The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative to Guyana and Suriname, Nicolas Pron, yesterday formally presented UNICEF’s Country Programme Document (CPD) 2022-2026 to Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking the start of a new programme of cooperation to realise the rights and wellbeing of all children in Guyana.
This is according to an UNICEF press release yesterday.
It noted that the CPD, which was developed through an inclusive and participatory process involving extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders including the government, provides a new framework of cooperation between UNICEF and the Government of Guyana from March 2022 to December 2026.
The release also stated that the CPD is aligned with the priorities of the Government of Guyana, the United Nations Multicountry Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNMSDCF) for the Caribbean, and “Agenda 2030 – Decade of action – SDGs”. With an indicative five-year budget of about US$18.3 million, the new country programme aims to achieve outcomes in six areas including, survive and thrive; education and skills; child protection; climate resilience and water, sanitation and hygiene; social protection and inclusion.
The Document was endorsed by UNICEF’s Executive Board during its first regular session this year from February 8 to 11, and saw the attendance of the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations. It outlines UNICEF’s priorities over the next five years, which are also aligned with the Government of Guyana’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for women and children, while helping to address key deprivations children face, including those associated with health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education and social protection.
The Executive Board is the governing body of UNICEF, providing intergovernmental support and oversight to the organisation, in accordance with the overall policy guidance of the United Nations General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. The Executive Board reviews UNICEF activities and approves its policies, country programmes and budgets. It comprises 36 members representing the five regional groups of Member States at the United Nations.
Pron explained, “This programme of cooperation with Guyana aims to support the government in meeting its commitments to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children, as stipulated by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF will support the Government of Guyana in developing and strengthening systems that will allow children and adolescents to grow up healthy and resilient; have equitable access to improved learning and skills for life and work; be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and extreme poverty; and live in a safe and sustainable environment.” He added, “While the programme will operate at the national level, improving service delivery in hinterland areas and among the urban poor will be a priority.”
