$1,6bn UN boost for Zim-Asset Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda signs a Memorandum of Understanding with UN Resident Co-ordinator Bishow Parajuli on the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework in Harare yesterday. Looking on is head of the UN Resident Co-ordinator’s office Mr Paul Farran
  • Funding to run from 2016 to 2020

  • Development projects targeted

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda signs a Memorandum of Understanding with UN Resident Co-ordinator Bishow Parajuli on the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework in Harare yesterday. Looking on is head of the UN Resident Co-ordinator’s office Mr Paul Farran

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda signs a Memorandum of Understanding with UN Resident Co-ordinator Bishow Parajuli on the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework in Harare yesterday. Looking on is head of the UN Resident Co-ordinator’s office Mr Paul Farran

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
The United Nations will mobilise up to $1,6 billion between next year and 2020 to support development programmes as guided by the Zim-Asset economic blueprint, an agreement signed yesterday between the world body and the Government revealed.

Dubbed the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Framework, the agreement was signed by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda and the UN Resident Co-ordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli.

“We must highlight the very generous engagement of the development co-operation community in Zimbabwe, where the 2012-2015 ZUNDAF saw an average delivery of approximately $400 million annually to support the achievement of the development results,” said Mr Parajuli.

“As such, from 2012 to the end of 2015, the UN will have delivered approximately $1,6 billion on programme results.

“This is an important contribution on the part of development partners, which we must aim to sustain and enhance for the 2016-2020 ZUNDAF, which is also budgeted at $1,6 billion.”

Mr Parajuli said ZUNDAF will support various areas as contained in Zim-Asset.

“ZUNDAF results groups are aligned to the Zim-Asset architecture, rallying behind nationally-led systems and structures to support national ownership and reduce transaction costs,” he said.

“In fact, this is a guiding principle behind ZUNDAF implementation. Therefore, establishment and efficiency of well-functioning development co-ordination architecture, anchored on Zim-Asset is fundamental to the achievement of meaningful results. It is therefore important to have well-run and effective Zim-Asset clusters.”

Mr Parajuli said ZUNDAF will support six national priority areas that include; food security and nutrition, gender and equality, HIV and Aids, poverty reduction and value addition, public administration and governance and social services and protection.

In his address, Dr Sibanda welcomed the UN’s shift from focusing on humanitarian assistance to developmental issues.

“I am particularly pleased to observe that the crafting of the 2016-2020 ZUNDAF has been underpinned by the Zim-Asset blue print, entailing the alignment of the programming processes to Zim-Asset priorities,” he said.

“Without doubt, this will add value to Government’s developmental efforts by shifting the focus of the UN system from humanitarian to developmental support.

“It is against this background that I am confident that the new ZUNDAF cycle will further buttress the accelerated implementation of Zim-Asset through the provision of technical and financial assistance to the various projects and programmes.”

Dr Sibanda said Government was committed to policy consistency and coherence.

“Our commitment is to also sustain the gains made on the MDGs through policy consistency and coherence,” he said. Government is committed to buttressing these achievements by implementing a robust reform and modernisation programme of our institutions of governance.

“Quality service delivery underpinned by the Results Based Management system incorporating e-Government will constitute the hallmark of a citizen responsive Government.”

Dr Sibanda called for continuous dialogue between Zimbabwe, the UN and other development partners as Government moves ahead with implementation of its development agenda.

The implementation of the ZUNDAF will be done in conjunction with 25 UN agencies.

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