BACKGROUND PAPER on United Nations Development Programme (UNDP ...

accountability. An integral part of the assistance provided is facilitating civil society
participation in each of the areas.
The National Human Development Report has become an important tool for
innovative dialogue on policy action. For instance, the Botswana Human
Development Report 2000 launched a national policy debate which culminated in a
decision by that country's President to provide HIV/AIDS drug "cocktails" to every
citizen who needed them. In Nigeria, the NHDR was used for training of ministers
and special advisers on poverty reduction.
From Lesotho to Mali to Sierra Leone, UNDP's regional and global development
network connects our provide to support for elections, electoral legislation and for
strengthening the institutional capacity of electoral commissions, systems and
processes. Assistance has ranged from coordination of international observers and
facilitation of negotiations between political parties and civil society to advancing
electoral reforms. Support has also been provided for development of database
systems, voters registration, election resource and information centers and technical
assistance through the provision of international observers. The human capacity of
electoral commissions has also been strengthened through training in civic education
and leadership skills.
In Benin, Burundi, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Togo and Zambia, UNDP has been
supporting the promotion of human rights. Human rights commissions have been
established and the preparation of human rights bills have been supported.
Awareness of human rights has been promoted through sensitization, civic education
and production of human rights textbooks, training workshops and formulation of
education and information strategies.
In collaboration with UNCDF and UNV assistance has been provided for building
local government capacity in countries such as Burkina Faso, Burundi, Mozambique,
South Africa, and Zambia. This assistance has included interventions to improve the
participation of CSOs and CBOs in local planning budgeting through open dialogue,
sensitization, training in participatory planning, budgeting and dissemination of good
governance practices. Support has also been provided for development of legislative
reforms for decentralization in Malawi and Tanzania. Decentralization needs
assessments have been carried out and strategies for decentralization and local selfgovernance
have been formulated.
To strengthen civil service accountability, assistance is being given for public sector
reform, changes in the codes of conduct, review of public administration and anticorruption
acts. Training has also been provided for government and judiciary staff in
personnel management, public procurement, information systems service
contracting, investment procedures and strengthening public services. Countries
benefiting from such assistance include Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
At the regional level, assistance has been provided for activities that center around
policy dialogue, advocacy and capacity building on economic, political and social
governance initiatives. The UNDP Africa annually organized Africa Governance
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