RBEC 2008 Resident Representatives meeting Bratislava, Slovakia

1. RBEC 2008 Resident Representatives meetingBratislava, Slovakia Introduction Information Logistics

2. Welcome to Slovakia! • Membership in EU, NATO, OECD • UN Security Council member in 2006-2007 • Key historical points: • 1993: “Velvet separation” from Czech Republic • 1998: Mečiar government falls, transition accelerates • On the economy: • Rapid GDP growth accelerates to 10.4% in 2007 • World’s largest per capita automobile producer • Expected to join Euro zone in January 2009 • But—significant challenges in terms of social inclusion, regional disparities remain: • Roma • Eastern Slovakia

3. Why are we here? • Opportunity for common discussion of key global, regional priorities, communications, messages • Important step in RBEC, UNDP communications, programming cycle • Team building

4. RBEC communications, programming cycle • 2007: • Executive board approves UNDP strategic plan • Sarajevo DRR meeting: Initial articulation of CO priorities  regional priorities • RBEC regional strategy developed, consulted • 2008: • CO strategic note discussions • Development of BRC work plan • This meeting: Further work on regional priorities • Advisory Board to BRC’s Policy Support and Programme Development Office • Regional Gender Steering Committee

5. Meeting Secretariat • The Secretariat has: • Eight laptops with internet access • Sign-up sheets for side meetings with: • BRC staff • Ad, Kori, Cihan, Martin, Beate, etc. • For side meetings that have been set up by RBEC, please see the RBEC focal point • The Secretariat can help you with: • General information • Travel arrangements • Secretariat phone: +421 907 722 002

6. Meeting rooms

7. For meetings with BRC staff • Sign up: • Today (Monday) • Sign-up sheets posted outside of Rome room • Meetings will be held on: • Tuesday afternoon (17.00 – 19.20) in hotel • Rooms announced by Tuesday lunch • Wednesday morning (9.00 – 12.00) in BRC (35 Grosslingova—no transport arranged)

8. Logistics: Please help us GREEN the meeting . . . • Paper preparations have been kept to a minimum • Hotel is fully wired: • DSL cables in rooms • Wireless access everywhere • Everything you need can be downloaded from: http://www.undp.sk/rrrm2008

9. . . . And to reduce our carbon footprint • This meeting will generate some 116 tons of CO2 • Help offset this carbon by making a donation for tree planting in the Secretariat • At meeting’s end, we’ll announce: • How much $$ was collected • How many trees can be planted • How much of the CO2 we’ll offset

10. Information updates and reminders • Dress code: • Business casual • Except for official opening (later this morning) • Schedule change: Tonight’s cocktail has been moved to the foyer behind the conference room

11. Let’s have a great meeting!