GoB-UN POP 2010-2014 - UNFPA Botswana

GoB-UN POP 2010-2014b) The UN has a specific role to play in supportingBotswana to achieve the MDGs for all Botswana’scitizens. Botswana stands among those middleincome countries that are likely to achieve amajority of the Millennium Development Goalsby 2015. However, ongoing support is neededto ensure the MDGs are achieved for allBatswana, including at the sub-national leveland among vulnerable and disadvantagedgroups, as well as to close the gap on thosegoals and indicators where Botswana iscurrently lagging behind.c) The UN can support the country to accessadditional resources available through globaland other funding facilities. Botswana’s middleincomecountry status has seen the level ofdevelopment assistance to the country decline.In addition, the type of funding Botswanareceives from International Funding Institutionshas changed resulting in fewer grants and lessconcessional assistance. These developmentstake place against a situation where there areunmet needs and government spending as aproportion of GDP is considered too high.d) The UN views continued support to Botswanaas a priority, as the country will require ongoingsupport from development partners if it is tocontinue to progress successfully and addressthe challenges associated with middle-incomecountry status, and achieve the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs) for all its citizens.The UN has a unique role to play in helpingGovernment to leverage resources, and usingits convening power and normative role toensure resources are utilised effectively andin the interests of the ultimate beneficiaries –Botswana’s citizens.e) The UN has a unique role in promoting accessionto, and supporting implementation of, internationalagreements and standards.2.2.2 Maximising on the UNStrategic Value in Botswana40. The UN will maximise on its strategic value inBotswana over the period of the GoB-UN POP2010-2014 as follows:a) The UN will use its unique convening powerto bring together various stakeholders andprovide coordination, including on criticalcross-cutting issues such as gender equality,HIV, climate change, and the rights-basedapproach to development.b) The UN will focus on providing evidencebasedpolicy advice in line with internationalnorms and standards, including support tointegrate these norms and standards intonational legislative and policy frameworks andmonitor their implementation and impact onbeneficiaries. It will advocate for and help toensure that the voices of the most vulnerableand disadvantaged are heard and issues ofinequality are addressed in national policyprocesses.c) The UN will draw on the collective global assets ofthe system and global expertise and best practiceto provide technical expertise, exchange ofknowledge and capacity development, basedon international best practice, and will supportinnovative approaches to human and socialdevelopment issues and implementation ofglobal normative standards. It will facilitate a multisectoralapproach and support Governmentto coordinate its response to complex issuessuch as climate change, social protection,sustainable development, a multi-dimensionalapproach to poverty reduction, HIV, governanceand gender equality, all of which require a crossagencyapproach.d) The UN will maximise the comparative advantagesand added value it offers as a multi-lateralorganization ‘delivering as one’, capitalisingon a multi-dimensional approach to supportGovernment to address the cross-Government,14 GoB - UN POP 2010 - 2014