Vanuatu Government and UN host Steering Committee

The meeting was hosted by Dr. Gregoire Nimbtik, Director General, Prime Minister’s Office, and UN Resident Coordinator to Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga and Tuvalu, Sanaka Samarasinha.

Dr Nimbtik and Mr Samarasinha were joined by colleagues in government and the UN, based in Vanuatu and in Fiji.

Dr Nimbtik acknowledged the many years of joint work between Vanuatu and the UN, and welcomed the incoming blueprint for further collaboration, stating that,

“The development and implementation of the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-27 will be an opportunity to build on this foundation, so the Government is committed to be part of this process.  We look forward to engaging with the United Nations through the Joint Steering Committee mechanism to ensure our efforts continue to align with Vanuatu’s priorities as outlined in the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) 2016-30 and other national policy objectives.”

Mr Samarasinha said the UN will continue to support Vanuatu in its response to and recovery from COVID-19, strengthening governance and rule of law, promoting sustainable economy, and the full inclusion of all, especially women and youth in development processes. 

“The priority areas highlighted in our new Cooperation Framework are directly derived from our analysis of your country’s priorities and needs, and they are aligned with your national planning and budgetary frameworks. Through this new Framework, your government can expect more coordinated, responsive support, with greater transparency and more accountability for results than under our current Framework,” Mr Samarasinha said.

UN’s contribution to Vanuatu in 2022 is projected to be US$19million.

These contributions will support Vanuatu in equitable basic services, climate change, disaster resilience and environmental protection, governance and community engagement, gender equality, and Economic empowerment and Human rights. 

ENDS