By TesfaNews,
The Executive Board of the UNDP has approved the new Eritrea Country Program following the signing of a new Strategic Partnership Cooperation Framework (SPCF) 2013-2016 with the Government of Eritrea on January 28, 2013.
This new cooperation framework, which was prepared through a consultative process between the Government of the State of Eritrea and United Nations System, will have five strategic area focuses: Capacity development, Social protection, Energy and environment, Gender and Food Security.
To strengthen the existing partnership among development partners of Eritrea, the UN Country Team (UNCT) held a donor briefing with Ambassadors and diplomatic corps from various Embassies in Eritrea. Among them include the EU, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, USA, Israel, UK, South Africa, South Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Italy, Australia, Germany, ICRC and Russia.
Representing the UNCT, Mr. Mark Schreiner, UNFPA Country Representative, (OIC), presented the summary of the SPCF. He highlighted that the SPCF was a culmination of a dialogue process from 2007 to June 2012 which provides a renewed cooperation for UN in Eritrea.
In the meeting, representatives of UN Agencies working in Eritrea also took the opportunity to brief development partners on their specific areas of support.
Development partners expressed the appreciation of the UN in organizing such an important event.
With SPCF’s US 188 million dollar budget estimate for the coming four years, US50 million will put forward from UN Agencies; US 15 million from UK; US 1 million from Italian Embassy; 54 million EURO from European Development Fund (EDF10) and the remaining gap for UN to be jointly mobilize with government from donor community.
The SPCF 2013-2016 was signed between H.E. Dr Gergish Teklemikael, Minister of National Development on behalf of the Government of Eritrea and Ms Christine N. Umutoni, Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative on behalf of the UN Country Team (UNCT).
The parties agreed to start implementation of the program as soon as the Country program documents (CPDs) and work plans for various agencies, which currently under development by the government, are ready.
