The project intends to enhance the capacity of the SPECA countries to engage in subregional cooperation for the achievement of SDGs. This objective supports the SPECA countries in their capacity-building efforts towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The project will build on the achievements of the E262 project “Strengthening the capacity of SPECA countries for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” (June 2016 – December 2019) in improving the functioning of the SPECA process as a unique framework for cross-border cooperation in the subregion for the achievement of SDGs selected by the SPECA countries and corresponding to the mandate and expertise of UNECE and its partner in supporting SPECA - UNESCAP. This is a demand-driven project, based on the decisions of the SPECA Governing Council the 2018 Evaluation of SPECA, and the Ashgabat Initiative of 2019 (see the section on the Justification of the Project below).  The Governing Council has invited the countries to cooperate with UNECE, UNESCAP, the UN Resident Coordinators, and UN Country Teams, through the SPECA Thematic Working Groups (TWGs), while the funds should be used as seed money – support for the functioning of the SPECA process to be combined with other resources for the concrete meetings, seminars and activities of the Working Groups.