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Meeting between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations System UN Joint Annual UNDAF Meeting Phnom Penh, Cambodia 21 February 2012
Introductory remarks by Mr Douglas Broderick UN Resident Coordinator
Excellency, Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, Minister of Economy and Finance and First Vice Chairperson, CDC Excellency, Chhieng Yanara, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary General of CRDB and Deputy Secretary General CDC. Excellencies Distinguished representatives of the Royal Government of Cambodia Colleagues from the UN System in Cambodia Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the United Nations System in Cambodia, both resident and non resident agencies, it is our great pleasure to join with colleagues representing the Royal Government of Cambodia to discuss the UN Development Assistance Framework or UNDAF. This year we will focus on 2011 results, and priorities for 2012.
We take this opportunity to thank all government colleagues for their extraordinary cooperation in the past year and the continued dedication to making it possible for us all to continue to work so closely together.
This year is the first year of implementation of the UNDAF 2011-2015, a results-focused framework for our joint efforts in Cambodia. Each of the five UNDAF outcomes represent mutually agreed priority work and very valuable areas of collaboration, both new and ongoing. This framework combines the work of UN agencies operating in Cambodia and represents the commitment to supporting Government in its implementation of the Rectangular Strategy Phase II, the National Strategic Development Plan, and importantly attainment of Cambodia’s Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Whilst my colleagues will provide a detailed insight into results across the UNDAF framework there are a number of highlights for us in 2011 that are worthy of noting:
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen
Today’s dialogue is an important opportunity to ensure that the UN system meets its obligations, ensures its impacts and responds effectively as a key partner in a multi-sectoral response. The UN is an active facilitator within the Government’s sectoral framework of TWGs and remains true to these priorities and commitments. The UN remains focused on the delivery of real results against Cambodia’s development priorities.
At last year’s Joint UNDAF Review meeting we made a commitment to continue discussion about UNDAF implementation through the use of concrete mutual achievement. We hope to maintain that tradition of people centred and results based discussion in this meeting today and provide government colleagues with a very focused and cohesive approach to harmonised programme implementation in Cambodia in 2012.
The UN continues to implement joint programmes where it makes good sense to do so, and to work effectively together. The UN’s coordinated HIV response is built around the national HIV & AIDS strategy through the UN’s Joint Support Programme. The UN’s joint commitment to community based drug treatment, piloted in Banteay Meanchey in 2011, is another example.
The Spanish MDG Achievement Fund has provided support for two joint programmes: - Children Food Security and Nutrition in Kampong Speu and Svay Rieng, and - Creative Industries for Indigenous Communities in Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom. These joint programmes have engaged more than seven UN agencies and eight line ministries and have achieved real results against MDG focused priorities for Cambodia. We are grateful for the Government’s leadership in the implementation and oversight of this work.
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen
The UN works to mainstream a number of cross cutting issues through all our work and our engagement with partners. These priorities remain: Gender, Human Rights, Youth and HIV & AIDS.
In 2012 the UN is commited to jointly advocating in three key areas that are of particular concern for CMDG attainment. They are:
Maternal Health – where we advocate that “No woman should die giving life” Youth – where we advocate that ” Young people are Cambodia’s most valuable resource” Food Security and Nutrition – where we advocate that ” Everyone has the right to a healthy and nutritious, hunger-free life”
As a part of our commitment to UN reform the UNCT continues to capitalise on its comparative advantage and the added value of working together. In the context of the UNDAF 2011 – 2015 we are focused on a number of strategic priorities that will benefit from joint collaboration and resource mobilisation. We call these priorities ‘break through areas’ because we believe they represent areas that need to be addressed immediately, will require a joint effort and are not yet fully resourced. These ‘break through’ areas are:
All five of these areas will be highlighted in the upcoming presentation.
Our presentation today will be delivered by a number of UN Country Team Members who speak on behalf of the UN Country Team as a whole: Mrs Nina Brandstrup, will focus on Economic Growth and Sustainable Development Dr Pieter van Maaren, will focus on Health and Education Ms Wenny Kusuma, will focus on Gender Ms Elena Tischenko, will focus on Governance and, Mr Jean-Pierre DeMargerie, will focus on Social Protection
These interventions refer directly to the goals set for ourselves in the UNDAF results framework and will be elaborated to ensure that priorities feel very real and achievable. We will highlight the results achieved in 2011, the challenges faced and priorities for 2012.
Our common commitment in working here is to improve the livelihoods of all people living in Cambodia – we are here to serve the people. This remains a central priority within our UNDAF and a focus that guides our everyday work, our collaborations and our partnerships.
I kindly request that Ms Brandstrup now takes the floor, and the other presentations follow. After these short presentations are concluded we will very kindly turn the floor back to His Excellency chairman for further dialogue and questions.
Ms Brandstrup, you have the floor. |