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On the 5th of March UNDP opened its new Centre on Democratic Governance in Oslo. Oslo Governance Centre will assist UNDPs 132 programme countries further democratic reforms necessary to achieve the international development target of reducing the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by at least one-half by 2015.
Oslo Governance Centre is expected to strengthen UNDP's engagement on governance issues in national planning dialogue, build up a body of best practice on key governance matters, and act as a training resource for the agency in this area. Policy Advisers concentrating on Human Rights, Access to Justice, Civil Society and Crisis Prevention will provide a focus for the work of the Center.
The UN has recognized Democratic Governance as one of the most critical factors in eradicating poverty. Democratic governance, in all its aspects, is about producing an enabling environment where people can make full use of their talents and take responsibility for their own lives, where poverty can be eradicated and international development targets can be achieved.
Through The Oslo Governance Centre UNDP will provide a window for developing countries to positively influence and benefit from global knowledge on democratic governance. The Centre will be a meeting place for all those committed to democracy and transparency as fundamental building blocks on the way towards stability and development. The Centre will be a place for sharing knowledge and promoting an enabling environment for development and poverty-reduction in an interdependent world.
The Norwegian Minister of International Development, Ms. Hilde Frafjord Johnson presided over the official opening of the Oslo Governance Centre.
H.E. Dr. J. Ramos-Horta addressed the opening on the topic "Justice and reconciliation in post-conflict", followed by response from Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, Special Representative of the Director General of World Health Organization, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland.
This venue took place at the Norwegian Nobel Institute, Drammensveien 19.
The official program was followed by a reception at UNDP Oslo Governance Centre's premises in Inkognitogaten 18.
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