UN in Ghana and the Government launch the UN Sustainable Development Partnership

The United Nations and the Government of Ghana have agreed on a five-year partnership programme targeting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 5-year strategic framework, known as the UN Sustainable Development Partnership 2018-2022 (UNSDP), has been launched in Accra at a media event to coincide with the 2018 UN Day commemoration.

The strategic framework was developed to align with the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies, 2017-2024 (CPESDP), which was submitted to Parliament by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 20 October 2017. The CPESDP sets out a vision for agricultural modernisation, industrial diversification, and youth employment and articulates a self-reliant pathway to economic transformation and inclusive growth. This vision for national development incorporates Ghana’s global development commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

This partnership agreement encompasses the entirety of the UN’s activities in Ghana, within a One Programme for Ghana, and was signed by the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Planning, the UN Resident Coordinator, and representatives of the 24 UN Agencies working in Ghana. It signifies the commitment of the UN Agencies to provide coherent, impactful and cost-effective support, drawing from their own mandates and expertise to “Deliver as One.”

The UNSDP sets out the UN’s partnership for 2018-2022 through four strategic Results Areas: 1) Shared prosperous economy; 2) Social investment in people; 3) Protected and safe environment; and 4) Inclusive, accountable governance.  Within these Results Areas, UN actions will help achieve cross-cutting priorities that reflect UN values on human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, data for development, avoiding stigma and promoting prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and resilience to natural disasters and the impact of climate change. In following the priority set in the CPESDP, UN efforts across all areas of work will also explicitly target youth development. The entire UNSDP is designed to support Ghana’s commitment that private sector-led growth be inclusive and equitable growth.

The Minister for Planning, Honourable George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, launched the framework on behalf of the Government, along with Ms Christine Evans-Klock, UN Resident Coordinator, Ambassador Albert F. Yankey, the acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heads of UN Agencies and the media.