UN refocuses in Namibia

GOVERNMENT and the United Nations last week signed the second United Nations Development Framework (UNDAF) and publicised the findings of the 2004 Common Country Assessment (CCA).

The UNDAF 2006-2010 is a strategic response by the UN to guide the work of UN agencies in Namibia, so that they act in support of Government and civil society in reaching the economic and social developmental goals of the country, as outlined in Vision 2030, the Millennium Developmental Goals, and other international commitments signed by Government. Unicef representative Khin-Sandi Lwin said the CCA assessment named three key areas affecting the country’s national development negatively.HIV-AIDS, food insecurity and weakening capacity to deliver socio-economic services formed what she termed the “triple threat” to development in Namibia, and will be the main focus of the UN System for the next five years in helping the country achieve its objectives.”Its really that we want to put all our resources into this,” Lwin said to members of NGO’s, donors, development parties and Government officials in attendance.”So, if you as our stakeholders see us doing other things, you should hold us accountable.”UN Resident Co-ordinator Simon Nhongo observed that, on the basis of the Human Development Index (HDI), Namibia is now ranked 125th out of 177 countries, compared to its position at 126 last year.”While this may reflect a very modest improvement on last year’s performance,” he said, “we probably could have done better if it wasn’t for the HIV-AIDS pandemic, which has eroded the country’s life expectancy and capacity to deliver socio-economic services in health and education – all critical factors in the HDI.”Three goals were set for the end of the five-year period to address the ‘triple threat’.These are to increase access to prevention, treatment, care and impact mitigation services for especially vulnerable groups; to improve livelihoods and food security among the most vulnerable groups in highly affected locations; and to strengthen Government and civil society’s capacities to deliver and monitor critical health, education and special protection services.National Planning Commission Director General Helmut Angula estimated that just over N$278 million would be required to achieve the desired UNDAF outcomes.The first UNDAF was approved by Cabinet in 2000 and covered the period between 2001 and 2005.Unicef representative Khin-Sandi Lwin said the CCA assessment named three key areas affecting the country’s national development negatively.HIV-AIDS, food insecurity and weakening capacity to deliver socio-economic services formed what she termed the “triple threat” to development in Namibia, and will be the main focus of the UN System for the next five years in helping the country achieve its objectives. “Its really that we want to put all our resources into this,” Lwin said to members of NGO’s, donors, development parties and Government officials in attendance.”So, if you as our stakeholders see us doing other things, you should hold us accountable.”UN Resident Co-ordinator Simon Nhongo observed that, on the basis of the Human Development Index (HDI), Namibia is now ranked 125th out of 177 countries, compared to its position at 126 last year.”While this may reflect a very modest improvement on last year’s performance,” he said, “we probably could have done better if it wasn’t for the HIV-AIDS pandemic, which has eroded the country’s life expectancy and capacity to deliver socio-economic services in health and education – all critical factors in the HDI.”Three goals were set for the end of the five-year period to address the ‘triple threat’.These are to increase access to prevention, treatment, care and impact mitigation services for especially vulnerable groups; to improve livelihoods and food security among the most vulnerable groups in highly affected locations; and to strengthen Government and civil society’s capacities to deliver and monitor critical health, education and special protection services.National Planning Commission Director General Helmut Angula estimated that just over N$278 million would be required to achieve the desired UNDAF outcomes.The first UNDAF was approved by Cabinet in 2000 and covered the period between 2001 and 2005.