THE United Nations and the government of Sweden yesterday signed a $1,5 million three-year co-operation agreement as part of the Nordic country’s contribution to the UN system’s capacity to support national development priorities in its member states.
BY STAFF REPORTER
UN resident co-ordinator in Zimbabwe Bishow Parajuli, said the support, which will run from 2015 to 2017, tallied in with the country’s socio-economic blueprint, ZimAsset.
“The support will be key in enhancing the impact, efficiency and effectiveness of the UN system to jointly deliver on development programmes in line with ZimAsset. We are here to make a difference, to support people’s efforts to lead better lives,” he said.
Swedish ambassador to Zimbabwe Lars Ronnas said his country desired to see an efficient UN system that would help uplift poor communities.
“Our support to the UN emanates from a strong belief that a robust, more coordinated, and efficient UN system is critical to provide support to national efforts in uplifting vulnerable communities out of poverty,” he said.
Sweden is one of the development partners advancing UN reform efforts at global and national levels and has been committed to support UN coherence for development results in Zimbabwe since 2011, with an annual contribution of $25 million.
Foreign Affairs ministry officials and representatives from the Swedish embassy as well as UN witnessed the signing ceremony. Sweden has been working with partners that include the United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Development Programme, UN Women and United Nations Children’s Fund to support work in areas of gender equality, health, education, child protection, social protection, good governance and accountability.
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In partnership with the Zimbabwean government and courtesy of generous donors, the UN has delivered an average of over $400 million annually since 2012 in development programmes, supporting national efforts on good governance and human rights, resilience and livelihood building, food and nutrition security, social protection, social services, HIV and Aids, as well as gender equality and women’s empowerment.
