Governance
The NDICI-GEO-ENEST/2025/485-004 Joint Programme operates under a pass-through fund governance structure coordinated by the UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO), which serves as the Administrative Agent. UNDP also acts as the Convening Agency, ensuring overall coordination and alignment among partners.
The programme is implemented jointly by three main entities:
- UNDP (Participating UN Organization and lead agency)
- UNIDO (Participating UN Organization)
- Environmental Agency Austria (UBA) as a Non-UN Organization (NUNO)
The JP will be implemented through a strategic One UN approach, integrating initiatives undertaken by UNDP and UNIDO. At the same time, UNDP, which will implement the project under the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM), will retain distinct accountability for deliverables aligned with its respective mandate, institutional priorities, and specialised expertise. This accountability framework ensures focused leadership on mandate-specific initiatives, while fostering inter-agency collaboration on strategic interventions to achieve the JP’s overarching objectives.
These agencies function as executing partners, each responsible for specific outputs and activities aligned with their institutional mandates and expertise. More specifically:
UNDP will take the lead in the following priority areas:
- •Mobilisation and engagement of PROs and CSOs/NGOs in training events and stakeholder consultations;
- Provision of local trainers/consultants;
- Public awareness/outreach activities;
- Youth awareness, capacity building, and engagement, including youth awards
- Ensuring GESI-responsive approaches
- Financial incentives and funding mechanisms study and recommendations
- Networking of local PROs between each other and with international networks and platforms
- Grants programme for PROs, SCOs/NGOs and Social Enterprises, engaged in managing EPR waste streams
UNDP, through Avfall Sverige as its responsible party under RPA, will take the lead on the following domains:
- Sharing Sweden’s experience in sound management of EPR waste streams/waste streams anddevelopment of recommendations
- Developing inclusive EPR waste management plans for selected EPR waste streams
- Study tours of representatives of PROs and CSOs/NGOs to Sweden to share this country’s
- experience in sound management of EPR waste streams
- Linking Georgian PROs, CSOs/NGOs engaged in EPR waste management, with peers from Sweden
- Review of relevant EU member state experience in engaging the informal sector into formal EPR Schemes
- UNIDO will take the lead on the following domains and contribute:
- Feasibility study on effective management of EPR waste streams, including regional market study
- Development EPR waste management plans
- Development of training materials for and training of business operators and/CSOs/NGOs in
- waste prevention and recycling, including financing
- Development of training materials for and training of schoolchildren
- Training of young bloggers/vloggers
- Development of training materials and knowledge products for and training of local financial institutions
- Targeted technical assistance to business operators and/or CSOs/NGOs in improving their waste
- prevention and recycling performance and developing technically feasible investment projects
UBA will take the lead on the following domains:
- Study of relevant Austrian experience in sound management of EPR waste streams/waste streamsand development of recommendations
- Development of EPR guidance document
- Study tour of representatives of local business operators and/or CSOs/NGOs to Austria to share Austrian experience in sound management of EPR waste streams
- Linking Georgian businesses with Austrian peers
- Study tour of representatives’ programme participant schoolchildren to Austria and support in networking
- Review of the Austrian experience in engaging the informal sector into formal EPR schemes
A Project Steering Committee (PSC) oversees the strategic direction, implementation progress, and coordination among all actors. It is composed of representatives from the implementing organizations and EU. The PSC ensures the programme’s alignment with national priorities, facilitates high-level coordination, and endorses work plans and budgets.
Implementation is guided by joint planning and monitoring tools, including a unified results framework, risk log, and monitoring & evaluation system. While each agency follows its internal implementation rules and systems, collaboration is ensured through regular coordination meetings and shared reporting mechanisms.
This governance model promotes transparency, accountability, and efficiency, ensuring that funds are effectively used to achieve the programme’s vision of a circular, inclusive, and green economy in Georgia.
Participating Organizations
Participating United Nations Organizations develop project and programme proposals, and report on implementation and financial processes and outcomes. Each Participating Organization assumes full programmatic and financial accountability for funds disbursed to it by the Administrative Agent.
Administrative Agent
Recipient Organizations receive funds through the Administrative Agent, the MPTF Office. The Administrative Agent is responsible for the receipt, administration and management of contributions from donors, disbursement of funds to Recipient Organizations, and consolidation and dissemination of progress reports to donors.