UNDP to step-up Public administration, Governance support

zwnews.com Reporter- Lovemore Lubinda

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) development partners says it will continue to work towards building capacity and establishing and strengthening of independent institutions in Zimbabwe.

UNDP resident coordinator Bishow Parajuli says, “Collaborative efforts are moving forward with the alignment of laws to the constitution, capacity building on treaty bodies, and establishing and strengthening the capacity of independent institutions including human rights, gender, elections, peace, healing and reconciliation and media commissions,”

“Going forward, under the 2016-2020 Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF), joint efforts will continue to build and strengthening of national capacities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and reduce the underlying causes of vulnerabilities to external shocks as a result of climate change such as recurrent droughts and flooding,” says the UN resident coordinator.

Parajuli says the area of public administration and good governance, extensive national multi-stakeholder consultation during the second universal Periodic Review process has resulted in successful participation of Zimbabwe at the UN Human Rights Council session and accepted 142 recommendations for implementation.

The United Nations body has been coordinating support from donors and dispatching financial support to address national development priorities and humanitarian assistance.

The development partners under the ZUNDAF platform also supported two million people with food assistance. Close to 140 000 vulnerable people were also supported with community asset building programmes. In the social services and protection result area a multi-million dollar health development fund commenced implementation to strengthen health systems, address child and maternal health.

National Social Security Strategy has since been launched and cash transfer to over 55 000 vulnerable households was maintained.

The 2016-2020 ZUNDAF co-chaired by the Zimbabwe government and the United Nations, supports national development efforts in six result areas that include social services and protection, poverty reduction and value addition, food and nutrition and strengthening of human rights, gender, elections, peace healing and reconciliation.