The UNCT posing with the Prime Minister during the courtesy call. From the left, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Neil Boyer; UNRC Coordination Specialist Lolo Mkhabela; WFP Representative Abdoulaye Balde; FAO Assistant Representative Khanyisile Mabuza; UNICEF Representative Dr. Jama Gulaid; the Prime Minister Dr. B.S.S Dlamini; UN Resident Coordinator Musinga Bandora; WHO Representative Dr. Edward Maganu and UNFPA Representative Aisha Camara-Drammeh.
MBABANE, 28TH January 2009: The Prime Minister Dr. B.S.S Dlamini has assured the UN Country Team in Swaziland that government would support the UN to develop a building dedicated for the use of UN agencies.
The Prime Minister said this would be a priority of his term of office. He made the pledge during a courtesy call at his office in Mbabane by the UN Country Team, led by UN Resident Coordinator Musinga Bandora on Wednesday morning (28th January 2009).
The courtesy call which was attended by all heads of UN agencies resident in Swaziland, Mr. Bandora told the Prime Minister that they had noted the government’s 10 priorities slated for achievement during the next five years. He said UN agencies would support the government in its development endeavours.
RC also informed the Prime Minister of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, UNDAF which outlines the areas of development support of all UN agencies to the Kingdom. The current UNDAF started in 2006 and ends in 2010. The agreement which identified five priority areas for development was developed by all UN agencies in collaboration with the government and civil society organizations. Five key priorities areas of cooperation identified in this five year agreement were: HIV&AIDS; Poverty Reduction; Food Security; Basic Social Services, mainly education and health and Governance. The next UNDAF will cover the period 2011-2015.
He also highlighted the need of the UNCT for a common office site where all UN agencies would be located and informed the Prime Minister of the planned retreat of the UN Country team on the 26th February.
Responding to the RC, the Prime Minister said the government was very happy with the support delivered by the various UN agencies in Swaziland. He said Swaziland is a proud member of the United Nations since 1968. He said the Kingdom made sure that it is always in good standing and pays its dues every year without fail. He assured the Country Team of government cooperation and wished them well in their planned retreat, noting that his cabinet and principal secretaries had just emerged from their own strategic planning retreat facilitated by the Commonwealth, from which they resolved to provide a caring government.
The UNCT was represented by UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Musinga Bandora; UNFPA Representative Aisha Camara-Drammeh; UNICEF Representative Dr. Jama Gulaid; WFP Representative Abdoulaye Balde; UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Neil Boyer and FAO assistant representative Khanyisile Mabuza.
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