GUYANA’S progress under the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Joint Country Programmer was gauged on Tuesday when UNICEF conducted its Strategic Moment Reflection (SMR) at the Guyana Marriott.
UNICEF Joint Country Programme Cycle 2017-2021 is intended to assist Guyana in meeting its development goals for children and adolescents through legislation and services in alignment with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the no child left behind policy.
In her address, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings, said that the review allowed for an adequate and strategic analysis of achievements, gaps and the approaches needed to progressively achieve the established targets. “This Strategic Moment of Reflection (SMR) is, therefore, a welcome initiative opportunity that will allow the assessment of the changing operational environment and its impact on programming. It is an opportunity to gauge results achieved (2017-2019), good practices, lessons learned, UNICEF’s positioning, the value added as a partner as well as necessary programme adjustments – relating to outputs, resource allocation, geographical areas of intervention, human capacity and programme management,” the foreign affairs minister said.
Guyana’s participation in the SMR programme, Minister Cummings said, is an indication of its commitment to transparency and a willingness to better aligned with national, regional and global priorities, particularly as it relates to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The joint programme has contributed to the progressive realisation of the rights of women and children in Guyana, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
“I am pleased, on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, to acknowledge the consistent advocacy and support of UNICEF in this area. Guyana, therefore, considers the Guyana-UNICEF partnership to be of an increasing continued relevance and importance as it complements Guyana’s national development focus,” the foreign affairs minister said.
Since its establishment, UNICEF has been placing tremendous emphasis on improving children’s welfare through a life-cycle-based approach. Particular focus has been placed on early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF and Guyana signed its first five-year programme in 1994, and since then, the fund has been a significant player in the move to advance children’s wellbeing across the length and breadth of Guyana.
Minister Cummings said the 2017-2021 Country Programme is intended to contribute significantly to Guyana’s national policies by extending services for basic education, the right to clean water and sanitation, and making early childhood, care and development priorities through its lifelong learning service.
“Our strategic partnership has generated fruitful results. The Government of Guyana is pleased with the achievements made and remains committed to the protection and provision of a good life for all Guyanese,” she posited.
At this stage, Minister Cummings said it is important for the implementation of the Country Programme to remain aligned with the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) – a 20-year plan that provides an overarching medium-term roadmap for the cohesive, integrated and systematic development throughout the country.
Guyana’s report on the SDGs presented at the high-level Political Forum at the United Nations (UN) last July is also a critical at this point, she added. “The report makes clear that important health and educational outcomes vary based on geographical location and that deliberate and sustained efforts will be required to ensure equity is achieved throughout the length and breadth of Guyana. This geographical challenge is one that has also come to notice in other international reports,” the foreign affairs minister explained.
It was noted that while the government is putting systems in place to ensure children are provided with equal opportunities, collaborative support from partners such as UNICEF is key. Minister Cummings also used the platform to express Guyana’s gratitude to UNICEF for its unwavering support, particularly in the expansion of the juvenile justice system. On Monday, a new specialised Sexual Offences Court was opened for the first time in Essequibo.
Scanning the environment, prioritised and strategic visioning, revisiting strategies and modalities, were among the main areas of focus during Tuesday’s meeting. The SMR contemplates the development of a Strategic Intent Memo which includes; a strategic vision to inform the next two (2) years of the implementation of the Country Programme based on the understanding of the environment and the planning scenario; identification of key priorities and elements to inform the overarching theory of change; and to identify key enablers of programme effectiveness and efficiency.
