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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Feb 2008 : 20:50:03
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THE GAMBIA’S ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE
Budget for implementation of PRSP = US$754 million Funding gap of $480 million
Theme of RTC: “Taking a Decisive Step towards Achieving the MDGs in The Gambia”
The Government of the Gambia, with the support of the UNDP, is organizing a Round Table Conference (RTC) with its development partners, to be held in London, United Kingdom, on the 5 and 6 February 2008, according to a press release issued by the UNDP.
The main objective of the RTC is to engage the Gambia’s development partners in policy dialogue on national development policies and programmes, the release adds. It follows the production of the country’s second generation Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which is firmly anchored against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the country’s long term strategy, Vision 2020.
The release explains that the PRSP is divided into five main pillars, namely;
1 Creating the enabling policy environment to promote growth and poverty reduction
2 Enhancing the capacity and output of the productive sectors
3 Improving the coverage of basic social services and social protection needs of the poor and vulnerable
4 Enhancing governance systems and build the capacities of local communities and Civil Society Organisations to play an active role in economic growth and poverty reduction
5 Mainstreaming poverty-related crosscutting issues into poverty reduction
The budget for the implementation of the PRSP is US$754 million, of which the Government of the Gambia will contribute $ l 00.million, $174 million is secured in donor commitments leaving a funding gap of $480 million. With The Gambia reaching HIPC completion point, the funding gap is expected to drop to $310 million.
The release states that the conduct of the RTC is timely, as it comes on the heels of the Gambia reaching HIPC completion point, a remarkable achievement that was preceded by the endorsement of the PRSP II itself by the joint IMF / World Bank Executive Boards in the summer of 2007. According the release, the successful conduct of the recent local government elections also serves to underscore the conducive development cooperation environment within which the RTC is being conducted.
It further states that the strategy adopted for the RTC is based on the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, with its underlying principles of ‘national ownership and leadership, as well as mutual accountability.’ The release notes that key strategy documents have been prepared for programs envisaged to have a catalytic effect on the attainment of the pillars of the PRSP. Missions have also been mounted to key donor embassies and capitals, designed to engage them on the approach and expectations vis-a-vis the RTC, as well as The Gambia’s development aspirations, at large. The theme for the RTC is “Taking a Decisive Step towards Achieving the MDGs in The Gambia”
The Gambian delegation will be led by Her Excellency the Vice President, Dr. Ajaratou Isatou Njie Saidy, and will include the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, the Secretary of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, several other Secretaries of State, the Governor of the Central Bank, and the Chairman of the
National Planning Commission, inter alia. On the part of The Gambia’s development partners, it is expected that UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa Director, Mr. Gilbert Houngbo, as well as other high level dignitaries from multilateral and bilateral development partners, will participate in the RTC. The new UNDP Resident Representative Designate, who is expected to take up position shortly, Ms Chinwe Dike, will also grace the occasion.
The release concludes that at the end of the RTC it is expected that the development dialogue will be considerably strengthened between the Gambia and its development partners, areas for enhanced cooperation identified, and a road map clearly delineated and agreed for follow up activities after the RTC.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 15/2008, 4 - 5 February 2008
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