speech by the resident coordinator of the un system in the gamb

The Gambia, in my view, is a country that has a lot to be proud of. In a world
increasingly torn by strife, its peace and stability is a beacon of hope. In a world
where many governments ignore the plight of the disadvantage, the government’s
commitment to human development and addressing the needs of the poorest and
most vulnerable segments of society – a fact which is very much in evidence ­ is
exemplary.
Clearly the Government ‘s priorities are audible. To name but a few: expanding
education opportunities for all especially education for girls; adopting MDG­based
planning process and setting clear and specific targets and forging a vision for The
Gambia to become a dynamic middle income country by 2015. All of these speak to
Government’s commitment to a pro­poor development agenda. I and the UN team
are committed to serve The Gambia and to bring the comparative advantage of the
UN system to bear on these needs and priorities of the country to the best of our
ability.
I am mindful of the fact that my tour of duty coincides with a number of critical
initiatives: the UN reform agenda which is rapidly gathering momentum; the
upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in the Gambia and, last but not
least, the AU summit which for the first time is being held in The Gambia. There is
no doubt that this is an honour for The Gambia to host the African Union summit and
we stand ready to support the initiatives that will come from this important meeting.
Your Excellency, please accept my sincere congratulations to The Gambian people
for hosting such an important continental meeting and please convey my best wishes
3