Maputo — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has a budget of 22 million US dollars available to support programmes of democratic governance, economic development, poverty reduction and the fight against HIV/AIDS in Mozambique, according to UNDP Resident Coordinator Ndolamb Ngokwey.

He was speaking in Maputo on Wednesday at the opening of the annual meeting of UNDP representatives in Africa, which is scheduled to last until next Tuesday.

Ngokwey promised UN support for the municipal elections to be held later this year, and for Mozambique's first elections for provincial assemblies, which will probably coincide with the 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections. He said the UNDP is also committed to assisting the government's decentralization strategy, the expansion of access to justice, and reducing the impact of natural disasters.

The main theme of the meeting is Africa's priorities in the context of a dynamic global agenda, characterized by positive factors such as the advance of information and communications technologies, but also the dangers of climate change, illegal migration, and the growing gulf between rich and poor countries.

The meeting is to look at ways to overcome the clash between African countries' national priorities and global priorities. Africa's needs for more equitable growth, and a fair trading system risk being marginalized by the concerns of the rich north.

In the political sphere, Africa's requirements for democratic and transparent governance, conflict prevention, and political and macro-economic stability need support from the international community - but risk being overlooked in the haste to chase quite different agendas such as "the war against terror".

Mozambique's Minister of state Administration, Lucas Chomera, told the meeting that high up on the Mozambican government's own agenda were such matters as increased flexibility in the provision of social services, improved training and retention of skilled staff in the public administration, innovation is science and technology and preservation of the environment.

Addressing the donors and other cooperation partners present at the opening session, Chomera urged greater speed in channeling official development aid to Mozambique, and continued debt relief.

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