UN Support Contributes to Key National Development Priorities

Bishow Parajuli

The high level ZUNDAF Annual Review, which brought together senior representatives of Government, UN, Development Partners, Civil Society Organisations and the Private Sector, has also allowed for the adoption of a joint action plan for the implementation of the 2016-2020 ZUNDAF.

In his remarks UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Bishow Parajuli said, “ZUNDAF supported development results have been instrumental for the achievement of key national development priorities of Zimbabwe and it international commitments.”

Underscoring the ZUNDAF as a strategic framework that brings collective action of UN agencies, Mr. Parajuli underlined that the programmes implemented under ZUNDAF could not have been achieved without the generous support of our development partners. “While recognizing the need to maintain the current level of Official Development Assistance to Zimbabwe, the ongoing engagement between the Government and International Financial Institutions as well as the reform to enhance the ease of doing business and attract Foreign Direct Investment currently underway will contribute to achieving sustainable social and economic growth”, said the UN Resident Coordinator.

Through the 2012-2015 ZUNDAF, the United Nations has contributed to seven national priority areas: Good governance; Pro-poor sustainable growth and economic development; Food security; Sound management of the environment; Access to quality basic social services; Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support; and Gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Speaking on the role of ZUNDAF to Zimbabwe’s development priorities, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Justin Mupamhanga said, “Our engagement through the ZUNDAF has been instrumental and remains a significant conduit for development assistance. I pay special tribute to our UN agencies and development partners for extending this valuable financial and technical support.”

Despite serious economic challenges, the 2012-2015 ZUNDAF with the generous support from development partners has delivered US$ 1.6 billion in development grants supporting the provision of social and public services as well as capacity building, which include: a one-third decline in the maternal mortality rate; a doubling of the immunisation rate for children; a progressive and people-driven national Constitution; a 1:1 pupil-to-textbook ratio for over 2.5 million school children; a doubling of women in Parliament to 35 percent; and a reduction of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by more than half to under 9 percent.

Noting the need to enhance coordination, Mr. Mupamhanga called on the UN agencies to fully adopt the Delivering as One agenda to strengthen coherence and efficiency of UN supported programmes.

To sustain and build on the achievements made during the 2012-2015 ZUNDAF cycle and support the implementation of the SDGs, the 2016-2020 ZUNDAF aims to deliver 1.65 billion to contribute to six national priority areas: Food and Nutrition Security; Gender Equality; HIV & AIDS; Poverty Reduction and Value Addition; Public Administration and governance; and social Services and Protection.

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