Moscow, 11 June, 2015 — UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signed an agreement today that establishes the Russian Federation – UNDP Trust Fund for Development, with initial funding of $25 million from Russia over the next four years.

The Fund has been created in accordance with the Partnership Framework Agreement between UNDP and Russia which was signed in January 2015.

The activities to be supported by the Trust Fund will focus on poverty alleviation; disaster risk reduction and early preparedness for emergencies; and energy and environment. It will support initiatives implemented by UNDP in Central Asia and elsewhere. 

Since the closure of the UNDP Country Office in Moscow in 2010, UNDP and Russia entered a new stage of partnership, focused on co-operation at the regional and global levels, and Russia’s growing donor role. 

Since 2010, the Russian Federation has supported UNDP projects of a total value of $22 million in seven countries, addressing a broad range of issues, including support to rural development and jobs creation, quick recovery from natural disasters, energy efficiency, support to trade policy and economic integration.

“UNDP welcomes the establishment of the new Trust Fund and looks forward to working with Russia as a partner in supporting achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, due to be adopted by world’s leaders in September” Helen Clark said.  The signing of the Trust Fund agreement took place as part of a two-day visit of the UNDP Administrator to Moscow, during which she met with high level government officials, members of the diplomatic community and United Nations staff.