UN Country Team introduces plans for new Cooperation Framework to Cabinet

29 October 2019 – The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) led by the Resident Coordinator, Ms. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh has presented plans for developing the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025 to Cabinet.

The UNSDCF is a 5-year programming cycle which serves as a guiding principle for the work done by the United Nations in Eswatini. It will take over from the UN Development Framework (UNDAF), which elapses in 2020.

At a presentation attended by all members of the UN Country Team and Cabinet Ministers, the Resident Coordinator explained that the new Cooperation Framework is pitched at a higher level of extensive collaborations with government, private sector, civil society as well as donors and other partners. “UNDAF was focused on the UN and what it could do,” she observed.

The new cooperation framework will come after the development of common country analysis (CCA). The CCA is an on-going independent, impartial and collective assessment and analysis which supports the ambitious and transformational change called for in the 2030 Agenda. It is multi-disciplinary, cross-pillar, cross-border and integrated in nature.

“The CCA is not limited to a document produced at the beginning of the cycle but is based on strong country analysis,” said Ndongo-Seh.

Prime Minister, Hon. Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, commended the UN for supporting the government and people of Eswatini in addressing the many challenges facing the country. “We notice the significant you have made and continue to make in the development of this kingdom,” he stated.

Under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, the UN in Eswatini is mandated to advance Agenda 2030 through programmes and other interventions of agencies, funds and programmes guided by the UN Charter, 2030 SDGs Agenda, AU 2063 Agenda, national priorities.

Agencies, funds and programmes present in Eswatini include UNDP, UNICEF,. UNFPA, UNAIDS, WHO, WFP, FAO, UNESCO, IOM, ILO, UN WOMEN, and others.

The UN work in Eswatini focuses on policy development, capacity development, advocacy  and  knowledge management.