United Nations Regional Directors Team for Western & Central Africa The Secretariat

Transcription

1 The MINUTE OF THE MEETING UNDP REGIONAL PLATFORM FOR WCA, Dakar, Senegal Friday, 15 January Participants List 1- Ms. Anne Therese Ndong Jatta, RD, BREDA, UNESCO 2- Mr. Mabingue Ngom, RD, UNFPA 3- Ms. Oumou Nana Touré, R. Coordinator, Dakar platform (UNDP) 4- Ms. Christine Muhigana, DRD, UNICEF 5- Ms. Denise Brown, RD, WFP 6- Mr. Leopold Zekeng, DRD, UNAIDS 7- Mr. Pierre Lapaque, Reg Rep, UNODC 8- Mr. Vincent Martin, RR, FAO 9- Mr. Andrea Ori, RR, OHCHR, 10- Ms. Liz K. Ahua, RR, UNHCR 11- Mr. Mathieu Soglonou, R. Coord. UNCDF 12- Ms. Ndeye Louise Sarr, Prog. Specialist, UNIDO 13- Mr. Stephan Rostiaux, RD a.i., IOM 14- Mr. Mensah Aluka, Head of 15- Ms. Alizeta Simboro Sawadogo, R. Coord. Associate, secretariat 16- Mr. Wissam Gallala, Communication & KM Specialist Agenda 1. UN System integrated strategy for the Sahel: challenges, progress and the way forward: discussions on the organization of the proposed mid-term review (with the participation of the special envoy of the secretarygeneral/oss) 2. Update on RDs missions to focal countries, if any (standing agenda item) 3. Update on the working groups (standing item, as necessary) 4. Preparation of the R/UNDG mission to Cameroun R/UNDG ESA/WCA joint meeting to be held in Lomé: selection of topics 6. AOB - Next meeting date On 15 January 2016, the held its 1 st meeting of the year around the above agenda. The meeting is hosted by the UNDP WCA regional platform in Dakar, Senegal and chaired by Ms. Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, UNESCO regional Director, who welcomed the meeting participants and wished them happy New Year before opened the floor for the participants introducing. The main content of the exchange on the agenda is as follow: 1

2 The 1. UN SYSTEM INTEGRATED STRATEGY FOR THE SAHEL The OSS Coordinator was expected to update the meeting participants on the challenges, and way forward of the strategy for Sahel; unfortunately her calendar did not allow her to attend this meeting. Therefore the RDs expressed some concerns regarding the poor coordination of flagship projects and the role of OSS as a facilitator of the 3 pillars of the UN integrated strategy for Sahel named: Governance, resilience and Security. The RDs also recalled that this poor coordination and implementation of the strategy could be the consequence of the way that this strategy is developed with not enough inputs and implication of the concerned members States and RCs in the ground. There is also pointed out that the 3 working groups for this strategy are working on their own corridor, while members of the different task-forces are taking stock of OSS role in the implementation of the strategy. In addition all RDs are not on the same level of information on the Sahel strategy implementation. The issue of the territoriality of the Sahel area and the reporting are also raised. Based on that the following recommendations have been made: Need to discuss with OSS and concerned RCs on how to better engage and update RDT where need is to better support the implementation on political (OSS) and programmes (WG) issues of the Sahel strategy. RDT to ensure the elaboration of a road map on each pillar of the working groups while ensuring the linkage between resilience and governance. For information, the resilience road map exists but needs to ensure and follow up the next step for its implementation. It is also suggested to use the value added of the resilience road map to elaborate the 2 other ones. Need to involve the concerned members states, RCs and OSS for the road map and flagships programmes elaboration and implementation for better coherence and coordination. Need to establish a meeting at least each semester with OSS, UNOWA, and Humanitarian coordinator for an overall update and that they (OSS and UNOWA) attend the UNDG Meetings as it is the case for IOM. Identify what is common to respond collectively and build on what is already exist and/or done. Strong need to act together instead acting separately like what is happen now. ACTION: UNESCO to organize a meeting with OSS, UNOWA and humanitarian coordinator to see how to move forward and see the possibility to have a mid-term review of the strategy implementation taking into account the finance issue. secretariat to organize a feedback meeting after the consultation with OSS, UNOWA and HC to be held before the April meeting The secretariat to seek the R/UNDG chair green light to convey OSS and HC to the UNDG- WCA Ad hoc meetings to update the meeting participants on their respective agenda. 2. UPDATE ON RDS MISSIONS TO FOCAL COUNTRIES A brief discussion took place about the Guinea new country name and that even though the name has been announced by the president, still the RC cannot use the new name in official correspondence as there are procedure in the UN for changing official names. An should be send for informing the RC about this detail. 2

3 The UNICEF reported that its Regional Director has undertaken a support mission to Nigeria and Abidjan and will update the meeting participants on these missions at the next meeting. OHCHR is working with the Gambia issues related to the change of the country denomination republic of Islamic country and human rights. The RDs strongly encourage OHCHR to take it as priority action. FAO reported on a joint mission they undertook to CILSS with the key partners (UNICEF, WB) to operationalize the RDT resilience road map on Food Security and build around existing experiences to move forward. UNCDF has proposed its support for the finalization of this road map. 3. UPDATE ON THE WORKING GROUPS UNFPA which is leading the working group on Youth Demographic dividend promised to share the road Map with the RDs for their comments. He also promised to brief the RDs on the development of this WG at the next meeting. The meeting chair suggested the UNFPA Regional Director to constitute the WG members to begin concretely activities. UNAIDS which is leading JURTA working group reported that they register sustainability of responses and have mobilized 70% extern resources with the changing level of funding. He recalled that JURTA was initially internal to UN but is now open to CSOs, government organizations and others. He added that the WG is thinking on how to work closely with the WB trough a transitional sustainable plan. Moreover UNAIDS reported on the implementation of the partnership for global fund programme in which 20 countries benefited funding from and did not spend 4 billion USD. Among these 20 countries, 11 are from West and Central Africa. In this regard, he stressed the RDs to see how they can help these countries to fast track around government, and all stakeholders to improve the implementation rate and use all fund available. He mentioned that the JURTA action was also focus around prevention among key population (women and girls). The meeting participants indicated that JURTA has good approach in national and regional levels and encourage them to keep it up. UNODC (leading Peace and Security) The RD stressed that the working group is performing well but needs to be connected with the other pillars because there is no development without security and no security without development. He pointed out the problem with the different flagship programme problems related to coordination, overload of things added with regard to the countries needs in the region. He suggested to focus on what is common as to act collectively while working closely with all concerned stakeholders and from bottom to upon way. UNDP (leading Governance) The Regional UNDP platform coordinator promised to make an update on this WG at the next meeting. ACTIONS UNFPA to share with the RDs the road map of the Youth and demographic dividend Reflect on how to use JURTA WG model to other Working groups UNFPA to constitute the WG members to move forward this working Group. 4. PREPARATION OF THE R/UNDG MISSION TO CAMEROON The secretariat recalled that the concept note of the meeting is sent to the RDs for their inputs and encouraged those who have not yet sent their inputs to do so. In addition it was indicated that the mission date, which 3

4 The was planned on February, has changed and the new (that should be beyond April 2016) date will be communicated as soon as possible. It was also requested the RDs to indicate their availability/interest to be part of this meeting. WFP, UNODC and UNAIDS indicated their interest while making some comments (add security in the outcomes and take into account the equality distribution and governance issues). ACTIONS: secretariat to ask OCHA, which is the focal point for this mission, to discuss the content of the concept note with the RC to better articulate the outcome. secretariat to communicate the new date of the mission R/UNDG ESA/WCA JOINT MEETING: SELECTION OF TOPICS The secretariat recalled the RDs to give their feedback related to their choice of the meeting date by next as to opt and confirm for the final date of the meeting with ESA. The following points are suggested for the Lomé meeting: Discussion on the big issues at the global level (global events and processes, ECOSOC dialogues, impacting the next QCPR), ect. Regional issues and priorities such as the Integrated Sahel strategy (ISS), HOA with also the objective to learn from the Great Lakes strategy: Regional coordination mechanism and thematic implementation issues (lack of consultation including ECA part and feedback on coordination aspect). There are two options for the UNDG Joint meeting, either 11 th April or 18 th April Use the Common African position to come on HC issue (How the RUNDG can respond to the humanitarian support which African countries are calling for; do we need HC to be part of RDT members?) ACTION: The secretariat to submit the selected topics to the R/UNDG Chair for endorsement. The to inform about final retained date of the UNDG Joint Meeting. 6. AOB The head of the secretariat introduced the additional staff team who are: - Wissam Gallala, Communication and KM Specialist and; - Vridaou Tao, M&E Specialist. The meeting participants decided that the next will be held in June, 30, 2016 and will be hosted by UNODC. 4

5 The RECAP OF THE ACTIONS LIST POINT OF AGENDA ACTIONS RESPONSIBLE DEADLINE Organize a meeting with OSS, UNOWA and humanitarian coordinator to see how to move forward and see the possibility to have a midterm UNESCO Current Jan. 16 review of the strategy implementation taking into account the finance issue. Organize a feedback meeting after the Current March consultation with OSS, UNOWA and HC to be 16 held before the April meeting UN system integrated strategy for the Sahel Update on the working groups Preparation of the R/UNDG mission to Cameroon 2016 R/UNDG ESA/WCA joint meeting: selection of topics Seek the R/UNDG chair green light to convey OSS and HC to the Ad hoc meetings to update the meeting participants on their respective agenda only. Share with the RDs the road map of the Youth and demographic dividend Constitute the WG members to move forward this working Group Ask OCHA, which is the focal point for this mission, to discuss the content of the concept note with the RC to better articulate the outcome Communicate the new date of the mission Submit the selected topics to the R/UNDG Chair for endorsement inform about final retained date of the UNDG Joint Meeting UNFPA UNFPA As soon as possible TBD TBD As soon as possible 5