Tuesday 6 de november de 2018

Information for the Press N°: 444/18

In the context of the First Call for Project Proposals on Innovation and Local Development, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, selected projects were presented yesterday at the Palacio San Martín along with the signature of Letters of Agreement with local and provincial organizations.

The event was chaired on behalf of the Argentine Foreign Ministry by the Secretary for Foreign Coordination and Planning, Ernesto Gaspari, the Undersecretary for Institutional Relations and Public Diplomacy, Tomás Kroyer, and the Director for National Implementation Projects, Silvana Rufail. The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Argentina, René Mauricio Valdés; the Argentine UNDP Country Director, Silvia Morimoto; and the UNDP Programme Coordinator, Gabriel Bottino, as well as officials from local and provincial governments selected for the implementation of the projects, also attended the event.

In April 2018, the Directorate for National Implementation Projects and the UNDP launched an open call for proposals from local governments, NGOs and academic institutions, aimed at innovation (local innovation networks and innovative management models), local productive development (fostering productivity, territorial competitiveness, territorial diagnosis and strategic planning, building social capital) and strengthening territorial governance (open government, digital citizenship, creation and strengthening of local development agencies).

All proposals received were evaluated by a Joint Technical Committee comprised of UNDP and the Foreign Ministry, together with specialists from various development areas, and based on an evaluation scorecard which addresses all the requirements of the call, with a view to allocating available resources. All projects will be implemented with the technical support of the UNDP through the mechanism of Letters of Agreement, which were signed yesterday during the event.

The Country Programme Action Plan 2016-20 establishes that, within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNDP will contribute to strengthen institutional capacities in order to achieve a balanced and inclusive growth model, effectively adopting a gender perspective and a national agenda on development which includes the key role of local governments and communities.

Strategies for local economic development help to effectively reduce disparities between territories, foster social cohesion, generate local business opportunities and jobs, and aim at including all marginalized communities, especially women and youth in public decision-making processes. Within this context, innovation for development consists of identifying the most effective solutions to provide tools for people facing development challenges.

 

The following are the selected projects:  PROJECT COUNTERPART Recycling and production of plastic lumber made from urban solid waste Municipality of Caucete, Province of San Juan Simplification of public information exchanges through technological advances in mobile applications. Municipality of Villa Constitución, Province of Santa Fe Creation of a Network of Cooperatives which provides personal care services (for children, elderly people and/or people with disabilities). University of Chubut Implementation of an Internal Control System to drive and manage the production process of organic quinoa. Secretariat for Development Agencies Coordination, Province of Jujuy Promotion of the use of animal hides by small livestock producers through training in eco-tanning, and stockpiling and sale centres. Municipal Committee of Yala, Province of Jujuy Contribution to the eradication of gender-based violence by strengthening local neighbourhood actors and the development of an interactive georeferencing application. Pharos Group. Esteban Echeverría, Province of Buenos Aires Promotion of public space improvement (sidewalks), ecological conscience and local employment by manufacturing cobblestones made from recycled PET packaging. Municipality of Rivadavia, Province of Mendoza Stronger institutions through the improvement of management quality and capacity to create innovative projects in municipalities. Government of the Province of Corrientes