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Promoting Sustainable Development in Russia Program

Program News: August 2011

Program funding – Citi Foundation

Program management – Fund for Sustainable Development

Program term – 2011-2012

The Program will promote sustainable development through applying the “green economy” concept that has lately gained broad public support, as well as the principles of corporate social responsibility. Under the Program, a brochure with examples of best practices of conducting  environmentally and socially oriented businesses will  be printed and presented at round tables attended by actual and potential entrepreneurs and representatives of ministries, agencies, industrial companies, regional and municipal government, non-profit organizations and businesses. This Program is of special relevance in the context of the upcoming 2012 RIO+20 Summit when in Russia, as well as in the world in general, much attention is being focused on promoting sustainable development based on corporate social and environmental responsibility on all levels (from municipal to federal).

Key objectives and anticipated results:

1. Identify and collect case histories of best examples of sustainable business practices in various regions of Russia (in the areas of energy-efficiency, including the use of alternative sources of energy; ecotourism; sustainable forest management; the use of non-timber forest products, etc.).
2. Publish a brochure of best business practices furthering sustainable development and including 25 illustrated case histories of such practices in 2,000 copies and widely distribute it in the regions. The cases will be gathered throughout the country and will represent activities in a broad range of sustainable socially and environmentally oriented businesses.
3. Conduct 6 roundtables in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, N. Novgorod, Ufa and Samara during which their participants – entrepreneurs and government officials – will become familiarized with “green economy” principles and will discuss the best practices in their regions. These meetings will serve as platforms for sharing experience in sustainable development with the public, experts and other stakeholders.
4. Cover Program results in the mass media and place information about them on the internet portal of FSD - Municipal (http://www.municipal-sd.ru/ ) - and in the electronic journal of FSD - (http://www.fsdejournal.ru) with descriptions of up to 50 case histories of ecobusiness development in the regions.

The Program will be carried out by FSD in collaboration with its regional partners: the NGOs Center for Ecological Education and Information (Yekaterinburg) and Low Impact Technologies Center (Nizhny Novgorod) and FSD regional centers that are well aware of regional priorities and have broad networks of partner organizations.

The successful implementation of the Program will help open new business opportunities before people living in dozens of communities and give them a chance to learn to adapt to new market conditions and to apply innovative approaches to promoting local sustainable development. One of the key results of this effort will be the enhancement of business and civic activity of citizens living in small towns and settlements and the engagement of all possible resources (material, financial and intellectual) for community development.  Our joint programs with Citi Company are aimed at gaining precisely these objectives.

The Citi Foundation supports projects aimed at improving conditions of life, developing businesses and facilitating prosperity for communities throughout the world. Special attention is focused on programs in  the areas of 1) microfinance and microenterprise that ensure financial independence; 2) small and growing businesses that promote economic development and create new jobs; 3) education and professional training for youth; 4) financial education that helps making responsible financial decisions; 5) environmental protection with emphasis on support to sustainable businesses that create new jobs and promote regional economic growth and demonstrate environmental friendliness. More detailed information may be found at www.citigroupfoundation.org.