Pakistan vows One UN system to achieve millennium development goals
ISLAMABAD: March 01, 2007: As Pakistan on Thursday became the first country to pilot UN reforms, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government is committed to work with the UN system to ensure success of One UN programme in the country.
'Pakistan will ensure the establishment of One UN system in the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),' the prime minister said while addressing the launching ceremony of piloting UN reform process in Pakistan.
The ceremony, also addressed by State Minister for Economic Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, Assistant Secretary General of the UN, Hafeez Pasha and UN Resident Co-ordinator in Pakistan, Jan Vandemoortele, was attended among others by Advisor to PM on Finance, Dr. Salman Shah, State Ministers, Omar Ayub Khan, Malik Amin Aslam, Parliamentary Secretary for Population Welfare, Donia Aziz, donors and senior government officials.
Terming the launching of pilot UN reform as a significant development for Pakistan, the prime minister said, Pakistan has always been fully supportive of the UN system and was proud of being of one of the largest contributors of UN peace keeping troops in various parts of the world.
He said the experience of piloting One UN programme in Pakistan, where 18 UN entities are operational with different mandates, will help break the current system of UN working in silos and ensure their function as a cohesive unit.
The prime minister, however, maintained that this exercise will require innovation, imagination, experimentation and above all co-operation.
The resident co-ordinator and the UN country team will need to work with their headquarters and with the government of Pakistan as a bridge and as a partner for development, he added.
Prime Minister Aziz, who had co-chaired the High Level UN Reforms Panel along with the prime ministers of Norway and Mozambique last year to propose reforms of the UN System, said the over arching objective of this exercise was and remains attaining the millennium development goals and other internationally agreed development goals.
He said, the One UN concept emerged from Pakistan's experience of dealing with the international community for earthquake rescue and relief operations - the cluster approach.
"We learned valuable lessons from this experience and the most important lesson is need for co-ordination, specialisation and efficiency. This lesson must continue to guide us towards the achievement of the millennium development goals," the prime minister added.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said, the UN High Level Panel constituted by the then UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan had the mandate to propose reforms of the UN System that would bring greater coherence, efficiency and effectiveness in the fields of development, humanitarian assistance and the environment.
He said, at the heart of the reforms proposed by the Panel is the vision of a UN System that delivers as one at all levels - at the national, regional and at the headquarters.
The most important aspect of this one UN is of course at the country level where it must have one leader, one programme, one budget and, where appropriate, one office, the prime minister added.
He said, the Panel report also establishes the fundamental paradigm of national ownership for country programmes, adding, these programmes must be in consonance with the national development needs, strategies and priorities of each developing country.
The prime minister said the assistance by donor countries and agencies cannot be externally imposed and that each country must have ownership of its development plans in order to ensure their success.
Both sides, therefore, need to work as partners in the endeavour for development, he added.
The Panel recognises the fact that one size does not fit all, he said, adding, accordingly, UN reforms must be tailored and adapted at the county level in accordance with the specific circumstances and requirements of the country concerned.
"We have also strongly recommended availability of increased funding for the UN's Central Emergency Relief Fund as well as better co-ordination and co-operation in dealing with post-Disaster and post-Conflict humanitarian situations", he said.
The prime minister said, special importance has been given to another central element of development - the empowerment of women, adding, the Panel advocates the creation of a single independent UN entity to ensure that women have a stronger voice in the world of the future.
He said, it is a measure of our conviction that the Government of Pakistan has decided to become one of the pilot countries for implementing UN reforms.
"The ultimate objective for us would be to ensure the establishment of a "one UN" in Pakistan, which would be our partner towards the achievement of the MDG goals", he added.
The prime minister while stressing for UN reforms said Pakistan believes that the UN system needs to be reformed and was supportive of the process, which has been vindicated by the fact that it is among the eight countries chosen for pilot UN reforms.
He also mentioned Pakistan's role as Chairman of the G-77 and said, the group can play a constructive role in proposing and ensuring the implementation of UN reforms.
The prime minister assured the government of Pakistan's continued commitment and support to the UN System.
State Minister for Economic Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar speaking on the occasion highlighted the government's commitment and efforts for UN reforms process and assured all out support to the UN office in Pakistan.
UN Resident Co-ordinator, Jan Vandemoortele stressed that the UN Country Team, which includes the country representatives of all UN agencies functioning in Pakistan, has agreed on a unified and comprehensive outline of a reform programme.
The team considers government leadership of the reform process essential for successful reform, he said.
He further stated that responding to the national development priorities, the UN system will focus on one programme, formulated around five areas including health, education, poverty reduction, HIV and AIDS and Disaster Management.
Cross cutting themes such as gender equality, human rights and civil society will be main-streamed in the five joint programmes, he said and added one financial framework will be used to strengthen coherence of all UN resources for the joint programmes.
Furthermore, the UN Resident Co-ordinator said, cost effective management practices along with strengthening of Resident Co-ordination Office will also enhance effective and efficient implementation of the One UN programme.
Dr. Hafeez Pasha applauding Pakistan's energetic support for the UN reform agenda said, "One UN will initiate a new era of effectiveness and efficiency in serving the development agenda of Pakistan".
"The formulation of a coherent, nationally-owned development strategy will deliver better service to people and the Government of Pakistan. We have all the ingredients for a successful reform process," he added.
He was appreciative of the government and leadership of Pakistan for playing a role and supporting the UN reform as well as for being chosen as a pilot country.
Dr. Pasha assured all out support and backing of the UN Headquarters in this process.
Brecorder.com
ISLAMABAD: March 01, 2007: As Pakistan on Thursday became the first country to pilot UN reforms, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government is committed to work with the UN system to ensure success of One UN programme in the country.
'Pakistan will ensure the establishment of One UN system in the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),' the prime minister said while addressing the launching ceremony of piloting UN reform process in Pakistan.
The ceremony, also addressed by State Minister for Economic Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, Assistant Secretary General of the UN, Hafeez Pasha and UN Resident Co-ordinator in Pakistan, Jan Vandemoortele, was attended among others by Advisor to PM on Finance, Dr. Salman Shah, State Ministers, Omar Ayub Khan, Malik Amin Aslam, Parliamentary Secretary for Population Welfare, Donia Aziz, donors and senior government officials.
Terming the launching of pilot UN reform as a significant development for Pakistan, the prime minister said, Pakistan has always been fully supportive of the UN system and was proud of being of one of the largest contributors of UN peace keeping troops in various parts of the world.
He said the experience of piloting One UN programme in Pakistan, where 18 UN entities are operational with different mandates, will help break the current system of UN working in silos and ensure their function as a cohesive unit.
The prime minister, however, maintained that this exercise will require innovation, imagination, experimentation and above all co-operation.
The resident co-ordinator and the UN country team will need to work with their headquarters and with the government of Pakistan as a bridge and as a partner for development, he added.
Prime Minister Aziz, who had co-chaired the High Level UN Reforms Panel along with the prime ministers of Norway and Mozambique last year to propose reforms of the UN System, said the over arching objective of this exercise was and remains attaining the millennium development goals and other internationally agreed development goals.
He said, the One UN concept emerged from Pakistan's experience of dealing with the international community for earthquake rescue and relief operations - the cluster approach.
"We learned valuable lessons from this experience and the most important lesson is need for co-ordination, specialisation and efficiency. This lesson must continue to guide us towards the achievement of the millennium development goals," the prime minister added.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said, the UN High Level Panel constituted by the then UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan had the mandate to propose reforms of the UN System that would bring greater coherence, efficiency and effectiveness in the fields of development, humanitarian assistance and the environment.
He said, at the heart of the reforms proposed by the Panel is the vision of a UN System that delivers as one at all levels - at the national, regional and at the headquarters.
The most important aspect of this one UN is of course at the country level where it must have one leader, one programme, one budget and, where appropriate, one office, the prime minister added.
He said, the Panel report also establishes the fundamental paradigm of national ownership for country programmes, adding, these programmes must be in consonance with the national development needs, strategies and priorities of each developing country.
The prime minister said the assistance by donor countries and agencies cannot be externally imposed and that each country must have ownership of its development plans in order to ensure their success.
Both sides, therefore, need to work as partners in the endeavour for development, he added.
The Panel recognises the fact that one size does not fit all, he said, adding, accordingly, UN reforms must be tailored and adapted at the county level in accordance with the specific circumstances and requirements of the country concerned.
"We have also strongly recommended availability of increased funding for the UN's Central Emergency Relief Fund as well as better co-ordination and co-operation in dealing with post-Disaster and post-Conflict humanitarian situations", he said.
The prime minister said, special importance has been given to another central element of development - the empowerment of women, adding, the Panel advocates the creation of a single independent UN entity to ensure that women have a stronger voice in the world of the future.
He said, it is a measure of our conviction that the Government of Pakistan has decided to become one of the pilot countries for implementing UN reforms.
"The ultimate objective for us would be to ensure the establishment of a "one UN" in Pakistan, which would be our partner towards the achievement of the MDG goals", he added.
The prime minister while stressing for UN reforms said Pakistan believes that the UN system needs to be reformed and was supportive of the process, which has been vindicated by the fact that it is among the eight countries chosen for pilot UN reforms.
He also mentioned Pakistan's role as Chairman of the G-77 and said, the group can play a constructive role in proposing and ensuring the implementation of UN reforms.
The prime minister assured the government of Pakistan's continued commitment and support to the UN System.
State Minister for Economic Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar speaking on the occasion highlighted the government's commitment and efforts for UN reforms process and assured all out support to the UN office in Pakistan.
UN Resident Co-ordinator, Jan Vandemoortele stressed that the UN Country Team, which includes the country representatives of all UN agencies functioning in Pakistan, has agreed on a unified and comprehensive outline of a reform programme.
The team considers government leadership of the reform process essential for successful reform, he said.
He further stated that responding to the national development priorities, the UN system will focus on one programme, formulated around five areas including health, education, poverty reduction, HIV and AIDS and Disaster Management.
Cross cutting themes such as gender equality, human rights and civil society will be main-streamed in the five joint programmes, he said and added one financial framework will be used to strengthen coherence of all UN resources for the joint programmes.
Furthermore, the UN Resident Co-ordinator said, cost effective management practices along with strengthening of Resident Co-ordination Office will also enhance effective and efficient implementation of the One UN programme.
Dr. Hafeez Pasha applauding Pakistan's energetic support for the UN reform agenda said, "One UN will initiate a new era of effectiveness and efficiency in serving the development agenda of Pakistan".
"The formulation of a coherent, nationally-owned development strategy will deliver better service to people and the Government of Pakistan. We have all the ingredients for a successful reform process," he added.
He was appreciative of the government and leadership of Pakistan for playing a role and supporting the UN reform as well as for being chosen as a pilot country.
Dr. Pasha assured all out support and backing of the UN Headquarters in this process.
Brecorder.com
