World Bank and UNICEF launch a new project

WHAT: Official launch of joint World Bank/UNICEF project in North Caucasus

WHERE: Moscow (12 November) – Official launch at the World Bank Moscow office (ul. Bolshaya Molchanovka 36/1, metro Smolenskaya)

WHEN: 12 November, 10.00 a.m.

WHO:

- Klaus Rohland, World Bank Director and Resident Representative in the Russian Federation
- Bertrand Bainvel, UNICEF Representative in the Russian Federation
- Representative of the Ministry of the Regional Development of the Russian Federation

WHY:

World Bank and UNICEF start a joint two year project in the North Caucasus this November. The project addresses the needs of vulnerable young people in the North Caucasus region by adopting a strategic approach which incorporates life-long learning for skills and competencies, healthy behaviors and livelihoods. World Bank's report published in 2006 reveals that the North Caucasus has the highest rate of youth being neither in school nor work in the country, which is from two to seven times higher than the national average of 10 percent.

The new project will establish education/recreation centres to provide life skills, information technology and other employment related training and organize leisure activities for adolescents and youth. A special fund will award grants and assist with small and medium business development.

On 13 November regional launch will be held in Rostov-on-Don.

For further information please contact:

In Moscow:

UNICEF Anna Kochineva, Communications Officer, tel. (495) 937-4812, +7 916 170-5654,
akochineva@unicef.org

World Bank Tatiana Piunovskaya, Communications Analyst, tel. (495) 745-7002 ext. 2026,
tpiunovskaya@worldbank.org

In North Caucasus:

UNICEF Andrei Muchnik, Communications Officer, Vladikavkaz +7 928 796 6133
amuchnik@unicef.org