Maputo, Mozambique — The United Nations system in Mozambique is contemplating up to 300 million US dollars to finance its development programmes in the country for the period 2002-2006.
To that effect, the Mozambican government and UN agency representatives late last week signed a document on the UN Development Assistance Framework for Mozambique (UNDAF).
Over all, the mobilisation of UN assistance would be directed at Mozambique's poverty reduction strategy and four other strategic objectives that have been defined.
A UN press release cited among them "furthering the right to individual security," through such actions as preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, improved health care for persons living with HIV/AIDS, the management of natural disasters and mine clearance.
The second objective has to do with "promoting the right to knowledge and to a healthier and longer life."
Focus here would be on the education and health care systems, notably ensuring equal access to schools for boys and girls, improving the quality and management of education, and equitable access to health services.
Objective three is "promoting the right to sustainable subsistence" with a stress on agriculture and rural development, notably increased production and food security.
Finally, UNDAF seeks to promote "the right to full participation, equity and protection" with focus on democratisation, decentralisation and the mass media.
The UN release warned that the threat posed by HIV/AIDS was now the major brake on the development of Mozambique and of the southern African region.
It links the fight against HIV/AIDS alongside increased accessing of girls to education, as "the key to guarantee long term empowerment, and achieve poverty reduction targets."
Agencies involved in UNDAF include the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
