Conservation projects across the island, led by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, with EU and UNDP support, are not only re-establishing community links between villages and their former residents, but also encouraging cross-community exchanges.This is perhaps most evident in the journey of Ismail and Christina, whose stories has become linked following the restoration of the church of their village.

Nicosia, 03 August 2016 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is pleased to announce the signature of the contract for road works for DERYNEIA/DERYNIA.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to announce the start-up of conservation works to the Martinengo Bastion and the city side of the Venetian walls between Arsenal and Sea Gate in Famagusta.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to invite you to an Informational Open Meeting on Thursday, July 14th, 2016 at 7 p.m. at St. Paul and Peters Church in the Walled City of Famagusta.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the United Nations Development Programme have launched a tender for conservation works to Archangelos Michael Church in Lefkonoiko/Gecitkale.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to announce the startup of conservation works to the Maronite Church of Agia Marina.

More than 100 people attended yesterday the event marking the completion of conservation works to the watermill/aqueduct in Chrysochou/Hirsofu, in the Paphos region.

The Technical Committee on Crossings, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to announce the launch of works tender for the road works of LEFKA-APLICI/LEFKE-APLIÇ and DERYNEIA/DERINYA crossings. This tender will cover the sections of the roads located in the northern part of Cyprus.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to announce the completion of conservation works to the Watermill/Aqueduct in Chrysochou/Hirsofu. A project completion ceremony will take place on Wednesday 22nd June 2016 at 11,30am.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to announce the start-up of conservation works to the Holy Cross Church in Karpaseia/Karpasha.

Taking a tour of one of the EU funded and UNDP implemented heritage conservation projects currently under implementation gave students a behind the scenes look at the practical work of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and how it aims to bring Cypriots closer to their shared heritage

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to announce acceleration on small-scale heritage sites protection activities islandwide.

The United Nations Development Programme is pleased to invite you to celebrate the International Day of Monuments and Sites at Agios Panteleimonas Monastery in Myrtou/Camlibel on Saturday 16th April at 11am.

UNDP Women’s Film Festival is back for a 3rd year to celebrate International Women’s day! Running from 7th to 12th March with up to three daily shows at the Goethe-Institut in Nicosia and, for the first time, at Larnaca's House of Arts and Literature and Famagusta's Youth Centre in Famagusta, the 2016 Women’s Film Week will bring to you 14 films and real stories of women from around the world.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the United Nations Development Programme firmly condemn the arson attack during the night of 20th February against the Mosque of Deneia/Denya.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission, the Honor Frost Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to announce the startup of the project “Upgrading of the Kyrenia Shipwreck Gallery within the Kyrenia Castle” and the conservation of the most important items of its collection.

UNDP-Action for Cooperation and Trust closed its doors on a decade of peacebuilding projects in Cyprus on 31 December 2015. The end of the programme comes amid optimism that the peace negotiations will bring about a lasting settlement to the Cyprus division.

With concerted funding from USAID, the Action for Cooperation and Trust programme has improved the prospects for peaceful reconciliation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The programme supported hundreds of projects in dozens of fields which illustrated the benefits of cooperation, and included people from all walks of life and from all communities. Many of ACT’s former partners are now at the forefront of the efforts to demonstrate the tangible benefits of a solution. Similarly, many of the experts involved in several Technical Committees have experience of implementing ACT-funded bicommunal activities. The venues now used for bicommunal events and exchanges exist because of early contributions through UNDP-ACT, while the collaboration in the areas of cultural heritage restoration and business development is possible because of the foundations laid with key partners by UNDP-ACT.

One of UNDP-ACT’s most profound achievements has been its stewardship role in developing an active peace constituency, led mostly by Cypriot civil society organisations. Continued support for the role of an inter-communal civil society movement will be key to providing the societal basis for a settlement; something which has been echoed by consecutive UN Security Council resolutions.

In the last 12 months UNDP-ACT has been able to support the development of the Cyprus Dialogue Forum, which now has a membership of over 90 representatives of political parties, trade unions, business and professional associations and civil society organizations from both communities. Through the Forum, local stakeholders work together to resolve differences and create instruments to support an infrastructure of peace. It is a testament to the power of this idea that the Cyprus Dialogue Forum will continue in 2016 without UNDP-ACT support.

The Final Report of the UNDP-ACT programme tells the story of the programme through the lens of its four phases, while showcasing the major project achievements.

Thanks to European Union funds the United Nations Development Programme has recently signed two new contracts for the preparation of designs for future emergency measures/heritage conservation projects of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage in the broader Paphos and Karpasia/Karpaz regions.

Nicosia, 18 November 2015 - More than 100 people attended on Tuesday November 17th 2015 the project completion ceremony of Profitis Elias Church in the village of Philia/Serahtkoy in the northern part of Cyprus.

Kormakitis/Korucam 14 November 2015 – Hundreds of Maronites and religious leaders from different faiths celebrated on Saturday 14th November 2015 the completion of conservation works to the Old St. George Church in Kormakitis/Korucam, in the northern part of Cyprus.

Address by Christopher Louise, UNDP-ACT Programme Manager, at the local Europa Nostra award ceremony for the Armenian Church Restoration project

FA/DE – Famagusta/Deryneia mural art project is an artistic project conceived by WALLS, a Rome-based cultural organization, and Renewal, the UNDP-ACT project working for the development of the greater Famagusta region, in Cyprus.

The UNDP-ACT, Renewal project, presents “The Taste of Famagusta”, a story about Famagusta and Deryneia’s culinary journey told through local recipes, food habits and tastes of the area. Four short video clips will feature the food adventures of four characters from the local Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities: two young Cypriots, and two ‘Elders’.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme Partnership for the Future are pleased to announce the startup of conservation works to Agios Panteleimonas Monastery.

The United Nations Development Programme in Cyprus wishes to express its warmest congratulations to Mr. Takis Hadjidemetriou and Mr. Ali Tuncay on being awarded the European Citizen Prize 2015.

The NGO Initiative, the group of organizations working to modernise the legislation concerning civil society organisations in the Republic of Cyprus, organised a set of training events for officials and civil society leaders during September.

UNDP-ACT is supporting the people of the Famagusta region; a part of Cyprus where Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities have not normally been on the radar of peacebuilding programmes. In 2015 two of our projects collaborated to bring new opportunities to Deryneia and the walled city of Famagusta.

Between September 9th and 15th, 2015, the RENEWAL project held a series of tourism education workshops in the walled city of Famagusta and Deryneia for artisans, CSOs, and small businesses in these areas.

At the Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015, UN Member States will adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals.

The Cyprus Dialogue Forum continues to engage with influential policy makers. On Monday Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, met with the CDF implementing committee to get a sense of how the Forum is supporting the island’s peace talks

Thanks to European Union funds the United Nations Development Programme has recently signed two new contracts for the preparation of designs for future emergency measures/heritage conservation projects of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage

On 02 July 2015 a special event was held in Famagusta to celebrate the reopening to the public of the Othello Tower/Citadel and completion of Phase 1 of the structural stabilization and conservation works.

Speech of Ms. Cihan Sultanoglu, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States at the opening ceremony of the Othello Tower/Citadel in Famagusta,Cyprus.

This week marks the end of a long wait for the residents of Famagusta and cultural heritage lovers in Cyprus and beyond. A Grand Opening Ceremony will be held on Thursday 02 July 2015 in the courtyard of the Othello Tower/Citadel in Famagusta to inaugurate the reopening of the monument to the public and the completion of Phase 1 of conservation and structural consolidation works.

On 26 June 2015, the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage held a seminar at Chateau Status in Nicosia to share its achievements, challenges and future plans for the protection of Cyprus’ cultural heritage.

On June 4, 2015 the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme celebrated the completion of conservation works to the Church of Agios Afksentios in Komi Kebir/Buyukkonuk.

On Saturday April 18, 2015, Famagusta marked the International Day of Monuments and Sites with a guided walk through the Othello Tower, Ravelin and Martinengo Bastion.

A project completion ceremony was held on Sunday 1st March 2015 to mark the completion of conservation works to the Mosque in Evretou/Evretu. The event was organized by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme Partnership for the Future (UNDP-PFF). Around 100 Turkish Cypriots – former residents of the village - attended the event.

Nicosia-UN Buffer Zone, 27 February 2015: Presented yesterday, the much anticipated findings of the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index (SCORE) pointed to the key predictors of a Cyprus settlement.

An audience of policy makers, media and peace builders, were told that the drivers of a solution in both Cypriot communities must include better citizen representation in the peace process, improved political security, and reducing the social and cultural distance between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

Developed in partnership between UNDP-ACT and the Centre for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development (SeeD), the SCORE index shows that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are growing further apart. There is a significant decrease in the quality of contact between the two communities, while each community’s perception that it is culturally different is an obstacle to rapprochement. The propensity for social cohesion remains low in both communities, with the lowest levels reported in in Nicosia.

During the opening remarks, the Ambassador of the United States, John Koenig, said the “results are very revealing! Cyprus is at a crossroad and it will need courage”. Christopher Louise, Programme Manager of UNDP ACT, highlighted the importance of utilising the SCORE to enhance evidence based citizen dialogue on the future direction of the peace process, emphasizing that: “No political change can take place without the participation of the people affected by the change.”

The open discussion emphasised the need to better engage women and young people in the peacebuilding process; SCORE results reveal that young people felt disengaged and women had a lower propensity for reconciliation.

The SCORE team presented a series of policy recommendations, which included a call for the negotiating stakeholders to engage with structured feedback and consultation mechanisms between the formal negotiations and citizens.

About the SCORE

The SCORE Index is a smart tool designed to measure peace in societies around the world. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, SCORE examines two main components of peace – reconciliation and social cohesion – and the intricate relationship between them. Reconciliation refers to the harmonious coexistence between groups that were previously engaged in an event of dispute or conflict, while social cohesion refers to the quality of coexistence between people within their own group and with the institutions that surround them. By providing insights into people’s perceptions on the state of peace, the SCORE gives the ability to policy makers to develop peacebuilding strategies that are based on evidence.

Although developed in Cyprus, the SCORE has been replicated in Bosnia and Nepal.

For further information visit www.scoreforpeace.org

Following the success of the first ‘face-to-face’ course on ‘State, Civil Society and Citizenship’, the Resources for Democracy project has launched a second course accredited by the University of Nicosia. The course, titled ‘An Introduction to the Politics of Citizenship’ is delivered online through the University’s online platform and is available to participants for free.

The course explores key questions such as, What does it mean to be a citizen of a particular country? What rights and responsibilities are associated with citizenship? Throughout the lectures of the course, participants will be encouraged to re-evaluate their perceptions of citizenship using personal experiences, age, gender, ethnicity or religion in understanding their relationship to the primary concepts of the course.

The course aims to provide the basis upon which participants can grasp the nature of citizenship and why it is at the heart of any understanding of what the relationship between state and civil society is.

The online course includes lectures from a diverse academic team and will make available audio and audio-visual interviews and discussions with academics, civil society practitioners and activists that bring their perspective on the issues touched upon at the course.

Resources for Democracy is a project implemented by the NGO Support Centre in collaboration with the University of Nicosia and the Center for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development (SeeD) with the support of UNDP-Action for Cooperation and Trust.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the United Nations Development Programme Partnership for the Future have launched a tender for conservation works at Agios Panteleimonas Monastery.UNDP will accept offers through February 13, 2015.

Digital innovation platform Mahallae is holding a testing event on Jan 28, Wednesday at the Home 4 Cooperation.

The 5 Mahallae Challenge Winners were announced at the end of June 2014. The teams have since received funding and continued support from the Mahallae team to develop tech tools responding to issues faced by the local communities. They have provided updates on their progress using the Mahallae platform, as well as social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

As part of the Mahallae's commitment to hosting a transparent and open process, the teams will be presenting their early prototypes at a bicommunal event, where the public is free to come, test and provide feedback. Mahallae team's Mehmet explains, "By holding an open process, we wish to reinforce the accountability of the teams to the public. After all, the tech tools they are developing are serving to address the challenges of our community." The feedback received from the public will be used to improve the interface and functionality of the tech tools.

The event will start at 16:00 on Wednesday and is free of charge.

Last year Cyprus was chosen by UNDP colleagues in Moldova for two study visits by representatives of local authorities, civil society, and the business community.

The Renewal and Mahallae projects have launched a new Challenge targeting the Famagusta region. The Challenge will support innovative ideas which bring together technology and creativity to promote economic and social development in the Famagusta region.

On Tuesday 9^th December 2014, the Cyprus NGO Initiative, supported by UDNP-ACT hosted an event to present the first draft of the Policy Paper on Empowering Civil Society in Cyprus. Mr. Jeremy McBride, the expert of INGO Conference of the Council of Europe whom the Initiative has been cooperating with for the past year, presented the outline of a policy paper on how Cypriot civil society can be strengthened. Yiannis Yiannakis, the Commissioner for Volunteerism ad NGOs, commented on the efforts of the NGO Initiative, stressing that the policy paper currently being drafted will lay the foundation for a stronger cooperation between the civil service and civil society.

The NGO Initiative has been advocating since 2007 for the modernization of the legal framework in the Republic of Cyprus. In 2014, with the support of the Commissioner, the government has put forward several drafts of the law to replace the 70’s law on Associations, Clubs and Foundations and a new law that will grant Public Benefit status to organizations, replacing the Charities law. Through consultation and cooperation between the government and the NGO Initiative that is supported by the Council of Europe and European Centre for non-for-profit law (ECNL), the Republic of Cyprus is closer than ever to a legal and regulatory framework that corresponds to the current needs of Cypriot civil society.

This long process has led to the common decision by the Commissioner and the NGO Initiative to develop a comprehensive strategy and vision on how civil society and the government can work together to create an enabling environment for civil society in the island. The policy paper that will be presented in the spring of 2015 will be a product of joint work and consultation that started back in September 2014, taking on board the opinions and suggestions of civil society organizations, parliamentarians and government officials.

The challenge of the coming months that all parties are committed to is realizing the ideas that will derive from this paper, in their continued efforts to work together. The new laws will be the capstone to this effort.

You can follow the latest updates of the NGO Initiative via their Facebook page.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to announce the completion of conservation works to the mosque of Deneia/Denya. A ceremony will be held on Friday 5 December 2014 at 10,30am in the Mosque’s courtyard to mark the successful completion of the project.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage is pleased to announce the near completion of conservation works to the mosque of Evretou/Evretu.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme are pleased to announce the completion of emergency measures and conservation works to the Church of Agios Nicolaos in Syrianochori/Siryanohoro/Yayla.

Eide sends strong message to civic and political representatives: ‘Multi-stakeholder dialogue is the name of the game’

Ali Tuncay and Glafkos Constantinides are two of ten (5 Greek Cypriot and 5 Turkish Cypriot) custodians of cultural heritage in Cyprus.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the United Nations Development Programme Partnership for the Future (UNDP-PFF) are pleased to announce the commencement of works for the restoration of the Monastery of Apostolos Andreas.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage is pleased to announce the startup of two new emergency measures projects to the mosques of Evretou/Evretu and Tserkezoi/Çerkez.

A mysterious red rock, the smell of the wild oregano by the coast, ruins of ancient civilizations, and your bare feet on a king’s hill. We are walking along one of the four new hiking trails in Karpasia/Karpaz where each color changes with the seasons, giving nature lovers new reasons to walk the same trail again and again..

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and UNDP–PFF are pleased to announce the signature of the contract for Phase 1 of the restoration project for the Monastery of Apostolos Andreas with a Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot joint venture.

UNDP-ACT has launched the Mediterranean Policy Dialogue project to connect Cypriot organizations with experienced non-Cypriot think tanks in order to contribute to a more constructive dialogue on critical issues that Cyprus and the region face today.

In all five regions of the developing world, UNDP supports progress that is sustainable, inclusive and resilient to setbacks. Our 2013-2014 Annual Report spotlights results from actions across core dimensions of development, from jobs and food security, to well-run elections, to crisis recovery, to the management of finite natural resources.

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage is pleased to announce the completion of emergency measures to Panagia Melandrina Church in Kalograia/Bahceli funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme - Partnership for the Future.

EU, UNDP and Civil Society team up to promote environmental protection and celebrate World Environmental Day 2014.

What better place to celebrate World Environmental Day and promote the benefits of a greener and more sustainable development than the Karpasia/Karpaz region - the finger-like peninsula in the northern part of Cyprus, known for its unspoilt landscape and wild environment?

Under the slogan "Green is Beautiful", the European Union, the 11 grant winners civil society organizations of the EU funded call for proposals "Green is Beautiful- Small grants for Karpasia/Karpaz" and the United Nations Development Programme Partnership for the Future (UNDP-PFF) invite you to the first Karpasia/Karpaz Green Festival!

The Green Festival will take place on Sunday June 8th from 4pm to sunset at Agios Theodoros Ammochostou / Aytotoro Magusa / Cayirova pic-nic area and aims to combine fun sport and cultural activities with environmental awareness and social responsibility.

Visitors can attend home-composting workshops and buy handmade crafts and food made by local women while enjoying different open air and nature-themed activities, for adults and children, including nature walks, birds' nest craft and painting, bicycle rides, camp games, music, theater, and dance performances. Click here to read the full programme!

“Green is Beautiful” pilot projects started in September 2013 thanks to European Union funds and UNDP support. It provided small grants of up to 15,000 EUR to 11 civil society organizations and so far has succeeded in mobilizing more than 1200 people, of which 340 are primary school children living in the region, through different workshops, seminars, and environmental educational activities. Click here to read more about the 11 projects.

Many educational activities were designed to get children to think about a greener and brighter future for their region through interactive and open-air activities. In addition, local communities had access to free information on environmental protection, including on waste management, as well as to awareness on the negative impacts that unsustainable development in the region can have on the local endemic flora, fauna and people’s health.

With nature as their stage and by using their own words, local participating children will use singing, drawing and dance performances to tell us about the future they want for the Karpasia/Karpaz region. Join them!

Cypriot media are invited to cover the event.

Nicosia, 22 May 2014 – United States Vice President, Joe Biden, has applauded Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot civic representatives from political parties, trade unions, professional associations and non-governmental organisations for their efforts to support the Cyprus peace process. These efforts are being supported by UNDP-ACT to explore options for structured dialogue processes to develop shared visions for the future of a united Cyprus.

During the event in the UN Buffer Zone, Biden told civic representatives “Your efforts can have a profound influence on the leaders to pursue a settlement. You understand the fears and concerns of the ordinary people. You understand how what is being discussed affects ordinary lives”. He added that a successful outcome in every engagement he’s been involved in has required groups like this who contribute ideas and efforts. “I’ve never seen a peace that lasts when it has not been taken to the people first”.

Biden used his comments to reiterate that finding a solution to the island’s division is not the role of the two leaders and their negotiators alone. “No peace can be made between leaders alone. Peace requires trust. Everyone has to make some significant concessions. We all know that, you all know that but the benefits far outweigh the costs. Peace has to reside in the hearts of those who are making peace”.

Emphasizing that “All politics is local”, the Vice President placed the role of the civic representatives at the heart of this endeavour. He encouraged them to continue their efforts, reaching deep into their communities to explain why a settlement will benefit everyone on the island, what compromises will need to be made to achieve peace and what benefits will come from a solution. Biden highlighted that now is the time and the opportunities are “staggering for this island”.

Participants expressed their own hopes for reconciliation to the Vice President. They stressed that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are willing to live together and work together towards reconciliation and reunification. They also stressed the need to be courageous in learning from past mistakes and to look forward to creating a shared future. In response Biden stressed that “Hope for this country lies in its people. You are the hope for this country”.

The Vice President concluded his comments by quoting US Senator George Mitchell on the Northern Ireland peacemaking experience: “After 700 days of failure all you need is one day of success. One day of success is out there. There’s an inevitability to it. The question is how much more pain, how much more discontent, how much more wasted opportunities?”

The event at the Ledra Palace Hotel was also attended by the head of the UN in Cyprus, Lisa Buttenheim, the US Ambassador to Cyprus, John Koenig and the two chief negotiators, Andreas Mavroyiannis and Kudret Özersay.

Othello Tower/Citadel: UNDP-PFF signs contract for structural consolidation works

The European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announce the completion of the project for the new bi-communal Nicosia Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Olivier Adam, UNDP Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS, speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new Nicosia Wastewater Treatment Plant. Nicosia, 8 April 2014. UNDP Photo/Kerim Belet

Cypriots celebrated their cultural and religious diversity during an event which marked the completed restoration of the with the completion of Armenian Church and Monastery complex in Nicosia.
 
Hosted by the US Ambassador in Cyprus, John M. Koenig, on 17 March 2014 the event acknowledged the achievements of the UNDP-ACTs funded project to restore one of Cyprus’ most significant cultural heritage sites. 

The scholarly rediscovery and conservation of the extraordinary 14th c. building and its environs was one of UNDP-ACT’s flagship cultural heritage projects which aimed to renew the physical and cultural landscapes of Cyprus. Between 2006 and 2013, architects, engineers, planners and crafts people restored the site to international standards, ensuring that it is preserved for future generations. The project promoted and facilitated the active participation of organizations from the island’s different communities and brought Armenian Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots together with international experts.
 
UNDP – ACT’s Programme Manager, Christopher Louise said, “the site with an architectural record of over 700 years is evidence of the island’s rich and multicultural past. As important, it is now a restored symbol of Cyprus’ future where religion, culture and education can contribute to reconciliation.”
 
The event was attended by distinguished guests including religious leaders and the diplomatic community who also enjoyed an evening of live music performed by Cypriot classical musicians.

The UNDP-ACT programme has recently launched its new mechanism for supporting citizen innovation through, the Mahallae Challenges. Mahallae, the digital neighbourhood for civic engagement, is now hosting a series of challenges which invite social innovators to come up with innovative and tech-enabled solutions to address some of the most pressing issues facing both Cyprus and the region. This first set of challenges is under the thematic areas of youth entrepreneurship, women and dialogue and common vision for the future. The application process takes place online via the Mahallae platform.

Funding of up to $30,000 and technical support will be available to support the development of technology enabled tools, products or services that can demonstrate support from the communities and can be replicated outside of Cyprus. Possible top up funding of up to $20,000 is also available to Cypriot based solutions that can demonstrate match funding and replication through partnerships in the Euro Mediterranean region.

UND-ACT Programme Manager, Christopher Louise explained, “We wanted to take an alternative approach to the traditional funding call. Usually UNDP will launch a call for proposals, but we realised that this type of mechanism doesn’t always generate the best ideas or allow for innovation”. 

During the Mahallae launch event on 20 March 2014, Louise emphasized the role of innovation in social change: “We want each challenge to provide a space for creativity and innovative partnerships which release big ideas that benefit all communities in Cyprus. And in response we will support the best ideas with funding, resources and encouragement”. 

Knowledge and Innovation Practice Leader Nilgun Arif added “The most exciting part of this process is that we are making community feedback and enthusiasm the incentive to innovate. Through Mahallae we are able to ask the public to become a part of the process for selecting which projects to fund. Keeping the application process public also allows us to ensure that the process remain transparent and accountable to the people who we are serving”

Full details of the application process can be found here

Did you know that over 80% of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots want to be consulted on the major decisions on the Cyprus peace process?

UNDP-ACT invites civil society organisations to a public consultation on the role of civil society in the peace process. This consultation is part of a wider set of discussions for making the Cyprus peace process more inclusive.

The meeting will be facilitated by Mr Hannes Siebert, who is an international peace process and negotiations adviser and facilitator. Mr. Siebert served as the Director of the National Peace Secretariat in South Africa (1992-4), which was the multi-party body mandated to implement the country’s 1992 Peace Accord. Since then Hannes Siebert has advised peace negotiations in several countries.   The meeting is open to all membership-based civil society organisations in Cyprus, and organisations which are founded on one or more of the following issues are especially encouraged to apply to participate: 

- Youth
- Women
- Business
- Professional association
- Faith-based
- Environment
- Media
- Social welfare (e.g. disability rights and care)
- Creative Arts
- Sports
- Human rights
- Community organisations
- Academic Association

Interpretation in Greek and Turkish will be available during the meeting.

Interested organisations should send the following details to UNDP-ACT by Monday 31st March, 2014, via email at fo.cyp@undp.org  or via fax at + 357 22 359 066:

• Name of Organisation
• Name and Organisational Title of Member Nominated to Participate
• Number of Organisation’s Members
• Main Area of Interest
• Contact Details
  

The public consultation will take place in the first week of April 2014 in partnership wth Engi Conflict-Management. UNDP will respond to confirmed participants by Wednesday 2 April 2014.

 Queries should be sent to:  fo.cyp@undp.org

Mahallae, a new digital platform for civic engagement, will be launched at the Home for Cooperation on Thursday 20 March, at 18:30.

Mahallae will launch a series of Challenges, inviting the public to come up with technology enabled solutions to address some of the most pressing issues facing Cyprus. Mahallae also creates opportunities for Cypriots to work with innovators and problem solvers in the wider Euro Mediterranean region. Speaking on behalf of the Mahallae team, Mehmet Erdoğan explained, “The Mahallae Challenges are based on the premise that new technologies can help us all to address major community challenges in fast, innovative and transparent ways.” The winning ideas will receive start up funding to be put into practice.

Christopher Louise, Programme Manager for UNDP-ACT, stated: "We are very excited by the collaboration opportunities which  Mahallae will create.  Cyprus offers countries in this region a wealth of transferable knowledge and experience in how to address social good practices. The Mahallae platform provides a unique open forum to share and collaborate, connecting Cyprus to the wider international debate on peaceful change.  What is Mahallae?
Mahallae is a digital neighborhood to exchange knowledge and experience in civic engagement, reconciliation and to contribute to the creation of a more peaceful society. The platform is structured around three digital spaces: a) Civic Mapping which showcases Cypriot civil society's contribution to the peace building and reconciliation movement from the early 90's; b) the Interactive Tools section which features a series of innovative tools such as games, maps and video toolkits and c) the Collaborate Space which invites the public to address community challenges in technology enabled ways.

Mahallae has been developed through a partnership between by UNDP-ACT and its partners with the support of USAID.

On the occasion of the 8 of March, International Women's Day, UNDP in Cyprus invites you to attend the first Nicosia Women's Film Week, from March 8th to 15th, 13 films and stories of women from around the world will be screened at the Goethe Institut.

Nicosia, 09/12/2013 – Next Wednesday December 11, 2013 at 10,30am an official ceremony will mark the completion of the EU funded and UNDP-PFF implemented, conservation project of the Panagia Church in Trachoni/Demirhan.

The Church of Panagia is one of the many cultural heritage sites island-wide that are currently benefiting from the EU support to the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage’s emergency measures and conservation projects.

“We return to all Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots yet another monument that belongs to our collective memory and heritage. This restoration follows those of other religious sites and monuments island wide and represents another confirmation of our constant commitment to the quality and dignity of our cultural heritage”–Takis Hadjidemetriou and Ali Tuncay, Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage.

The Conservation works to the Panagia Church started in April 2013 and were completed in October 2013. The design and conservation works were fully funded by the European Union and cost approximately 130,000 EUR.

“Unlike other projects carried out with the Technical Committee in Cultural Heritage so far, which provided emergency measures to avoid further deterioration or collapses of different monuments island-wide, Panagia Church was the first cultural heritage site to undergo conservation works. We consider this an important step forward in the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage’s work to safeguard tangible cultural heritage and ensuring its accessibility to present and future generations”- Tiziana Zennaro, UNDP-PFF.

The conservation works carried out by the United Nations Development Programme Partnership for the Future included: general cleaning, supporting, excavation, consolidation and repairing of the walls; removal of debris and vegetation from the building and inside the yard; consolidation of deteriorated masonry in order to prevent it from further collapse, repairmen of the bell tower, portico, doors, windows, wooden staircase and the wooden slab of the gynaikonitis (women’s section) as well as the iconostasis. Church furniture were cleaned and placed back to their original location, and the altar has also been renovated. Sections of the garden stonewalls were also repaired and olive trees will be planted in the garden of the Church during the ceremony, to create an “Olive-grove for peace”.

“Since early 2012 the European Union has devoted 4 million euro to protect the precious Cultural Heritage in the island, in spite of the financial difficulties. Panagia Church is yet another successful example of what both communities, when working together, can achieve” – Alessandra Viezzer, European Commission

The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage looks forward to further escalate its efforts with new conservation and restoration projects, and calls on all relevant parties to contribute to keep this successful momentum by making a contribution to a work that for the first time is not only bringing together technical experts from both communities but it is also succeeding in bringing Cypriot closer to a sense of common cultural and historical belonging.

Cypriot media are invited to cover the event.  A bus will be provided by UNDP-PFF for media transportation to the Church.
For more information please contact UNDP-PFF at:
Mail: registry.pff.cy@undp.org
Tel. +357 22874733 / +90 392 2200027, Twitter: @undp_pff.

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The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage
The Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage works to provide a mutually acceptable mechanism for the implementation of practical measures for the proper maintenance, preservation, physical protection and restoration (including research, study and survey) of the immovable cultural heritage of Cyprus. In 2009 the “Advisory Board for the Preservation, Physical Protection and Restoration of the Immovable Cultural Heritage of Cyprus” was set up by a decision of the two leaders. The aim of the Board is to facilitate the protection and the preservation of the immovable cultural heritage of Cyprus. This mechanism allows for the practical aspects of preservation to be considered in a non-political manner so that practical measures can be taken to improve the situation on the ground.

UNDP-PFF
The Agreement on the establishment of the Advisory Board for the Preservation, Physical Protection and Restoration of the Immovable Cultural Heritage of Cyprus recognizes a special role to UNDP in Cyprus as a politically accepted implementation body by both communities. For this reason, UNDP-PFF was requested by the European Commission to become the lead coordinator under which the project would be implemented fostering dialogue, cooperation and confidence building between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

European Union
Since 2012, EUR 4 million of European Union funds have been provided by the European Commission to implement the priorities of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage for the preservation of the island-wide cultural heritage in Cyprus. The EUR 4 million EU contribution has and will be used to carry out conservation and emergency support works on a number of cultural heritage sites; supporting ten Small Project Activities; and promoting awareness raising campaigns to sensitize the population in whole of Cyprus about the importance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations.
 For more information:
 
UNDP Partnership for the Future
E-mail: registry.pff.cy@undp.org
www.undp-pff.org
www.facebook.com/UNDP.Partnership.for.the.Future
Twitter: @undp_pff