The fourth annual report, issued in 2009 and entitled “Renewing Hope, Rebuilding Lives”, explores the partnership between the UN and the European Commission by focusing on the support to countries recovering from natural crises and conflicts. Taking a three year time horizon, the report covers the results achieved between 2006 and 2008 in this field.

Working hand in hand with national governments, local authorities and civil society, or in some cases delivering directly through the UN, the United Nations and the European Commission (EC) supported countries in achieving the following results:

1. Restored safety and security to communities: Removed unexploded mines and helped control the circulation of small arms; demobilized ex-combatants and helped them reintegrate into peaceful societies; facilitated safe return of refugees and internally-displaced people to their place of origin or a new destination; and protected people, notably women threatened by sexual violence.

2. Restored social services: Secured access to adequate food and nutrition, particularly of vulnerable groups such as children; sustained health, water and sanitation, and education services whilst strengthening state of community capacities to take back the responsibility for their efficient and sustainable delivery.

3. Jumpstarted livelihoods: Reconstructed infrastructure, revived economies, recovered agricultural productivity and restored environmental assets; generated opportunities for decent work and broadened the scope for people to rebuild their livelihoods.

4. Transformed institutions: Restored legitimacy of institutions across all arms of the state parliaments, the judiciary and the executive including local authorities, to perform their core functions and address human development needs;

5. Built resilient societies: Learning from the past, strengthened the resilience of communities and institutions to withstand future shocks without reverting to crises; built capacity for dialogue across institution and civil society; and integrated disaster planning into national and local development plans.