The Government of the State of Eritrea and the United Nations jointly signed the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the Common Country Assessment (CCA).

H.E. Dr. Woldai Futur, Minister, Ministry of National Development, on behalf of the Government of Eritrea and Mr. Macleod Nyirongo, UN Resident/ Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative on behalf of the UN signed the UNDAF and the CCA. Similarly, on November 23, 2006 the Government of Eritrea signed the Millennium Development Goals Report (MDGR).

During the signing ceremony Professor Abraham Kidane and Dr. Ghirmai Abraha, Senior Economic Advisors of the Ministry of National Development and Mr. Yoseph Woldemichael from Resident Coordinators Supporting Unit (RCSU) were present.

The signed CCA, which the Government and the UN system worked together, in the sprit of cooperation was the base for preparing the UNDAF, The challenges where the country faces are articulated in the CCA, and from these clear priorities have emerged where the UN had a comparative advantage to support the Government. On the basis of UNDAF, both the Government and the UN system are committed to focus on the following five strategic areas: basic social services, capacity development, food security emergency/recovery and gender.

The total resources mobilization target for these strategic areas is estimated at 116 million USD for the UNDAF period (2007-2011).

The signed UNDAF is a second for Eritrea. The first covering 2002-2006 ends on December 31, 2006.

Source: UNDP News