On 13 December 2011, the 3^rd meeting of the National Steering Committee of the UNDP-GEF project “Improving the Financial Sustainability of the Carpathian System of Protected Areas” took place in an open session format, at the UN House. This official session of the project supervisory body was combined with a public awareness event gathering numerous personalities representing national authorities, private sector, civil society, media and other stakeholders. Ivan Patzaichin, Dumitru Prunariu, Grigore Lese, Camelia Sucu, Cristina Trepcea (CAN), Petru Lificiu (Vice-President ANRE), Traian Solovastru (General Manager Romsilva) are among the distinguished guests welcome at the UN House by Ms. Yesim Oruc, UNDP Resident Representative.

The main objective of the event was to convey to the public and key national stakeholders the key messages regarding the sustainable management and conservation of biodiversity: the need to cover the costs of parks administration through budgetary allocations, improved financial management systems, business plans and novel mechanisms of payments for ecosystem services; and the economic valuation of ecosystem services, such as clean water, soil protection, carbon sequestration and landscape conservation, which needs to substantiate the political message on protected areas.

The main goal of the project is to secure the financial sustainability of Romania’s Carpathian Network of Protected Areas (CNPA), which could further serve as a model for replication to the entire Carpathian Network of Protected Areas. This will be achieved through 1) supportive legislative framework and Sustainable Protected Areas Financing Strategy; and 2) strengthening the institutional and individual capacities of management authorities and local stakeholders to implement this strategy.

Romanian companies from 3 different economic fields of activity, that is energy-mining, production and services can benefit for free from a programme for the integration of CSR principles in their specific business strategy.

The assistance program is supported within the Project Strengthening the capacity of Romanian companies to develop social partnerships, financed through the European Social Fund, Sectoral Operational Programme for Human Resources Development 2007-2013, having as partners United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Agency for the Implementation of Programmes and Projects for Small and Medium Enterprises (AIPPIMM) and as beneficiary the National Association of Romanian Exporters and Importers (ANEIR).

The registration can be made on the project’s website at www.aneir-csr.ro.

More details about the eligibility criteria, registration conditions, and procedures of the selection process, responsibilities and benefits for the companies are also available on the project website.

The UNDP and the Romanian Permanent Electoral Authority (PEA) will organize a roundtable on “Transparency and anti-corruption in financing political parties and electoral campaigns” on December 1, 2011, at the UN House in Bucharest. The roundtable is organized under the joint  project on “Support to the Permanent Electoral Authority (PEA) and local public administration in Romania to implement best practices in electoral processes management”. During the event, the two international consultants, Constantine Palicarsky and Jurij Toplak, will present their preliminary findings and recommendations for amending the legislation on political parties and electoral campaigns financing. Representatives of the PEA, Ministry of Justice, National Integrity Agency, Court of Accounts as well as representatives from the political parties and civil society will take part in the roundtable.

Transparency and Anti-Corruption in the Financing of Political Parties and Electoral Campaigns - Preliminary Key Findings of the Report (PDF, 356 kb)