Common Country Assessment (CCA)

Click here for CCA Indicators Summary Common Country Assessment (CCA) ERITREA Poverty Reduction Governance Economic Growth Food Emergency & Security Recovery HIV/AIDS Nutrition Gender Capacity Equity Communication Special needs Environment Data & Energy Educatio Shelter, Water & Health Sanitation Volume 1 March 2001 United Nations Table of contents Page Foreword 1. Introduction 1 2. Country Overview 2 Historical context 2 Basic facts 3 The state of human development 4 The national policy framework and UN System cooperation 6 3. Key Development Issues for Poverty Reduction 8 3.1 Governance 10 Focus box 1: HIV/AIDS & STDs 13 3.2 Economic growth and development 14 Focus box 2: Nutrition 17 3.3 Food security 18 Focus box 3: Gender in development 21 3.4 Education 22 Focus box 4: Capacity development 25 3.5 Health 26 Focus box 5: Issues of equity 29 3.6 Water, shelter and sanitation 30 Focus box 6: Communication for development 33 3.7 Environment and Energy 34 Focus box 7: Population groups with special needs 37 3.8 Emergency, recovery, reintegration and rehabilitation 38 Focus box 8: Data for development 41 4. Conclusions and the way forward 42 Annexes 46 1. From assessment to collaborative programming: potential areas for UN System support 47 2. Eritrea CCA Terms of reference 57 3. United Nations Country Team & Members of the Steering Committee 63 4. List of Theme Group Members 64 5. List of resource persons consulted and/or attended Theme Group Meetings 67 6. List of focus people responsible for sections in the CCA document 70 7. Process and Methodology 71 8. References 73 9. Acronyms 79 10. Matrix showing inter-linkages between thematic and cross-cutting issues 81 11. Mandates of the United Nations System organizations 86 12. Development Database (in process) 89 ii Index of figures, charts, indicator boxes and maps page Map 1: Administrative regions of Eritrea 3 Box: Poverty – Core indicators 8 Figure 3.0 Poverty reduction 9 Box: Governance - Core indicators 10 Figure 3.1: Governance – Causal analysis 12 Box: Economic growth and development – Core indicators 14 Chart 3.2.1: GDP at 1992 constant factor prices (million Nakfa) 14 Chart 3.2.2: Government Expenditures and Revenues 1992-1999 (million Nakfa) 14 Chart 3.2.3: Foreign exchange inflow (averages 1996-1998) 15 Figure 3.2: Economic growth and development – Causal analysis 16 Box: Nutrition – Core indicators 17 Box: Food security – Core indicators 18 Chart 3.3.1: % of children under the age of 3 years suffering from mal-nutrition 18 Chart 3.3.2: Import : Production Ratio for Cereals 19 Figure 3.3: Food security – Causal analysis 20 Box: Gender in development - Core indicators 21 Box: Education – Core indicators 22 Chart 3.4.1: Net Primary Enrolement Rate 1992-99 (%) 22 Chart 3.4.2: Repetition Rate Primary level (%) 23 Figure 3.4: Education – Causal analysis 24 Box: Health – Core indicators 26 Chart 3.5.1: % increase in health facilities since 1991 26 Chart 3.5.2: Infant and under-5 mortality (1996) 27 Figure 3.5: Health – Causal analysis 28 Box: Water, shelter and sanitation – Core indicators 30 Chart 3.6.1: Access to safe water and sanitation (%) 30 Figure 3.6: Water, shelter and sanitation – Causal analysis 32 Box: Environment and Energy – Core indicators 34 Chart 3.7.1: Landuse potential in million ha 34 Chart 3.7.2 Forest cover as % of total land area (1880 - 1997) 34 Chart 3.7.3: Shares in energy consumption per carries (1989) 25 Figure 3.7: Environment and Energy - – Causal analysis 36 Box: Emergency, recovery, reintegration and rehabilitation - Core indicators 38 Chart 3.8.1: Affected by the war damage 39 Figure 3.8: Emergency, recovery, reintegration and rehabilitation – Causal analysis 40 iii Foreword It is my pleasure and honour to write this part of the introductory remarks upon the successful completion of the Common Country Assessment (CCA) in Eritrea, which was prepared under very difficult circumstances. Only a month after it was launched in April 2000, a fierce war between Ethiopia and Eritrea broke out prompting a colossal humanitarian crisis and social and economic destruction. Given this situation, it was natural for the Government of Eritrea and its development partners to turn their attention to the growing humanitarian emergency. However, the determination to get things done, despite this difficult situation, and the evidently unfailing dedication of all the protagonists in the preparation of the CCA proved bigger and stronger than the obstacles. Under the general direction of the UN Country Team, a Steering Committee, chaired by Mr. Firouz Sobhani, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, was assigned with the overall responsibility to oversee both the process and the production of the CCA in Eritrea. The Steering Committee was made up of representatives of all the resident UN agencies whilst non-resident agencies were kept informed of progress at key stages of the process through electronic channels of communication. The important task for the Steering Committee was to devise a system of identifying the key development challenges. Reflecting the Government’s policy priorities, the Steering Committee identified human development and poverty reduction as the over-arching objective of all UN development efforts in Eritrea. Accordingly, eight thematic areas were selected for assessment and analysis and a corresponding number of theme groups established for the day-to-day management of the different phases of the work. The core members of the theme groups, drawn from the UN System, from Government, from civil society and from the donor community, were identified by the Steering Committee. However, it was the responsibility of the Chair of each theme group to co-opt unlisted but qualified individuals into the respective theme group. Thus, a practical and participatory system that enabled the theme groups to do their work effectively was put in place. The draft CCA was finally reviewed and final modifications agreed during a two-day national workshop in Massawa with high level representation by Government, bilateral and non-governmental partners and the UN system agencies. In addition to providing a participatory consultative framework, the other purpose of the CCA is to serve as the basis for a coordinated UN Development Framework (UNDAF) in support of the development priorities of the Government. A number of important challenges have been identified in this CCA document, which I believe will enhance our ability to respond strategically to the needs of Eritrea through the UNDAF. I wish to thank all those involved in the preparation of the CCA for Eritrea, the members of the Steering Committee, especially those in the theme groups who gave their time freely and tirelessly. I have no doubt that this CCA document, on which they all worked so hard to produce, will make a significant contribution to the development of Eritrea in the next five to six years. Simon R. Nhongo Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator iv 1. Introduction In 1997, the Secretary- General of United Nations launched a programme of reform for the United Nations with the aim of preparing it for the challenges of the 21st century. A number of the reform actions set forth by the Secretary-General address the development work of the United Nations, a core mission that remains of vital importance. One of the key The Common Country Assessment (CCA) is a country-based process elements of this reform is to bring greater coherence to the United for reviewing and analyzing the Nations programmes of assistance at the country level with common national development situation and objectives and time frames in close consultation with governments. This identifying key issues as a basis for is intended to be achieved through the United Nations Development advocacy, policy dialogue and Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The Common Country Assessment preparation of the UNDAF. (CCA) is a country-based process for reviewing and analyzing the national development situation and identifying key issues as a basis for advocacy, policy dialogue and preparation of the UNDAF. The CCA is undertaken by the United Nations System in close consultation with the Government and other key partners. The official launching of the CCA process took place on 5 April 2000 in a meeting convened by the UN Resident Coordinator and attended by senior government officials, representatives of civil society organizations, private sector and bilateral/multilateral agencies present in Eritrea. During the launching event the partners were briefed on the CCA process in Eritrea and received an Aide Memoire on the detailed plans for its preparation. They were invited to take part actively in the eight Theme Groups established for the preparation of the CCA. The selection Senior Government officials, of the thematic areas to be assessed and analyzed by the Theme Groups representatives of civil society was based primarily on the areas of focus agreed upon by the UN and organizations, private sector and Government of the State of Eritrea in the Country Strategy Note (CSN) bilateral/multilateral agencies in 1998. They were also selected by virtue of their significant present in Eritrea took part actively in the eight Theme contribution to reduce poverty and promote human development, which Groups established for the constitute the over-arching objectives of the UN in Eritrea. The eight preparation of the CCA. thematic areas were: Governance, Economic growth and development, Food security, Education, Health, Shelter/water and sanitation, Environment and energy as well as Emergency, recovery, reintegration and rehabilitation Under the guidance of a CCA Steering Committee established by the UN Country Team, the Theme Groups worked from April to June to accomplish their tasks and produce their final reports. This required intensive interaction between the members of the group through brainstorming sessions and discussions in their meetings and retreats.

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