United Nations in Zimbabwe UnitedÊNationsÊ Newsletter Zimbabwe Issue 12 • 2nd Quarter - 2015 www.zw.one.un.org Enhancing development partnerships for inclusive growth and sustainable development: Dialogue on Post-2015 Development Agenda • A New Five Year UN Strategic Plan • Reinforcing Development Coordination • Programme Results on HIV and AIDS, Maternal Health, Community Asset Building, Women’s Empowerment… 2 UN in Zimbabwe Newsletter Issue XII - 2nd Quarter - 2015 CONTENTS 02 Note from the UN Resident Coordinator Note from the UN Resident Coordinator, Bishow Parajuli 03 First National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue Millennium Development Goals in general. on Sustainable Development Goals Following a series of consultations with Development Partners, Civil Society 04 Organisations,.Non-Governmental New UN Development Framework to Support Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Organisations, the Private Sector and the Development media over several months, another big milestone was the just signed five year 05 UN strategic framework –the 2016-2020 Enhancing Development Partnerships ZUNDAF. and Coordination The second quarter of 2015 has witnessed a The ZUNDAF, signed with the Government, multipronged engagement of stakeholders brings together the capacity, mandates and 06 in a national dialogue on localising the Excellent Partnerships Impact on the Fight expertise of a total of 25 UN entities which Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, against AIDS, TB and Malaria in Zimbabwe will contribute programme support in six enhancing development partnership for national priority areas. The priority areas accelerated implementation of national range from poverty reduction and value 07 development priorities, as well as the Taming High Maternal Mortality Through addition, food security, social services and signing of the United Nations’ new five Refurbishing Maternity Waiting Homes protection, HIV and AIDS, gender equality year strategic engagement plan for 2016- to promoting human rights and good 2020 - the Zimbabwe UN Development governance as well as support to national 08 Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) and A Four Year Livelihoods and Food Security development priorities towards the responding to the looming drought. Programme Launched achievement of the Post-2015 Sustainable The national dialogue on Post-2015 Development Goals. Sustainable Development Goals held at 09 In addition, the ZUNDAF provides a Building Productive Community Assets the end of May 2015 was spearheaded common platform for the fulfilment of by the Chief Secretary to the President the collective vision and response of the and Cabinet. The high level Government 10 UN System in Zimbabwe onto which all Transforming Rural Livelihoods through leadership and the engagement of the UN members of the UN family, Development Cash Transfers and Development Partners, Civil Society and Implementing Partners can coherently and Non-Governmental organisations, support national development priorities, 11 Youth and Women organisations clearly Closing the Gender Skills Gap for Job complementing national efforts at tackling demonstrated Zimbabwe’s commitment to Creation and Poverty Reduction major development issues and fulfilling the global development agenda. international commitments. 12 Similarly, the Development Partners Supporting Young Technopreneurs to Unlock Meanwhile, the UN has also facilitated a meeting held at the beginning of Innovation for Development series of consultations with Government, May 2015 on enhancing development Development Partners, and Non- cooperation and coordination will go a long Governmental Organizations to drive Office of the UN Resident Coordinator way in effectively mobilising partnerships coordinated and timely action in response Block 10, Arundel Office Park, Norfolk Road, for accelerated implementation of national Mount Pleasant to the effects of drought. The Government development priorities and international PO Box 4775, Harare - Zimbabwe has shown its commitment to address this commitments. Phone: +263-4-338 836-44 issue in collaboration with Development Email: [email protected] Official Development Assistance will Partners. www.zw.one.un.org continue to play a critical role in Zimbabwe’s In light of the above mentioned major development in the coming years. As such, milestones set in the second quarter /UnitedNationsZimbabwe the high level Development Partners of 2015, this 12th edition of the UN /UNZimbabwe meeting-presided over by the Minister of in Zimbabwe Newsletter highlights Finance and Economic Development has bit.ly/unzimyoutube partnerships and development programme set the foundation for joint efforts towards results in the areas of HIV and AIDS, strengthened partnerships necessary to maternal health, food security, community sustain gains made in the social sector and asset building, and women economic to address prevailing challenges, including empowerment initiatives. I wish you a nice Funding for the production of the UN in Zimbabwe poverty, food and nutrition insecurity, fiscal read. We would like to hear back from you. Newsletter is provided by members of the UN space, and the unfinished business of the Country Team as well as through a generous grant from the Government of Sweden. 3 Issue XII - 2nd Quarter - 2015 UN in Zimbabwe Newsletter First National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Sustainable Development Goals Completing the “unfinished business” of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and looking beyond 2015 took centre-stage at the first National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which was held 27-28 May 2015 in Harare. Opening the two day national dialogue, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda said, “Building on the MDGs, the position of the Government of Zimbabwe is to go beyond meeting basic human needs and promote dynamic, inclusive and sustainable development.” “As we discuss to articulate our national position in Philippe Van Damme, Head of the EU Delegation to During the two day the Post-2015 Development Agenda, we should Zimbabwe. “The EU is ambitious, the EU is ready to national dialogue align the proposed 17 Goals to Zim Asset which play a constructive role as bridge builder in order to on the SDGs, the aims to achieve transformative socio-economic come to common recommendations, quantitative stakeholders: development for all Zimbabweans” . and qualitative, timed where possible, but always • Reviewed the SDGs for alignment to the The National Dialogue updated stakeholders on mutually accountable Post-2015 Development Zim Asset; regional and international processes linked to the Agenda”, said Ambassador Van Damme. • Expressed the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The dialogue In his remarks, Secretary for Economic Planning need for inclusive also allowed the stakeholders to take stock of the and Investment Promotion, Dr. Desire Sibanda economic growth; successes and challenges in the implementation of said the SDGs provide an appropriate platform • Recognized the the MDGs as well as to chart the way forward in for a holistic approach to development. “They strengthening of localizing the SDGs. national statistical cover all aspects that affect the well-being of our system for Describing the Post-2015 Development Agenda as people. Therefore the SDGs provide us with the generating data for significantly different from the time MDGs came necessary barometer and compass in pursuing development; into effect nearly 15 years ago, the UN Resident our own national development objectives”, adding • Stressed the Coordinator, Mr Bishow Parajuli said that new that economic growth should be accompanied by need to enhance domestic resource development challenges such as inequality and the improvements in the socio-economic indicators mobilisation in threats of climate change have emerged since the as spelt out in both the Zim Asset and Sustainable addition to ODA; Development Goals. adoption of MDGs. Delivery on the SDGs rests on a • Agreed on the need tri-partite global partnership among governments, The dialogue, which featured statements, panel for Zimbabwe’s the private sector and development partners. voice to be heard and group discussions was attended by over 200 in the regional “But the fundamental responsibility for this global stakeholders drawn from the Government, UN, and international partnership lies with governments” explained Mr. Development Partners, Civil Society Organisations conversation on SDGs; Parajuli. including women and youth associations, the “We are prepared, with other Development Partners, private sector, and the media. • Examined strategies for resource to help assess the needs of Zimbabwe to enhance The national dialogue noted that the mobilization and its capacity to collect, analyse and disseminate the execution of the implementation of the SDGs will be done through prioritized SDGs; data required to monitor the attainment of these the Zim Asset clusters to ensure alignment with SDGs over the next 15 years”, said Ambassador national development priorities. • Noted the need to align national development Increasing Public Awareness on Sustainable Development Goals policies and plans to The United Nations in Zimbabwe reached over 3,000 people through on site briefing and publications the national budget; on the emerging Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals during the 2015 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair held from 28 April to 3 May 2015 in Bulawayo. The UN outreach was held under the theme • Acknowledged the need for the active