Signing of the UNDAF 2008-2010
29 March 2007 - The United Nations system in the Maldives, together with the Government of Maldives, signed the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), ushering in a new programming cycle for the UN system for the next three years from 2008 to 2010. The signing ceremony took place on 28 March at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was attended by both Government and United Nations Officials.
The UNDAF document was signed on behalf of the Government by Dr. Hussain Niyaaz, Executive Director of the Department of External Resources, and for the United Nations, the Resident Coordinator, Mr. Patrice Coeur-Bizot together with the Heads of Resident United Nations agencies – Mr. Kenneth Maskall, UNICEF Representative; Dr. Bhanu Niraula, UNFPA Acting Assistant Representative; Dr. Jorge Luna, WHO Representative and Ms. Melaia Vatucawaqa, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative. Mr. Kim Hak Su, Undersecretary General of the UN and Executive Director of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, although was not able to join the ceremony, will also be signing the UNDAF.
With this document, the UN system in the Maldives reaffirms its support to the goals of the 7th National Development Plan (NDP), the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, fulfillment of the country’s international human rights obligations and a commitment to adopt a collaborative approach in continued support of national priorities.
The UNDAF also uses a rights-based approach to focus assistance to the most marginalized and vulnerable sections of the society and promote the fulfillment of basic human rights. It also aims to implement UN programmes with greater efficiency through the results-based management framework.
In support of the national priorities outlined in the 7th NDP, the UNDAF identifies UN support in three major areas namely: Social & Economic Equity, Environment Management & Disaster Risk Reduction and Governance.
At the signing ceremony, the Resident Coordinator of the UN system in the Maldives, Mr. Patrice Coeur-Bizot said:
“In the UNDAF we have committed to work towards improved social and economic equity, that is towards better health status, improved access to quality education, enhanced social protection, income and employment opportunities for the most marginalized and vulnerable sections of society.
Jointly, we will work to enhance the capacity of communities to enjoy improved access to environmental services and be better able to reduce vulnerability and manage disaster risks;
Towards good governance, the UNDAF commits us to work towards the promotion of basic human rights and increased public participation at the national and local levels.”
The UNDAF is the result of a collaborative and consultative process involving numerous stakeholders who contributed in various forms, including at the Strategic Prioritization Retreat held in September and the Joint Strategy Meeting held in December last year and through joint theme groups involving Government, civil society and UN participants. The process was supervised by a National Steering Committee co-chaired by the Executive Director of DER and the UN Resident Coordinator, and composed of officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Planning and National Development, Ministry of Finance, and heads of UN agencies in the Maldives. The completed UNDAF is also a key manifestation of the UN Reform at the country level and will be a critical instrument for the harmonization of the UN development assistance in support of the Government’s efforts.
Harmonization and collaboration are further realized through the Country Programme Documents (CPDs) of UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF, which describe the actual programme interventions of these UN agencies in the country. The CPDs are based on the development results jointly defined in the UNDAF.
The RC noted that the UNDAF signing was historic because it was the first time that such a planning document was jointly signed by Government and the UN system in the Maldives. It was also the first time that the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will be signing such a document.
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“The world must advance the causes of security, development and human rights together, otherwise none will succeed. Humanity will not enjoy security without development, it will not enjoy development without security and it will not enjoy either without respect for human rights,”
Kofi Annan, General Secretary of the United Nations, 2005.
Notes to editors: For further enquiries, please contact Anna Senga, UN Coordination Specialist anna.senga@undp.org
