In striving for stronger UN coordination, UNODC continues to strengthen its partnerships with other UN agencies. Increased involvement in UN System coordinating bodies is a fundamental part of this work, in particular through the new United Nations Development Group. Because of its specialized technical expertise in criminal justice matters, UNODC continues to play a leading role in the Rule of Law Coordination Group, which includes 12 other UN agencies. Given its specialized mandate, UNODC is taking the lead on anti-corruption, transnational organized crime, and victim and witness protection and assistance. Aiming to consolidate UNODC expertise in anti-corruption and criminal justice, and taking advantage of the synergies that can be created with other UN agencies, UNODC and UNDP have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in areas of common interest. Specifically, UNODC has had discussion with UNDP on joint anti-corruption efforts in Iraq, the Western Balkans, Nigeria and the Arab States. UNODC and UN-HABITAT signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2003, in light of their common mandates on crime prevention. UNODC works at the national level, UN-HABITAT at the local government level. The cooperation has included the development of a joint technical assistance tool on policing in urban spaces that will be used for joint programme development. Moreover, UNODC is a partner of the UN-HABITAT Safer Cities programme. In terms of HIV/AIDS, UNODC is one of the co-sponsors of the UN Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), specifically addressing HIV/AIDS and injecting drug use, prison settings and trafficking in persons. UNODC has also fostered a stronger partnership with DPKO, specifically through activities with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, where UNODC aims to develop a technical assistance programme to strengthen the rule of law and carry out criminal justice reform. Other examples, in the spirit of "One UN", include active engagement in Cape Verde on law enforcement issues and exploring possibilities of prison reform work in Guinea-Bissau with the UN Office in Guinea-Bissau. In 2008, UNODC has engaged with the Multi Donor Trust Funds (MDTF) office of UNDP, and has been successful in mobilizing resources from the MDTF for a prison reform project in Guinea-Bissau from the Peacebuilding Commission. This is an area of growth for the organization that is in line with the "One UN" aim of national project ownership. It also adheres to the Paris Aid Declaration Principles.
A working group for the implementation of the MoU between UNDP and UNODC focusing on criminal justice reform and anti-corruption signed in December 2008, was held in UNDP Headquarters in February 2009. The main areas of the MoU are to draw on the comparative advantages of both UN agencies, ensure consistency, coherence and accuracy of the delivery of technical assistance, share best practices, enhance coordination of services and advocate for the cross-over of technical expertise amongst both agencies.
Concrete joint areas of coordination include amongst others the development of joint programmes in selected pilot countries - including joint fundraising efforts, join efforts in advocacy for the celebration of the International Day against Corruption, development of joint knowledge management tools and sharing of technical expertise. These interventions are being developed taking into account the One UN Reform Process and Delivering as One as a UN System.
For more information please contact:
Karolina Gudmundsson
Inter-Agency Affairs Officer
Office of the Director for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
PO Box 500
1400 Vienna
Austria
Tel: (+43-1) 26060 ext. 5396
Fax: (+43-1) 26060 ext. 6769
Email: karolina.gudmundsson@unodc.org
Website: www.unodc.org