GOVERNMENT and its international development partners have pledged to prioritise and localise the country’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) ahead of the United Nations Summit on the post-2015 development agenda in New York, the United States.
BY STAFF REPORTER
This week, all provincial and district administrators, senior government officials, top leadership of local authorities, heads of UN Agencies including Unicef, World Food Programme, United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, met in Mutare where they agreed to urgently adopt a more action-oriented approach to service delivery.
Speaking at the meeting, Local Government minister Savior Kasukuwere said: “I call upon all provincial and district administrators, as the foot soldiers of the government, to take a leading role in the pursuit of the envisaged future as guided by the SDGs”.
Addressing participants at the dialogue session, UN resident co-ordinator Bishow Parajuli said: “Given the emerging development landscape, the delivery on SDGs rests on governments, private sector, local administration as well as development partners including the UN and donors.
“But the fundamental responsibility for this global partnership lies with governments and their apparatus including local administrations.”
After the meeting, stakeholders are expected to conduct advocacy initiatives that will target representatives of local authorities, traditional leaders and communities to ensure their buy-in.
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“As the face of the national administration at sub-national level, you will serve as SDGs ambassadors and implement programmes at the local level to fulfil the development aspirations of your people”, Parajuli said.
The UN in Zimbabwe has been supporting national efforts to reach all Zimbabweans, especially the poor, with quality services that meet their needs, strengthen their resilience, and provide the basis on which to build a stronger and inclusive economy for all.
Critical services include education, health, food and nutrition, addressing high levels of poverty, fighting HIV, women’s empowerment, employment creation as well as social protection.
The SDGs were formulated through consultative processes worldwide and endorsed by member states on August 2 this year. Heads of States and governments at the Sustainable Summit in September in New York are expected to officially adopt the set goals.
