In 2009, UNODC and the European Commission (EC) held annual policy consultations at senior level. Key policy topics reviewed included: the drugs related issues in Afghanistan, West Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean; the follow up to the 10 year review process of the 1998 UNGASS on drugs; the new joint programme of WHO and UNODC on drug dependence treatment and care; the implementation of the UN conventions against corruption (UNCAC), transnational organized crime (UNTOC) and terrorism; the joint programme on piracy; and an update on the newly developed regional programmes of UNODC was provided. Also the overall funding situation was reviewed. In operational terms, the EC-UNODC cooperation was enhanced and reached an unprecedented high level. The first joint EC-UNODC joint programme - Support to the trial and related treatment of piracy suspects in the Horn of Africa - was launched. By end of the year 2009, 21 projects are ongoing, with a total budget of nearly €80 million, of which the EC provides about €74 million.
UNODC worked with the African Union Commission (AUC) in support of the Africa Union Action Plan on Drugs Control and Crime Prevention. A joint UNODC/AUC project was launched to strengthen the capacity of the AUC and the Regional Economic Communities (REC's).
UNODC also strengthened partnerships with regional organizations. Enhanced triangular cooperation has been sought in Central America and the Caribbean between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Central American Integration System (SICA). Support is being channeled for the implementation of the "Santo Domingo Pact", an agreement reached at a Ministerial Conference held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in February 2009, to strengthen regional cooperation to fight drugs and crime.
Cooperation was increased with both the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) as well as the World Bank. UNODC continues to work closely with the World Bank under the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR). In May 2009, a joint guide was released to help States recover assets for non conviction based asset forfeiture.
UNODC's cooperation with the private corporate sector as well as a number of private foundations, is of growing importance. This cooperation encompasses advocacy, marketing support, project management and training as well as direct sponsorship of certain UNODC programmes, including research and publications, in the area of drug abuse prevention, crime prevention, anti-monry laundering and anti-corruption.
UNODC cooperation with other United Nations agencies is extensive and growing. UNODC plays a leading role in several multi-agency initiatives, including the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) and the United Nations Rule of Law Coordinating and Resource Group (RoLCRG).
With a view of consolidating UNODC expertise in anti-corruption and criminal justice, and taking advantage of the synergies that can be created with other UN agencies, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNODC and UNDP was signed in February 2009 and a Steering Committee and a Working Group were established to guide and monitor the implementation of the MoU. In 2009, a joint UNODC/UNDP anti-corruption campaign: "Your No Counts" was launched. This joint UNDP/UNODC campaign focused on how corruption impacts education, health, justice, democracy, prosperity and development. This included holding joint activities for the celebration of the International Day against Corruption held on December 9 th as well as developing a joint website www.yournocounts.org. The 2009 campaign was launched at the third session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Doha, Qatar in November 2009.
In 2009, UNODC continued actively to engage with the Multi Donor Trust Funds (MDTF) office and has been successful in mobilizing resources for several projects under various thematic areas. These include, inter alia, the One UN Funds for Cape Verde, Mozambique and Vietnam as well as the UNDP Spanish Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Fund. The MDTF's will only fund projects that have been developed through the UN country teams. Inter-Agency partnerships conforms to deliver as promoter the One UN and the national ownership and in line with the Paris Aid Declaration Principles. Furthermore, UNODC staff have been placed in the Integrated Peacebuilding Offices in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) and Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL).