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Statement by the Executive Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. J. Victor Angelo at the Consultative Group Meeting held at the Lagoonda Conference Hall29-11-2006 Your Excellency, Vice
President Solomon Berewa, First, I would like to join the Co-chairs in welcoming you to this Consultative Group Meeting. As indicated on the agenda, the main focus of this gathering is to review the implementation of the 2005-2007 PRSP, one year after the Government of Sierra Leone presented it to development partners, in London. Honourable Vice President, Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge, on behalf of UNCT, the Government’s and your own personal efforts towards the implementation of the PRSP. One of the concrete steps undertaken in this regard has been the setting up of the Pillar Working Groups. They have been instrumental, not only in tracking the progress of the implementation of the PRSP, but also in ensuring a higher degree of coordination. Another important aspect is the broad based participation of all key stakeholders in the implementation process. In noting these positive steps, we would like also to point out that particular attention should be given to the monitoring and evaluation capacity of Government, as well as to improving coordination among the various institutions in the implementation of the PRSP. On a more detailed note, there is a need to hold DEPAC meetings on a quarterly basis, as agreed in London. Mr Vice President, as clearly stated in your address to the United Nations General Assembly and the subsequent meeting of the Peace building Commission, we note the strong links established between the PRSP and the Government’s post – conflict agenda. The formulation of a Peace Consolidation Strategy (PCS) by the Government, in close collaboration with the United Nations and other partners, underscores this critical linkage. As the Poverty Reduction Strategy provides the building blocks for achieving poverty reduction and sustainable development, the Peace Consolidation Strategy aims at ensuring the necessary political conditions within which the PRS can be implemented through consolidating and sustaining peace and stability, as well as strengthening the institutions of democratic governance. It would further seek to promote national unity and the building of trust through effective communication, dialogue and attitudinal change. In that regard, I would like to take this opportunity to underscore the significance of the forthcoming national elections to Sierra Leone’s continued progress on the path of stability, democratic transformation and sustainable development. A recent development has been Sierra Leone’s inclusion on the agenda of the Peace building Commission. The Commission held its first country-specific meeting on 12 October in New York, in which Sierra Leone participated under the leadership of the honourable Vice President. The four priority areas identified by the Government, in consultation with the United Nations and other stakeholders, namely youth employment and empowerment, security and justice sector reforms, enhancing the democratization process and capacity building, were endorsed by the Commission. These priority areas are consistent with the PRS and PCS, and further underscore the complementarity between poverty reduction and long-term development objectives, on the one hand, and the consolidation of peace, security and democratization, on the other. It should be noted that, given the various programmes already implemented or planned in the four priority areas, the Peacebuilding Commission will focus on filling existing gaps and providing transitional support to address immediate challenges to peace consolidation. To that end, Sierra Leone has also been declared eligible to access the Peacebuilding Fund. With regard to the youth issue, we welcome the recent launching of the Government’s Youth Employment Scheme. Progress in addressing youth unemployment and empowerment is particularly critical for the continued stability as well as the longer-term development of the country, with a clear multiplying effect and social benefit for the population, in particular the most vulnerable segments of society. And this would require concerted efforts, political will and commitment on the part of all concerned. As an initial step towards this important objective, the implementation of the scheme will also require the assistance of Sierra Leone’s external partners. On its part, the United Nations system will continue its support and has put together a programme support fund, which is open for donor contributions. Notwithstanding the positive measures and achievements in various areas, the slow pace of progress in the private sector development remains a matter of concern. Lack of adequate progress in this important is not only leading to high unemployment, particularly among the youth, but also has the potential to undermine the strides made in the area of macroeconomic management. Given the prevailing stability and the country’s enormous potentials, greater attention should be given to attracting both domestic and foreign direct investment. The successful investment form held in Freetown early in the year and the Diagnostic of Trade Impediments Study (DTIS) can contribute to such efforts. On 16 November, a stakeholders conference on the National Anti-corruption Strategy (NACS) was held by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to review the NACS in order to make it compliant with the government’s policy on combating corruption. A key outcome of the conference is the formation of a Technical Working Group charged with a detailed review of the national anti-corruption strategy. The technical working group is expected to submit its report and recommendations on the anticipated strategic change of the ACC’s operating philosophy and vision by end of January 2007. The working group will also look into the need for a Standing Steering Committee on Corruption to ensure that the implementation of NACS is timely and kept on track. As the Government, with support of its external partners, takes further measures to address the above-mentioned challenges and implements the PRS, it is critical to ensure a seamless transition to the next phase of the PRS. To that end, I am pleased to note that work is well underway through the ongoing MDGs needs assessment exercise, led by the Office of the Vice President. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that the next PRSP is well anchored in the MDGs and is in line with the spirit of resource “scaling up”, agreed by the international community at Monterrey and subsequent global fora. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Vice President launched the 2006 Global Human Development report, whose theme is “Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Crisis”. The report dwells on similar challenges facing Sierra Leone, particularly in trying to meet the demands for potable water and sanitation, as well as electricity for a large number of its citizens, including here in the capital city. While these issues are not adequately dealt with in the current PRSP, it is important they be accorded the priority they deserve in the next one, as well as aligned with the next UNDAF for Sierra Leone. The report also gives the usual statistics with respect to human development. Although some progress has been reported in Sierra Leone, with achievements in the primary education sector deserving special mention, the overall picture with respect to most of the social indicators still remains worrisome, particularly relating child and maternal mortality. Progress in these and other related areas requires the continued commitment of all concerned as well as strong partnerships, including with the NGO community. Honourable Vice President, It is the UN system’s hope that this CG meeting will provide yet another opportunity for constructive dialogue between the Government and its development partners. On the UN part, we would like to assure you of our continued support to the consolidation of peace and achieving sustainable economic and social progress. Thank you! |
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