Cameroon, UN Sign Revised Assistance Framework

Emmanuel Kendemeh

26 June 2011

Cameroon and the United Nations System represented by 18 Agencies, including Bretton Woods institutions, have signed a revised United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for 2011-2012 that will be implemented with a budget of 64,531,205 US Dollars (about FCFA 30 billion). UNDAF is a strategic programme that enables the, “United Nations System in Cameroon to synergise programmes implementation as “ONE UN” with the government, increasing the relevance of its operational activities to meet the needs and priorities of Cameroon”, the Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cameroon, Thierry Mertens said on June 24.

The Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Yaouba Abdoulaye signed for Cameroon, while the Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cameroon, Thierry Mertens signed for the UN. The ceremony at the Yaounde Mont Febe Hotel, was in the presence of the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie Therese Abena Ondoa, among other senior national and international dignitaries.

The Cameroon government in partnership with the UN formulated the current UNDAF for 2008-2012 in response to national priorities defined in the 2004-2007 National Poverty Reduction Strategy. ” In 2010, a mid-term review of the UNDAF was made to enable the UN align its framework to the National Growth and Employment Strategy Paper adopted in 2009″, Thierry Mertens said, justifying the revision of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework. The revised assistance framework moves from the initial five areas of concern to three that include support to strong sustainable growth and poverty reduction, promotion of employment and social protection and finally governance and the strategic management of the State. It is tailored at attaining rapid results and enable Cameroon attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Speaking during the ceremony that also doubled as that to launch the process of drawing up the third UNDAF of 2013-2017, Minister Delegate Yaouba Abdoulaye recommended training programmes after the validation of the revised UNDAF and drawing of the third phase to enable all actors have the capacity for effective implementation. Thierry Mertens expressed the readiness of the UN to continue to partner with Cameroon to enable the country attain the vision of becoming an emerging nation and economy by 2035.

AllAfrica – All the Time