By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr Edward Kallon says the latest SDG index highlights the need for tailored solutions to address poverty, economic growth, inequality, climate change, disaster risk management, and institutional strengthening.
In his remarks at the Mid Term Review of the 2022-2026 Zimbabwe UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, Mr Kallon said despite joint progress, Zimbabwe still confronts significant development challenges.
“The Secretary-General has emphasized six key transitions as investment pathways for accelerating SDG progress: food systems, energy access, digital connectivity, education, jobs and social protection, and climate action.
“Integrated, cross-cutting policies are essential to advance these transitions. To enable these shifts, we must work together to:
“First, establish policy and regulatory frameworks, adopting the Government of Zimbabwe’s whole-government, whole-society approach.
“Second, identify and develop scalable “bankable and market-ready” national projects.
“Third, develop development financing consistent with the recently ECOSOC-endorsed country-level funding compact for the Cooperation Framework to promote synergy and support speedy implementation of development programmes.
“Fourth, invest in building the capacity of public institutions and civil society organizations to enhance their role in executing the six transitions,” he said.
Mr Kallon said the United Nations System in Zimbabwe remained committed to work with the Government and stakeholders to facilitate the transitions in the country.
He thanked development partners and donors for their financial contributions, which make up more than 90% of the funding for UN supported development programmes and humanitarian response efforts in Zimbabwe.
“For instance, out of the over USD 1.2 billion disbursed in the past two years and half, joint programmes contributed approximately USD 160 million. This includes the USD 90 million Health Resilience Fund and the USD 9.5 million ZIM-ECO2 project, underscoring your critical role for UN agencies to work together.
“To our partners in NGOs, CSOs, youth groups, academia, media, and the private sector, such as ZNCC, CZI, Old Mutual, and Econet, thank you for your ongoing engagement and commitment to actualizing the Cooperation Framework’s vision. Your support and insights are invaluable,” he said.
“To my UNCT colleagues, thank you for embracing UN reform and the “four-ones” approach—One Programme, One Leader, One Budgetary Framework, and One Office. We are progressing with initiatives like the UN Common Back Office and reviving the UN Partnerships and Development Finance Task Force.”
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