UN report prioritises development

By ADRIAN FENENG
THE United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2012-15 will help to focus resources and technical expertise in the core national development priority areas.
UN resident coordinator David McLachlan-Karr said this during the signing of the document (UNDAF 2012-15) on Tuesday at Vulupindi Haus in Port Moresby.
McLachlan-Karr said the document would help them to leverage their work to the maximum strategic advantage by engaging with civil society, development partners and the government.
He said national development priority area­s for the UN-Papua New Guinea country programme included equitable development, social justice, access to basic education and health care services and disaster, environment and climate change.
He said UNDAF would guide them to do better, especially in addressing cross-cutting issues such as violence against women and girls, access to health care
and education, gender equality, HIV and tuberculosis.
“We will have regular meetings to check where we are going and what we can do to achieve best outcomes through effective monitoring and evaluation,” McLachlan-Karr told UN agencies and development partners gathered at the signing ceremony.
He said the projected cost of operation over a four-year period would be US$190.8 million (K405.09 million).
He thanked the government for approving the UNDAF document and giving them four years to implement it.
National Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil, who arrived at 3pm from parliament, signed the document and assured UN agencies and partners that his department would work closely with them to achieve better outcomes.