THE United Nations Agencies in Zimbabwe remain a strong partner in supporting the country to end all forms of poverty and ensure no one is left behind, United Nations Resident Coordinator said.
By Edward Makuzva
Addressing delegates at a media breakfast meeting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) today, UN Resident Coordinator, Bishow Parajuli said the United Nations has been engaged and partnering with government of Zimbabwe, donors and stakeholders from the national level to the community level.
Parajuli said the UN family will support national development effort on poverty and value addition, food security and nutrition, social services and protection, HIV and AIDS, gender equality, women empowerment, governance and public administration.
“With our new global agenda- the SDGs, which provides a blueprint for all nations to advance sustainably, we can together chart a dignified and sustainable future for the people of Zimbabwe.
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“The adoption of the SDGs marks a historic moment when the global community offered its vision of a better future for nations large and small for all people of the world”, explained Parajuli.
The Resident Coordinator added the signing of the 17 goals, by United Nations family and the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion will form the foundation of a new development agenda designed to set Zimbabwe and the world on a course of action to end poverty, transform lives and protect the planet.
Parajuli said the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) targets have been met, citing extreme poverty which has been reduced from 36 % to 12%, increased access to improved drinking water sources, improvements in the lives of slum dwellers, attainment of gender parity in primary school enrolment as well as halting and reversing the HIV epidemic as some of the achievements.
He explained that, Zimbabwe implemented the MDGs; development partners injected approximately one billion US dollars a year in Official Development Assistance and close to 50% was channeled towards through the United Nations System to augment national resources.
“The path taken to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals has been an inclusive and participatory journey, as the path to implementation of the 17 SDGs and the achievements of their respective 169 targets”, said Parajuli.
