UNEP has moved to further contribute to the shift towards a Green Economy in Russia and beyond after formally sealing a partnership with Russia’s Stavropol State Agrarian University (SSAU).

The two bodies will now together develop educational and research activities, awareness-raising and capacity building actions tailored to the needs of regional entities and sectoral actors.

An exchange of letters took place formalising the ties between the two bodies at a ceremony dedicated to the University’s 85th anniversary on 18 September.

The event was attended by a plethora of high-level figures, including the Russian Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rectors from all 35 Russian Agrarian universities, the Stavropol region Governor and delegations from Argentina, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovakia. UNEP was represented by Nara Luvsan, Senior Regional Adviser for the Regional Office for Europe and Vladimir Moshkalo, Head of UNEP Moscow.

SSAU currently works with foreign partners on the extension of agricultural production, environmental protection and management and agribusiness through grant programmes, training, round tables, seminars and conferences.

The multidisciplinary university aims to create a network among universities to share knowledge on management of natural resources and a green economy. It is well connected to agrarian educational entities, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture and Euro-Asian space and now intends to become a member of the Global University Partnership on Environment for Sustainable Development.

Earlier this year, a series of high-level and stakeholder meetings were held between UNEP and the Russian Parliament among others - forming the basis of the UNEP-SSAU partnership.

Meanwhile, UNEP has also held further meetings with the Russian Young Diplomats Network for example, as the organisation reaches out in order to implement or raise awareness on the new Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information please contact ekaterina.tegina@unep.org.