UN to provide US $ 365 million for Sri Lanka’s development

COLOMBO: The UN and the Government of Sri Lanka on Tuesday signed the 2008-2012 UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the agreement which pegs UN assistance to priorities defined with the Government of Sri Lanka.

Under the terms of the agreement, the UN will raise US $ 365 million over five years starting from the year 2008 in support of Sri Lanka’s development priorities. Those priorities have all been developed in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, the Finance Ministry said.

The UNDAF is based on a country assessment carried out in October 2006, and through extensive consultations with the Government, line ministries, implementing partners, donors, and civil society, and United Nations agencies.

The document provides the overarching framework for all the work of the United Nations in Sri Lanka. It addresses issues such as human rights, the environment, disaster risk management, HIV AIDS and equity for vulnerable groups. It also defines four priority areas, which are included in this new cycle, namely poverty, governance, peace, and gender.

The UNDAF draws heavily on the Government’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, Sri Lanka’s 10 year development plans, as well as the Mahinda Chinthana programme of the current Government which focuses on reducing poverty and regional disparities, and addressing the needs of the vulnerable and marginalized in communities such as the plantation sector.

Sri Lanka is currently on track to achieving the MDGs despite severe setbacks of tsunami.