am proud that together with our national and local partners, we have been able to contribute to the country’s numerous important successes that are evident today.

We are now looking forward to extending cooperation with Lithuania in transferring its valuable transition experience, knowledge and expertise to other countries in need.” Sultanoglu stated in her opening speech. Since 1992, UNDP and the government of Lithuania have been working together to tackle economic, social, and environmental and governance challenges during the country’s transition.

After Lithuania joined the EU in 2004, UNDP completed its program cycle and in 2005 was transformed into a UNDP Project Office, gradually embarking on a new business model based on partnerships in a fully non-core environment, i.e., without financial support from UNDP. UNDP-tested social innovations have had a positive impact on vulnerable people in project localities. Social innovation projects, implemented over this period, focused on testing new methods and practical solutions.