MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations has committed a total of $667 million in four development and social services projects in the Philippines over the next seven years under the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) launched Monday in Makati City.
Under the UNDAF, some $147.2 million have been earmarked to strengthen the capacities of the national and local agencies to deliver quality social services for the poor divided as follows; $46.5 million to generate decent and productive employment through sustained and “green” growth; $67.2 million to promote broad and local participation in governance; and about $114.8 million to strengthen national and local resilience to climate change, threats and disasters.
Of the total investment, some $79.3 million will come from regular UN sources, while the rest will be mobilized from other sources.
The United Nations will also invest some $147.2 million over the next seven years to support the Philippine government’s delivery of social services that aim to eradicate hunger, reduce maternal and infant mortality, achieve universal primary education, provide access to safe water and combat HIV and AIDS.
To address – hunger and malnutrition, the UN will support a comprehensive approach to food and nutrition security such as care and feeding practices, food quality and quantity including micronutrient fortification and supplementation, health services, water and sanitation. The Philippines is one of 36 highest burden countries in terms of malnutrition and is not showing progress to address this concern among children under 5 years.
The health sector will also get help for the Universal Health Care program, reproductive health and HIV and AIDS prevention.
Also, the UN will invest some $75.4 million over the next seven years to support the Philippine government’s effort to improve the access to food and nutrition of vulnerable Filipinos. As part of the new UNDAF 2012-2018, the UN will continue to partner with the government and other development actors to ensure that by 2018, poor and vulnerable Filipinos will have adequate access to food and nutrition.
Moreover, the UN has committed to help bring peace and prevent conflict in Mindanao an island in the Philippines now home to five decades of armed struggle-through some $38.7 million worth of projects over the next seven years that will improve people’s lives.
“We believe that sustained development is key to achieving peace,” UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Jacqueline Badcock told the media. “That is why UN agencies here are working as one to reach that goal.”
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Source: Manila Bulletin, Nov. 29, 2011
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