UN Agencies carry out Development Assistance Framework consultations with FSM

FSMIS (December 3, 2012):  A Joint-Mission of the United Nations agencies namely the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) visited the FSM in late November for the purpose of holding consultation with the FSM Government on the next United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF).  The next UNDAF cycle runs from 2013 to 2017.  FSM is currently implementing its UNDAF for the period of 2008 – 2012, during which the focus areas of assistance include poverty alleviation, the Millennium Development Goals, and Good Governance. 

Under the next UNDAF, focal areas will include gender, economic growth and poverty reduction, good governance, basic services such as health and education, and environmental management, climate change and disaster risk management.

A Joint-Strategy Meeting (JSM) was held between the visiting UN agencies and the FSM, building on previous consultations on the UNDAF.  Officials of the state and national government participated in the meeting.  While consultations had taken place before, the significance of the Mission was specifically to finalize the FSM Matrix of Activities under the UNDAF with an aim towards endorsing the matrix.  The JSM accomplished that objective paving the way for UN to seek formal Government’s endorsement.

Mr. Knut Ostby, United Nations Pacific Coordinator and UNDP’s Regional Representative who headed the Mission congratulated the participants for their endorsement of the document. 

The FSM Vice President Alik L. Alik, who received the Mission during a courtesy call commented by alluding to the recent Development Partners Forum (DPF) held in Palikir and referred to the JSM as an appropriate exercise to build on in harmonizing overseas development assistance in FSM.   

For more information, contact the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs at 320-2641 or email fsmpio@mail.fm