UN-Government of Ethiopia Sign the Fourth UNDAF

UN-Government of Ethiopia Sign the Fourth UNDAF

The United Nations (UN) and the Government of Ethiopia signed the fourth United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) that will be in effect for the next five years, 2016-2020. 

UNDAF 2016-2020 is the key programming instrument of the Delivering as One (DaO) process in Ethiopia. It aims to ensure coherent, efficient and effective UN system operations in full alignment with national development priorities. The UNDAF promotes and benefits from strong Government ownership, and is guided by United Nations Development Group (UNDG) programming policies and the five key UNDG programming principles: a human rights-based approach; gender equality; environmental sustainability; capacity development; and results-based management.

The new US$3.2 billion UNDAF is aligned to eight of the nine pillars of Ethiopia’s Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) where the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are also mainstreamed. 

United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie noted in her remarks at the signing ceremony, “The strong emphasis on the SDGs in both national plans and the UNDAF provides all of us with an excellent opportunity for rallying our capacities and resources behind the vision of the 2030 Agenda as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity that leaves no one behind.” She also commended the strong and proactive Government leadership and partnership between the Government and the UN Country Team, which served as a base for the development of this fourth generation of UNDAF.

State Minister Mr. Ahmed Shide, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation, expressed the Government of Ethiopia's appreciation to the UN's support through UNDAF, and confirmed the Government's commitment to continue to lead the country's development and transformation agenda and work closely with the UN system towards its fulfillment. 

The UNDAF was developed through an intense process where the UN and the Government of Ethiopia worked together. It will come into effect in the early months of 2016, holding both the Government of Ethiopia and the United Nations system accountable to the agreed upon pillars, priorities and milestones.