Partnerships

NGOs/Civil Society

The Regional Office partners with international and local NGOs and with civil society groups to advance the objectives set out in the regional strategy. The fight against drugs and crime and the response to HIV requires not only a governmental, but also a community-based response.

The Private Sector

The private sector is a key partner in addressing the problems of drugs and crime, including corruption. Business/industry codes of conduct can provide an important catalyst for private sector action, and the private sector can also be an important source of expertise as well as financial contributions. The private sector is also a key partner in the area of workplace prevention programmes. In terms of promoting visibility and public awareness, high-profile personalities and the media will also be key partners.

Donors

UNODC activities depend on fundraising. Main donors are Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the European Union (EU), the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), and One UN Funds.

Regional Organizations

The Regional Office has developed a strategic partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) to support the implementation of the "AU Plan of Action on drug control and crime prevention" (2013-2017). It provides policy and technical support to the AUC, Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) and Member States for the implementation of the above Plan and its mainstreaming into continental, regional and national development plans. The political and peacekeeping strengths of the AUC provide the foundation for its growing engagement against such challenges as drugs and crime. A close collaboration on crime and drug related issues in Eastern Africa are also pursued in the context of the Joint Africa/EU Strategy, and its related Roadmap (2014-17).

The Regional Office also supports the implementation of the AU's Ouagadougou Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings (2006) and the related AUC Initiative against Trafficking. In addition, the partnership with the AUC includes further engagement with the RECs, such as the Eastern African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as well as the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). These regional organisations have developed strategies that include drug control and crime prevention. UNODC ROEA has strengthened its cooperation with EAC, IGAD and IOC by supporting the establishment of sub-regional plans and programmes on security with regards to drugs control and crime prevention.

In the maritime domain, the Regional Office also collaborates with the IOC, the EAC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). UNODC ROEA also works closely with REFLECS3 (the Regional Fusion and Law Enforcement Centre for Safety and Security at Sea) based in the Seychelles.

Such partnerships would respond to priorities identified by the regional organisations and build on cooperation already established. This cooperation would form the building blocks for regional cooperation between the countries.

In addition, and as identified by regional expert group meeting held in Nairobi in February 2009, the regional organisations could play a key role in the establishment of a regional data collection and analysis mechanism on drugs and crime as well as sharing of related information and regional best practices to which UNODC ROEA would lend its support. This mechanism would provide the information needed for effective political and policy formulation in the areas of drugs and crime in Eastern Africa.

International Organizations

The Regional Office has developed partnerships in the area of crime prevention with other global and regional stakeholders, including the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the UN Regional Small Arms Centre (UNREC), the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) and the Eastern African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO).

Furthermore, it has established cooperation with the World Bank in the field of anti-corruption and asset recovery under the joint initiative StAR (Stolen Asset Recovery) and will seek to expand this partnership in other areas of drug control and crime prevention. Initial discussions with the African Development Bank (AfDB) indicated a potential collaboration in the areas of HIV/AIDS, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption. It has also developed a partnership with the Eastern African Anti-Corruption Association (EAACA).

Through the Maritime Crime Programme (MCP), UNODC ROEA has worked closely with the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and its working groups. It has taken on the Secretariat function for Working Group 2 and has closely collaborated with the Contact Group in the development and operation of a legal framework for piracy prosecutions and prisoner transfers.

The European Union represents a close partner to the Regional Office in the maritime field, in particular in the delivery of capacity building outputs under the EU MASE (Maritime Security) Programme. UNODC ROEA's maritime capacity building activities are also coordinated with the European Union's capacity building effort in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean (EUCAP Nestor).