“Single Window is defined as a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements”
UN/CEFACT RECOMMENDATION No. 33
Technical cooperation is an integral part of the work of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). It aims to strengthen the national capacity of member States to implement the UNECE legal instruments, norms and standards. It has a strong regional dimension and seeks to provide solutions to transboundary challenges in the UNECE region. All UNECE technical cooperation interventions aim to achieve a multiplier effect by promoting collaboration between member States, building and supporting regional networks of experts and policymakers, and promoting knowledge sharing among countries.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015, has set high ambitions with a broad and universal sustainable development agenda for all UN Member States. The UNECE technical cooperation activities support countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in areas including transport, water, trade facilitation, forestry, statistics, and sustainable energy. This collection of recent technical cooperation case studies demonstrates the tangible contribution made by UNECE in supporting member States to achieve the SDGs through capacity building, advisory services and field projects.
The guiding principles of technical cooperation – focused, demand-driven, results-oriented, directly linked to our normative work, selectivity, and partnerships – are outlined in the Technical Cooperation Strategy adopted by UNECE member States. “Leaving no one behind” is a universal principle which has also been included in UNECE technical cooperation projects and activities since the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda in 2015.
Technical cooperation interventions have a real impact on people's lives: Trade facilitation measures have directly boosted entrepreneurship, energy efficiency projects will lead to greening the economies and to better health for all citizens, and road safety performance reviews will contribute to safer transport systems for all, which in return, will save human lives. The examples highlight some of our extensive in-house expertise which is available to member States in our region upon request.
UNECE Regional Advisers provide support from project design to implementation, ensuring that whenever possible, the results are disseminated to other countries and thus contribute to South-South cooperation. By leveraging inhouse expertise, as well as our network of governments, international organizations, private firms, NGOs, academia and civil society actors, UNECE ensures that its technical cooperation portfolio is inclusive, and has strong local ownership.
By documenting the wide variety of work carried out by UNECE, this publication aims to inspire ever more effective partnerships with governments and stakeholders throughout our region to maximize our support to member States, and their progress towards meeting the global expectations of the 2030 Agenda.
Olga Algayerova
Executive Secretary & Under Secretary-General
