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Annual Joint UNDAF Meeting
Opening Remarks by Deputy Prime Minister KEAT CHHON, M.P. Minister of Economy and Finance First Vice-Chairman, Council for the Development of Cambodia Royal Government of Cambodia 21 February, 2012
- Excellencies and Colleagues from the Royal Government - Distinguished Representatives of the UN System - Ladies and Gentlemen
1 - It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the Palais du Gouvernement for this important meeting with the United Nations Agencies in Cambodia. Today we have an opportunity to set ambitious goals for the partnership between the Royal Government and the United Nations as we focus on the implementation of the 2011 to 2015 UNDAF.
2 - At the end of last year, the UNDAF monitoring process recorded some notable achievements in each of the five priority areas related directly to the Rectangular Strategy-Phase II and the National Strategic Development Plan-Update 2009-2013. It is possible to conclude that there has been a strong contribution by the UN towards the achievement of the CMDGs. The nation is now on the path to alleviating poverty and its CMDGs, and its per capita income is estimated at about US$910 in 2011. We are hopeful that with continued progress in improving livelihoods and employment opportunities CMDG1 will be reached in 2015 while ensuring continued sustainable economic growth and macroeconomic stability. In this regard, our success depends on the results and impact of our joint efforts and investment within the context of effectiveness of our development partnership.
3 - As we are aware, we are on the path of moving from aid effectiveness to development effectiveness, so sustainable development results are the end goal of our commitments to effective cooperation. Our development cooperation partnership is not only a part of the effective solution, but it plays a catalytic and critical role in supporting poverty eradication, social protection, economic growth and sustainable development. We must therefore look closely at the role of the UN and the impact of its work. This is the purpose of our meeting today.
4 - Today, we are also able to take the opportunity to reflect briefly on the key results achieved in 2011. I look forward to the statement by H.E. Mr. Douglas Broderick, UN Resident Coordinator, which will summarise some of the key results from last year. We then look forward to a dialogue on activities in each of the five priority areas of UNDAF 2011-2015, focusing on progress and challenges in 2011. I believe that through our focus on the priority activities of UNDAF 2011-2015, we will be able to jointly validate our intended programme of work and activities in 2012 to ensure that the contribution of the UN to the development of Cambodia is effective, consistent with its mandate and competencies, and in-line with the Royal Government's Rectangular Strategy and NSDP. The work of the UN, which focuses on supporting the provision of essential social services and strengthening systems of governance in line with global norms, continues to play an important role in complementing and supporting the efforts of the Royal Government.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen
5 - The UNDAF provides the framework for support for the period up to 2015, which is the year set by the international community for attaining the MDG targets. This highlights the critical importance of the UNDAF as the last significant opportunity for the UN in supporting the Royal Government working in partnership other development partners and civil society organizations, to identify the outcomes and associated actions that are necessary to achieve the MDGs in Cambodia.
6 - As we are aware, five key outcomes have been identified in UNDAF 2011-2015. The five key outcomes are focused on:
- Economic Growth and Sustainable Development - Health and Education - Gender - Governance - Social Protection
7 - I believe these five outcome areas are well aligned with national development priorities ensuring that the UN is strategically positioned to support the Updated NSDP. The Government is particularly interested to learn of how the UN has continued to hone its expertise and to ensure that it remains well focused in the areas in which we have agreed there is a clear comparative advantage. As our work progresses in Cambodia, however, for example, in areas such as the implementation of the rice policy, in diversifying our trade products and markets, in meeting the challenges of climate change, in conducting our flood rehabilitation work, and in social protection, our needs are changing; and so we require that our partners are also reviewing their work and their own capacities to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. As we look towards our 2012 priorities, we would be particularly interested to look further into how the UN can ensure its continued effectiveness and impact.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen
8 - I wish to acknowledge the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, his staff and the role of all UN Agency Heads. I must also congratulate my colleagues from the Royal Government for their sustained commitment and input that has guided the UN to ensure that its work is relevant to the needs of Cambodia and is results-based. And I also acknowledge the role of civil society participation which I feel has provided the UNDAF process with a participatory and broader basis on which we hope to build in the future as we embark on the implementation. Our previous work in these broad partnerships has demonstrated good results and we can be assured that each UN agency has worked effectively to deliver the results that are anticipated in the UNDAF and required by the Royal Government. Our focus today will ensure that the work of the UN continues to contribute to the development of Cambodia.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
9 - I wish to conclude my opening remarks on that note. I thank you for your kind attention. I would now like to ask H.E. Mr. Douglas Broderick, the Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cambodia, to provide an introduction and a brief review of 2011 results on behalf of the UN Country Team. |
