South Sudan – The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in South Sudan, along with government leaders and other partners officially launched the Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF) in Juba Grand. The Interim Cooperation Framework is the development strategy of the United Nations Country Team and functions as an interim framework in 2016 and 2017, which corresponds to the transitional period of the peace agreement.
The newly launched ICF requires UN agencies to be better targeted, based on a strong understanding of the context and guided by the following key principles: realism in setting goals and targets in a country confronted with a significant development deficit; recovery from the serious set-backs of recent years; resilience of people, communities and institutions; reaching the most vulnerable who have been harmed most by the crisis; strengthening institutions and capacities so that they can better sustain peace and stability.
The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Hon. Mary Jervase Yak. “The ICF provides us with robust analysis and clear strategic direction that reflect the views and inputs from many different perspectives and partners.”
“I hope that this event marks the start of a new, strong and fruitful partnership between the Government of South Sudan, the donor community and the UN system. We all are aware that there is a significant amount of work to do to ensure a better future for the people of South Sudan after years of conflict and crisis” said Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ellen Margrethe Loej at the launch event.
The goal of the ICF is to support the transformation of South Sudan towards peace and stability, and sustainable development, by focusing on five highly prioritized substantive areas: enhancing the resilience of local communities; strengthening social services for the most vulnerable; strengthening peace and governance; reinvigorating the local economy; cross-cutting improvement in the status of women and youth. The United Nations Country Team is also prepared to help assist with the formation of South Sudan’s national development plan.
The ICF was developed and adopted jointly by all UN organizations operating in South Sudan, in consultation with their national and international partners. The United Nations Country Team, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, consists of FAO, IOM, OCHA, OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN Habitat, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNMAS, UNMISS, UNOPS, UN Women, WFP, and WHO.
