European Investment Bank and UNECE Strengthen Partnership to Support Sustainable Development Goals

Strategic Insights -

The European Investment Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote economic cooperation, cohesion, and support countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both organizations to address key thematic areas, including policy collaboration, norms and standards, capacity building, and collaboration on projects. The MoU will enable the two organizations to work together to promote sustainable development, particularly in the areas of environment, transport, and gender.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EIB and UNECE will collaborate in policy collaboration, norms and standards, capacity building, and project collaboration, aiming to promote sustainable development and support countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.
  • The partnership will focus on key sectoral areas, including environment, transport, and gender, with a focus on promoting the UNECE's normative products and analytical outputs.
  • The EIB will promote UNECE's legal instruments in its strategic and policy documents, disseminating standards and good practices more widely.
  • Capacity building will be provided to enhance the implementation of UNECE legal instruments, supporting national and regional stakeholders.
  • The partnership will enable the EIB and UNECE to explore collaboration on activities linked to specific investment projects, including support for national action plans and transboundary agreements.
  • The cooperation will focus on scaling up investment in the foundations for green, resilient, and inclusive economic development needed for the 2030 Agenda.
  • UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova emphasized that the collaboration will strengthen the support offered to member states across a broad range of sustainable development issues.
  • EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle noted that promoting cooperation is key to building a healthier, greener, fairer, and more resilient future.

Statistics:

  • The two organizations have agreed to work together in four thematic areas: policy collaboration, norms and standards, capacity building, and project collaboration.
  • The partnership will focus on environment, transport, and gender, with a specific emphasis on promoting the UNECE's normative products and analytical outputs.
  • The EIB will provide support to enhance the implementation of UNECE's legal instruments, with a focus on national and regional stakeholders.

Sources:

  • European Investment Bank. 2021. Memorandum of Understanding [press release].
  • United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. 2021. About UNECE [website].
  • Euractiv. 2021. European Investment Bank signs memorandum with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe [article].