Turkmenistan, United Nations System set priority areas for 2010-2014 collaboration

Ashgabat, 18 June 2008 (nCa) --- Representatives of the UN system, national ministries and agencies, and public organizations have completed a second round of discussions to prepare a strategic programme framework for the United Nations in Turkmenistan for the period of 2010 to 2014. The document called the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, or UNDAF serves as a business plan for the Government of Turkmenistan and the UN and aims at achieving the national development priorities and the Millennium Development Goals.

As Ms. Shirin Ahmedova, Director of the National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights, stated in the opening of the meeting, “Outcomes of the current UNDAF are compliant with national priorities and interests of Turkmenistan set out in the National Strategy of economic, political, and cultural development up to 2020. It is important for all of us in the country to use the expertise of the United Nations system in identifying the most effective path of Turkmenistan’s development.”

The first meeting to review UNDAF for 2005-2009 took place in May 2008 where participants identified four priority areas of UN-Government collaboration. During the two day session on 17-18 June 2008, participants have worked on formulation of outcomes of the UN and Government of Turkmenistan cooperation within priority areas for the coming five years. Those areas represent strengthened democratization and rule of law, improved inclusive and sustainable growth, strengthened human development to achieve MDGs, and peace and security. 

The selected four priority areas cover the issues of human rights, local governance, information and communication technology, electoral reform, statistics, rural development, education, health, prevention of HIV/AIDS, social protection, economic growth, agriculture, environment, combating drug trafficking, border management, emergency preparedness, and regional peace and security.

“The United Nations can assist Turkmenistan in engaging domestic and international partners – local governments and communities, civil society, families, the business community, the media and academia alike in a rights-based approach that underpins the development agenda. Therefore, the United Nations can help Turkmenistan capitalize on unprecedented opportunities for democratization and development”, said Mr. Richard Young, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.

The next step in UNDAF preparation process will be formulation of detailed outcomes and outputs by national ministries, agencies, public organizations and the UN in various areas of cooperation from 2010 to 2014.  [Write up courtesy UN System in Turkmenistan]