The United Nations Belize invites you to the Closing and Press Briefing
WHAT: Annual Regional Steering Committee Meeting of the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework.
WHEN: Wednesday 1 March 2017, 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Belize Ocean Club Resort and Spa, Maya Beach, Placencia
WHO: United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework Regional Steering Committee
WHY: The annual meeting of the Regional Steering Committee (RSC) of the UN MSDF takes place at the Belize Ocean Club Resort, Placencia, Belize from the 28th February to 1st March, 2017. This meeting will define the strategic direction for the UN MSDF for the next year. In attendance will be the members of the UN MSDF Regional Steering Committee which consists of selected United Nations heads of agencies from across the region, as well as the United Nations Resident Coordinators (UNRC) for the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean:
- Mr. Christian Salazar Volkmann – UNRC Belize and El Salvador, current Chair of the RSC
- Mr. Richard Blewitt – UNRC Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten
- Ms. Mikiko Tanaka – UNRC Guyana
- Mr. Stephen O’Malley – UNRC Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
- Mr. Bruno Pouezat – UNRC Jamaica, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos
The United Nations Multi-country Sustainable Development Framework (UN MSDF) is the strategic plan for the UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes in 18 English and Dutch speaking Caribbean for the period January 2017 to December 2021. The countries covered are Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Dominica, Curaҫao, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
This Framework defines how the Agencies, Funds, and Programmes of the United Nations will use their comparative advantages within a single strategic framework that aligns with and supports the overarching strategic goals of the Caribbean’s governments, development partners and key stakeholders. The focus of the framework is on four priorities: An Inclusive, Equitable and Prosperous Caribbean, A Healthy Caribbean, A Safe, Cohesive and Just Caribbean, A Sustainable and Resilient Caribbean. The MSDF focuses on promoting increased access to quality education and lifelong learning; enhancing equitable access to quality social services for all; fostering voice and accountability; universal access to quality health care; climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable energy programs.
This framework aims to ensure that no one is left behind in national development efforts, and exemplifies the commonly-shared belief that the similar development challenges of the Caribbean countries require a coherent and coordinated response by the United Nations.
This framework signals a new day for UN operations in the Caribbean. In keeping with the UN mandate “Delivering as One” UN Country Teams are delivering one programme, one budget, one operating system and one communication strategy with one leader.
The UN MSDF supports the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the SAMOA Pathway, and the promotion of all international human rights instruments that have been ratified by the 18 countries. The UN MSDF is also closely aligned with CARICOM’s “Strategic Plan for the Caribbean Community”.
The MSDF as well as additional information on initiatives in the region is available on the website: www.2030Caribbean.
