Report: New Country Programme for 2005-9 signed in Tashkent
Tashkent, 23 June 2005 Today, the 23rd of June, H.E Mr. Rustam Kasimov, the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and UNICEF Uzbekistan Representative, Mr Reza Hossaini signed the joint five year Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP 2005-09). The importance of the occasion was marked by the participation of a high level delegation from the Government of Uzbekistan, including Minister of Health, Mr Nazirov, Minister of Public Education, Mr Djuraev, Head of Uzbek Children’s Fund, Mrs Yusopova, Head of Kamalot, Mr Ubaydullaev, UN Resident Coordinator, Mr Fikret Akcura, together with Mrs Norbaeva from the Cabinet of Ministers, Mr Egamberdieva from NGO Sen Yolgiz Emassan and others. Mr Kasimov began his opening comments, by highlighting the achievements of the 2000-04 Country Programme. Mr Kasimov emphasized successes in the areas of mother and child health, micronutrients, infant mortality and pre-school education and also gave special thanks to UNICEF for its provision of medical supplies to the people of Karakalpakstan during the drought crisis in the early years of the programme. Mr Hossaini thanked all counterparts, ministries and UN agencies for their contribution to the CPAP, before describing the overall objectives of the 2005-09 programme “To focus and organize the work of UNICEF to support the Republic of Uzbekistan in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, particularly those related to children”. Mr Hossaini went on to praise the high level of literacy, health infrastructure, strong social policies and political commitment to investing in children, in Uzbekistan. “The declaration of 2005 as the ‘Year of Health’ by the President and the commitment of 10% GDP on education are examples of strong social policies and political commitment.”
Background The CPAP is the outcome of much deliberation between UNICEF counterparts, government ministries, UN agencies and other partners. It is prepared within the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and derived from the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), whilst also complementing the Government of Uzbekistan’s Welfare Improvement Strategy Paper. The main focus for UNICEF in 2005-09 is in working with government ministries and partners to increase access to quality services for women and children in maternal and child health, nutrition, basic education, early childhood development, child protection, young people’s health and HIV/AIDS. At the national level, UNICEF will support policy development and at sub-national level the focus will be on strengthen delivery of basic services through local level capacity building and awareness building.
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