UNITED Nations in Zimbabwe has called on key stakeholders and development partners to foster collaboration and innovative solutions that drive the country’s development agenda. Speaking during a high-level programme board meeting in Harare yesterday, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator Edward Kallon said there was a need for collective efforts to tackle the country’s pressing challenges.
He said the UN in Zimbabwe valued its strong partnership with the government.
The meeting focused on the UNDP’s work within the 2022-26 Zimbabwe UN Sustainable Development Co-operation Framework, which supports the government’s National Development Strategy 1 from 2021 to 2025.
Kallon said the UN system had mobilised US$1,5 billion of the required US$2,8 billion for the Co-operation Framework by the end of 2024 with a significant contribution addressing the impacts of the recent El Niño-induced drought.
He also expressed the UN’s commitment to the “UN 2.0” initiative, which aims to modernise the United Nations system and the rights of women and girls through innovative practices and diverse expertise.
“Our transformation to a more agile and responsive UN entity is vital for accelerating systemic shifts for all, particularly for women and girls,” he said.
Kallon highlighted the importance of aligning development programmes with local needs and fostering private sector involvement to drive economic growth.
He said several on-going initiatives, including the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund and the Health Resilience Fund, which collectively have an allocation of US$169 million for 2024. “This is a moment to reaffirm our commitment to Zimbabwe’s development agenda. We must leverage on domestic resources and partnerships to address emerging challenges and capitalise on opportunities,” Kallon said.
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