High level United Nations Development Group mission visits Eritrea

Eritrea should continue to

share its positive stories with
the rest of the world, note
regional directors after
meetings with Government,
civil society and community
members.
Asmara, 17 November 2014 - A
United Nations Development
Group for Eastern and Southern
Africa (UNDG-ESA) delegation
has
reaffirmed
the
UNs
commitment and support to
national
development
endeavours in Eritrea.

Ms. Gharagozloo-Pakkala was warmly welcomed by community members

during a visit to a water and sanitation project.

The delegation was led by UNICEFs Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa,
and UNDG focal point for Eritrea, Ms. Leila Gharagozloo-Pakkala. The UN continues
its commitment to partnerships and cooperation, said Ms Gharagozloo-Pakkala. We
remain results focused and hope to continue to add value in supporting the Government
and people of Eritrea.
Ms. Gharagozloo-Pakkala was
accompanied by Mr. Ashraf El
Nour, Regional Director of the
International Organisation for
Migration (IOM). They met
with high-level officials of the
Government of the State of
Eritrea (GoSE), communities,
civil society and development
partners to discuss issues
related to development
cooperation in the country.
The talks focused on the
expansion of development
work as well as conducive
conditions for programme
collaboration.

In meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the delegation reaffirmed its

commitment to expanded engagement on strategic development issues

Discussing UN support

HDAY Street, (AirPort Road), P.O. Box 5366 Asmara Eritrea. Tel. (+291) (1) 150366 Fax.
(+291) (1) 151081
http://www.un-eritrea.org registry.er@undp.org

The high level

meetings which
aimed to follow-up and
build on the last UN
Development Group
High Level Mission to
Eritrea in December,
2013 sought to
further the relationship
between the
Government of
Eritrea, the UN and
other development
partners.
Commenting on
progress so far, Ms.
Gharagozloo-Pakkala
said:

Meetings were held with technical ministries - here with Minister of National
Development, H.E Dr. Giorgis Teklemikael

I am pleased to note that since the last mission in December 2013, the momentum has
continued and grown further. The task is to remain focussed on achieving the goals of
our strategic cooperation framework.

Field visit highlights community participation

Ms. Gharagozloo-Pakkala also visited joint GoSE and UN projects in water, food
security and sustainable livelihoods in Zoba Maekel. The field trip highlighted successful
programme implementation and positive results for communities.
What is really exemplary about the implementation of these joint programmes is that
the community is at the centre of the management of the various initiatives. With these
innovations, I am convinced that, with time, food security and nutrition, which the
Government has pronounced as a priority of priorities will be a reality, said Ms.
Gharagozloo-Pakkala.
What we saw confirms the positive stories we have heard about Eritreas progress in
the health-related MDGs, she continued.
The world needs your voice
Ms Gharagozloo-Pakkala commended the Government and people of Eritrea, and all
the partners involved, for the progress in achieving health Millennium Development

Goals (MDG) in the country. She encouraged the Government and people of Eritrea to
build on gains already made, and to use the experiences in health MDGs to help shape
the post-2015 development agenda.
The world, and particularly Africa, needs your voice in defining its position in the next
development agenda, she said.
At a reception concluding the visit, Ms. Gharagozloo-Pakkala emphasised the important
role of the international community in supporting Eritreas development agenda, and
urged donors to continue to advocate for greater resource mobilisation for development
programmes in the country.

The delegation met with the National Union of Eritrean Women and the National Union
of Eritrean Youth and Students to discuss the involvement of women and young people
in the country's development efforts.

The United Nations in Eritrea partners with the Government of the State of Eritrea in the
priority areas of Basic Social Services; National Capacity Development; Food Security
and Sustainable Livelihoods; Environmental Sustainability and Gender Equity and
Advancement of Women under the Strategic Partnership Cooperation Framework
(2013-2016). The SPCF capitalises on the collective comparative strengths of the UN
system in responding to the identified priority areas and enhancing the overall wellbeing of the people of Eritrea, including the most vulnerable.

HDAY Street, (AirPort Road), P.O. Box 5366 Asmara Eritrea. Tel. (+291) (1) 150366 Fax.
(+291) (1) 151081
http://www.un-eritrea.org registry.er@undp.org