Knowledge Building and Networking Programme for North-West Russia
The Nordic Council of Ministers introduced a new Knowledge Building and Networking Programme for co-operation with Northwest Russia on January 1, 2007.
The purpose of the programme is to build knowledge and to promote network-building between the Nordic countries and Northwest Russia. The budget for the programme in 2010 is slightly more than DKK 17 million.
The programme will focus on furthering the exchange of knowledge, experience and skills as well as creating networks between partner organisations in the Nordic Region and Northwest Russia. The programme is designed to serve as seed money to initiate new co-operation activities with the aim of enhancing sustainable and long-term partnerships between Northwest Russian and Nordic organizations and organizations from Northwest Russia.
The programme will provide civil servants, teachers, researchers, politicians, journalists and NGOs with the opportunity of taking part in joint Nordic-Russian exchange activities.
There will be close collaboration between official bodies, institutions, universities and other organisations in the Nordic region and Northwest Russia.
Programme structure
The programme will focus on supporting collaboration activities within the following five main sectors:
- Public administration
- Education and Research
- Business exchange
- Civic society
- Practice in Nordic institutions
Within these five areas, a total of 14 priority themes for cooperation are identified:
- Public administration
- Local government cooperation
- Cooperation in the fields of social and health affairs with special focus on prevention of human trafficking and prevention of HIV/AIDS spread
- Cooperation on environment, climate and energy
- Law enforcement and judicial cooperation
- Education and research
- Cooperation on education
- Cooperation between research institutions
- Business development
- Capacity-building for development of small and medium sized enterprises sector
- Cooperation on conditions for economic cooperation and trade
- Cooperation in the fields of innovation and creative industries
- Civil society
- Cooperation between journalists and media
- Cultural cooperation
- Parliamentary cooperation
- NGO cooperation
- Practice in Nordic institutions
- Traineeships in Nordic institutions
Selection of partner organizations
Within the priority themes, sub-programmes for cooperation will be developed together with a relevant partner organization. The establishment of a sub-programme requires at least one partner from Northwest Russia and partner organizations representing at least two Nordic countries. The sub-programmes and possible partner organizations will be identified by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
The basic principle is that activities will be developed together with partners that have an interest in taking part in the programme. The procedures for applications will be an integrated part of each activity and will differ from activity to activity. The aim is to promote activities in groups rather than individual exchanges.
Expression of interest
Authorities, organizations, universities etc. from Northwest Russia and from the Nordic countries are, however, welcome to express interest in co-operation in one or more of the prioritized policy areas.
Expressions of interest could be based on existing networks, where cooperation could be broadened and deepened, or areas where new networks could be developed. Suggestions for new themes will also be considered.
There is no specific deadline for expressions of interest.
The implementation of projects and other activities under the N
ordic Council of Ministers' Russia Programme are mainly carried out by the Nordic Council of Ministers Offices in
St. Petersburg and in Kaliningrad.
Nordic interested partners are welcome to contact the Nordic Council of Ministers Secretariat in Copenhagen.
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