UNDP to resume Myanmar programme

Published on Friday, 09 November 2012 17:17

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will resume its country programme for Myanmar which remains suspended since 1993.
Under the new plan, UNDP will provide Myanmar with US$150 million between 2013 and 2015.
A significant portion of the fund will be used for reducing poverty by half by 2015 in line with the Millennium Development Goals.
The UNDP assistance will also have focus on governance, climate change and disaster preparedness, and promoting human rights.
To discuss about the new country programme and supports needed for aid-coordination, Dr. Ajay Chhibber, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Assistant Administrator, visited the country from October 8 to 10.
He met senior government officials, including Minister of Border Affairs Lieutenant General Thein Htay, Minister of National Planning and Economic Development Dr. Kan Zaw, Minister of Finance and Revenue U Win Shein, and representatives of various international development partners.
“With substantial foreign aid being proposed for Myanmar, having an effective aid coordination system is vital to ensure that aid is aligned with Myanmar’s priorities and is used to create both “quick wins” and lays the foundation for long-term transformation of the country,” said Dr. Chhibber.
UNDP will step up to help Myanmar with greater resources and “our best expertise in this time of a historic transition in the country”, he added.