The Nordic Council of Ministers' Knowledge Building and Network Programme for co-operation with North-west Russia focuses on promoting the exchange of knowledge, experience and skills as well as creating networks between partner organisations in the Nordic Region and North-west 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 Nordic Council of Ministers' guidelines for co-operation with North-west Russia, which is the basis of the partnership, has recently been renewed and extended until the end of 2013.

The starting point for the co-operation is an equal partnership where each party finances its own expenses. There must also be at least 30 % joint financing of activities.

The budget for the programme in 2009 is slightly more than DKK 20 million.

This is not an application programme, but the funds are allocated according to the political priorities agreed upon by the ministers for co-operation.

The knowledge building and network programme has been in effect since January 2007.

Structure of the Programme

The programme will focus on supporting collaboration activities within the following five programme areas:

•  Public administration
•  Education and research
•  Business exchange
•  Civic society
•  Work experience in institutions

Within these areas priority will be given to 14 policy areas for co-operation.

The emphasis is on the following:

Public administration

•  Local administration
•  Social care and health with focus on combatting human trafficking and the spread of HIV/AIDS
•  The environment, climate and energy
•  Judicial system

Education and research

•  Research co-operation
•  Educational co-operation 

Business exchange

•  Capacity building for the development of the SME sector
•  Co-operation to promote economic co-operation and trade
•  Innovation and creative industries

Civic society

•  Journalist and media co-operation
•  Cultural co-operation
• Co-operation between MPs
•  NGO co-operation

Work experience in institutions

•  Work experience in institutions  

Selection of partner organizations

The basic principle is that activities will be developed together with partners and the Nordic Council of Ministers in a top-down process.

The establishment of a project in a focus area requires at least one partner from Northwest Russia and partner organizations representing at least two Nordic countries.

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.

Applications of interest will be processed on a continuous basis.

The implementation of projects and other activities under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers involving Russia are mainly carried out by the Nordic Council of Ministers Offices in St. Petersburg and in Kaliningrad.