United Nations refines its cooperation with Uganda

Government and the United Nations (UN) country team have agreed to establish a high level coordination mechanism for the UN programme to oversee the United Nations Assistance Development Framework and the operationalization of the UN Fund.

The platform for strategic coordination and high-level direct engagement between government and UN with joint committees at both policy and technical levels is expected to ensure that UN funding is owned and aligned to national development objectives.

Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi who chaired the meeting on Monday at the Office of the Prime Minister main conference hall hailed the UN for supporting Uganda to achieve the millennium development goals.
The meeting was attended by a number of other government officials including ministers and representatives of UN agencies.

Mbabazi who will chair the policy coordination committee hailed the UN the UN agencies for the over US$ 900 million committed to Uganda in their Development Assistance Framework 2010 to 2014.

The resources are targeting interventions in Northern Uganda, Human Rights, Gender, Environment, Population and HIV/AIDS.

“In the spirit of ensuring aid effectiveness, Government is ready to facilitate the effective implementation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework,” Mr. Mbabazi said.

He added that his office is committed and focused on improving coordination in Government so as to increase value for money in public service delivery by reducing inefficiencies resulting from policy incoherence, institutional overlaps and poor communication in service delivery.

The Premier also noted that Uganda is faced with the questions of youth unemployment, gender equality, and women empowerment, maternal and new-born health adding that this resonates with the working theme of NDP II which is being developed along the lines of strengthening Uganda’s competitiveness for wealth creation, inclusive growth and employment.

The UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Ahunna Eziakonwa Onochie who led the UN team said the current UN development assistance framework is meant to help Uganda achieve its millennium development goals and the vision2040 with outcomes on good governance and human rights, sustainable livelihood and quality social services.

The current UN assistance development framework, 2010 -2014 has been extended by one to 2015 to be informed by the next National Development Plan and post 2015 agenda.