Issue-based Coalitions for the Europe and Central Asia region
Issue‐based Coalitions act as regional task forces to facilitate improved cooperation between different UN agencies and their partners. The Regional UN System Meeting has set up seven Issue-based Coalitions, clustered around cross-cutting policy issues:
- Issue-based Coalition on Health
- Issue-based Coalition on Gender Equality
- Issue-based Coalition on Youth and Adolescents
- Issue-based Coalition on Social Protection
- Issue-based Coalition on Large Movements of People, Displacement and Resilience
- Issue-based Coalition on Environment and Climate Change
- Issue-based Coalition on Sustainable Food Systems
What is the role of Issue-based Coalitions?
Led by one or several agencies, these broad, multi-partner coalitions coordinate the UN response to cross-cutting challenges in the region, help realize synergies among related areas of work of different UN entities, and serve as platforms to reach out to non-UN stakeholders. Through regular meetings, the coalitions coordinate their cross-sectoral activities and develop plans for joint action (e.g. interagency guidance notes, common position papers, side events at intergovernmental meetings).
The work of the Issue-based Coalitions is guided by the RCP, which decides over the establishment of new coalitions and reviews the work of existing coalitions.
Other regional interagency groups and their roles
In addition to the IBCs, the RCP set up four regional interagency groups to carry out specific substantive and operational functions:
Regional Coordination Group on Data and Statistics: The group was established in January 2020 in response to the recommendation by the Secretary-General in the context of the UN Development System reform to consolidate statistical and data capacities at the regional level. The group, chaired by UNECE and UNEP, aims at building a triangular cooperation between the UN at regional and country levels and the intergovernmental sphere, in particular the Conference of European Statisticians, with a strong connection to the statistical processes at the global level.
UN Digital Transformation Group for Europe and Central Asia: The group, chaired by ITU and UNECE, seeks to deliver a joint UN response to the cross-cutting priority of fostering digital transformation and ICTs development in Europe and Central Asia, through the adoption of a multi-agency and multi-stakeholder approach and the implementation of initiatives and projects to drive progress in the digital sector.
Peer Support Group: The group, chaired by DCO, provides support and quality assurance to the preparation of Common Country Analyses (CCAs) and the development and roll-out of UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs).
Regional Operations Management Team:
The team, chaired by UN Women and UNDP, is driving the implementation of the regional efficiency agenda as part of the overall Business Operations Strategy 2.0, which is aims at enhancing the efficiency of UN operations, eliminating duplication, and maximizing economies of scale.