European Union | United Nations Development Programme

European Union

UNDP's main donor in Cyprus is the European Union (EU).

Since 2001, the long-standing cooperation between the EU and UNDP Cyprus has had significant contributions towards the ongoing peace building processes on the island. Funding from the EU is primarily supporting the work of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, support to the Committee for Missing Persons (CMP), the Local Infrastructure Facility and supporting the work of the Technical Committees, including the Technical Committee on Environment, Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters, Technical Committee on Culture, Technical Committee on Health, Technical Committee on Commercial Matters, Technical Committee on Education.

UNDP’s operational flexibility and strong capacity to adjust its programme to the priorities of the two communities has proved crucial in continuing to position the as a key partner of choice for the EU. The EU’s trust in UNDP’s proven track record and on-the-ground solid expertise has allowed for a well-established partnership which in turn, allows for the successful implementation of confidence and trust building projects in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

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Local Infrastructure Facility

The Local Infrastructure Facility (LIF) encompasses three major components: i) dedicated technical assistance to help assess the needs and, based on the call for expression of interest addressed to local communities, develop a pipeline of shortlisted and ready-to-tender projects; ii) actual infrastructure works; and iii) works supervision. The Facility thus helps identify, screen, develop, prepare for tender, and implement local infrastructure investments, targeting funding on a competitive basis to ensure the best value for money and providing capacity building support to local communities. LIF also serves in assisting the implementation of emergency support to the Turkish Cypriot community. UNDP takes charge of the implementation of the LIF including project maturation (feasibility studies, design and tender dossier), works and supply contracts, procurement procedures, works implementation (including ancillary services and supply contracts which may arise from the project design), and supervision of works contracts.

Support Facility to the Technical Committees

The overall objective of the ‘Support Facility to the Technical Committees’ is to support the work of the Technical Committees established by the two leaders in the context of the talks, with the provision of financial, conceptual, and operational support in the preparation and realization of small, ad-hoc activities as well as more substantive projects and interventions in support of confidence building measures. Currently in its 2nd phase, the Support Facility’s objectives are to: i) support and enable the Technical Committees to adopt island-wide solutions for issues of common concern and to implement these in a strategic manner; ii) strengthen the capacity of the Technical Committees as effective mechanisms for identifying, planning and implementing projects/initiatives that foster mutual understanding and cooperation; iii) seek ways to enhance the visibility of the impact of the work and successes of the Technical Committees through public outreach campaigns, including press releases, social media, awareness-raising and other audio-visual & written communication products.

Support to Cultural Heritage of Great Importance

Since 2010 the United Nations Development Programme and the European Commission have been assisting the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH) to preserve the island’s cultural heritage. Since 2012, over 123 cultural heritage sites island-wide have been conserved, structurally supported, physically protected or restored by TCCH and UNDP with the support from the European Union with a total funding of €24.915 million.  Currently in its 8th phase, the project “Support to cultural heritage monuments of great importance for Cyprus” aims to continue extending support to the efforts of the TCCH thus contributing to the ongoing peace and confidence building process by bringing communities closer to their shared heritage through the conservation and emergency safeguarding of selected projects. Additional soft components of the project includes digital heritage, community engagement, awareness raising as well as an established Heritage Youth Ambassador initiative.

Support to the Committee on Missing Persons

The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) project on the exhumation, identification, and return of remains of missing persons, is a bi-communal undertaking, whereby the overall objective of the project is to close, without further delay, a painful chapter in the history of the island and contribute to restoring trust and fostering reconciliation between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Currently in the 14th phase of its work, this activity often helps bring closure to the families. The expected output is to recover, identify and return to their families the remains of persons who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963 to 1964 and the events of 1974. The respective CMP employees undertaking this activity work in bi-communal teams, comprised of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot professionals.

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