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| New UN framework to benefit rural areas |
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by
James Chimpweya, 08 February 2007
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07:46:34
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United Nations agencies in Malawi and government on Monday signed a four-year framework that will see the agencies spending US$265 million to respond to the needs and priorities of Malawians.
The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) covers the period 2008-2011 and is expected to promote economic growth as a means to reduce poverty and aid dependency so that Malawi can achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) based on the objectives of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS).
It is expected to benefit the vulnerable groups so that they have access to food and nutrition, social protection and water and education, among others.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country representative Michael Keating said the development of the UNDAF included a series of consultative sessions to provide an opportunity for the government of Malawi to achieve the priority areas articulated as gender equality, human rights, disaster risk reduction and capacity development as cross cutting issues.
“Human development requires democratic participation, human rights and other forms of empowerment to avoid inequality in economic growth especially by marginalised or vulnerable groups,” said Keating.
He said priorities reflect areas of the UN’s skills and knowledge to support national ownership, coordination and alignment of assistance behind the MGDS, strengthening and greater use of nationals systems and results based management-measured by improvement in the well being of every Malawian.
Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe welcomed UNDAF saying it will assist reduce poverty in rural areas saying what was in the villages some years ago had not been improved despite the developments taking place in towns.
“The water I was drinking as a boy, people are still drinking the same water and the road I was travelling during my teenage people are still using the same roads. No change. I hope this UNDAF will bring change in the rural villages,” said Gondwe.
He said he noted with sympathy the rampant poverty in the villages during the campaign period for him to be a member of parliament and thanked UN for the UNDAF.
Gondwe pledged government’s commitment and support to the implementation of the UNDAF 2008-2011 and appealed to all stakeholders involved to be equally committed so that government realises the desired results by 2011.
Gondwe commended United Nations Children’s Fund, UNDP, United Nations Population Fund and World Food Programme for producing their country programme documents within the context of the UNDAF 2008-2011.
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