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Tag: UNDP

  • 227,000 displaced individuals return to CAR as stabilization efforts gain momentum

    227,000 displaced individuals return to CAR as stabilization efforts gain momentum

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Central African Republic have successfully facilitated the return of 227,000 displaced individuals out of the 1 million affected by a decade of conflict.

    In a statement issued by Ayme Sinclair, Communications Consultant, UNDP, this marks a significant milestone in stabilization efforts, highlighted by the inauguration of rebuilt infrastructure.

    He noted that after years of conflict that displaced over 1 million people, improvements in security and infrastructure have enabled the re-establishment of essential government services and the return of 227,000 individuals, with more than 95% of administrative officials now in place.

    “President Faustin Archange Touadera and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Central African Republic on October 12, 2024, in Bangui, Central African Republic celebrated the inauguration of rebuilding socio-economic infrastructure in Bossangoa.

    “This milestone marks a key achievement of UNDP’s Stabilisation Programme and was made possible through collaborative efforts with the government and key partners like Japan, the European Union, South Korea, and the African Development Bank. The project restores state authority, helping vulnerable communities to regain normalcy”.

    The UNDP Stabilisation Programme, is in partnership with the government, as it builds upon security gains achieved by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) with the state security forces.

    This programme delivers a comprehensive package of social services, infrastructure, and livelihood opportunities to conflict-affected communities, fostering the social contract between the State and its citizens. By addressing interconnected needs, it lays the groundwork for sustainable peace and long-term development.

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    Five new buildings were unveiled, including administrative offices and a reconstructed market with solar-powered water and lighting systems, benefiting over 40,000 people. This marks a new era for regional services, strengthening security, justice, access to essential services, and revitalizing the local economy.

    The Stabilisation Program plays a key role in preparing the ground for development, by strengthening the presence and authority of the State, improving the living conditions of the citizens, and fostering national cohesion and harmony,” said President Touadera.

    In addition to stabilization, UNDP is providing key elements for consolidating the development process in CAR, which include, Justice and Security, a special criminal court addressing serious crimes and human rights violations. Local Elections, with UNDP supporting the first local elections in over 30 years, administration, and restoration of the civil registration system, made possible with funding from the EU, promoting inclusive democratic participation

  • UNDP top shot hosts private screening of ‘Deafening Silence’

    UNDP top shot hosts private screening of ‘Deafening Silence’

    The United Nations Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa; the European Union Ambassador, Ambassador Samuela Isopi; and the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Malick Fall, recently hosted a private screening of ‘Deafening Silence’ to a select audience of the international community comprising Country Representatives and Business Executives.

    ‘Deafening Silence,’ a film currently showing in cinemas across Nigeria and beyond, is a result of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative that advocates for gender equality and women empowerment in Nigeria.

    The Spotlight Initiative aligns strongly with the Government of Nigeria’s gender priorities as well as the European Union’s and the United Nations’ Gender Action Points. The intervention is on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and combating SGBV and Violence Against Women (VAW).

    The film leverages the power of storytelling to explore themes of Gender Equality, Gender Empowerment, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria.

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    The film aims to foster deep and honest conversations around these critical issues, with the goal of incentivizing social change.

    This transformative initiative is part of a broader gender norm result-chain intervention developed by the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria.

    This film seeks to raise awareness and inspire action to combat GBV, promoting a society where gender equality and empowerment are fundamental values.

    Fielding questions to journalists about the victims of gender-based violence, Emanuela Claude Del Re, European Union Special Representative for the Sahel, said that “Some people don’t understand that they are victims. They think it is normal to treat people in that way.  Our aim is to protect victims and make people understand that the victims are suffering from a

  • UNDP unveils $1m seed investment to fund initiative

    UNDP unveils $1m seed investment to fund initiative

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has officially unveiled the HerAfCFTA initiative in Nigeria along with an announcement of a donation of a seed investment of $1 million to fund the initiative.

    The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, at the launch in Lagos, said the initiative underscores the importance of collective effort in securing a prosperous future for women in the unified African market.”This is just a seed investment. We are going to invite many more partners to invest in this initiative, as the plan is to provide support for women-owned SMEs, direct support to 300 women-owned SMEs through comprehensive trade readiness and capacity development programs. This vital component will be implemented in collaboration with the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, and also our sister agency, UN Women.In her remarks, the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, said Africa accounts for just two per cent of global trade, adding that the AfCFTA aims to change this by promoting inter-African trade.

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    “As we integrate more effectively into the global economy, we enhance our competitiveness on the world stage. For investment and consumer spending, the International Trade Center estimates that AfCFTA’s target market comprises 1.27 billion people and is projected to rise to 1.7 trillion by the year 2030. Africa’s aggregate GDP is expected to reach $6.7 trillion. Africa will attract about $4 trillion in investment and consumer spending,” she added.

    Speaking on HerAfCFTA initiative, Uzoka-Anite, who was represented by the CEO of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Nonye Ayeni, averred that HerAfCFTA initiative is a commitment to ensuring that women are not just participants but are leaders in the new era of inter-African trade.

  • UNILAG launches UNDP’s Artificial Intelligence UniPOD

    UNILAG launches UNDP’s Artificial Intelligence UniPOD

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has launched an Artificial Intelligence-themed University Innovation Pods (UniPODS) as part of a network of 13 UniPODs being set up across Africa by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

    The initiative is to to create a link between research and product innovation, while empowering the continent’s youth to spearhead its industrial progress.

    Vice Chancellor Prof. Folashade Ogunsola stated this during the UNDP public lecture and AI UniPOD ground-breaking at the Senate Building yesterday.

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    UniPODS are an initiative of the UNDP’s pan-African initiative, timbuktoo. It aims to encourage students to engage in innovation and design thinking that are multi-pronged. They focus on supporting and growing innovative, scalable, and impactful entrepreneurship by African young people, while relying on a springboard of partners who together contribute meaningfully to building an African youth innovation and start-up ecosystem.

    Other thematic areas of UniPods across the continent include Agritech, HealthTech, GreenTech, TradeTech, TourismTech, EdTech, Creatives and Smart Cities

    Prof. Ogunsola said: “UniPOD aims to encourage students in universities to engage in innovation and design thinking. The project is multi-pronged and focuses on supporting and growing innovative, scalable, and impactful entrepreneurship by African young people, while relying on a springboard of partners who together will contribute meaningfully to building an African youth innovation and start-up ecosystem.”

  • Why coup is common in Africa – UNDP

    Why coup is common in Africa – UNDP

    • Nigeria sends 197 soldiers to Gambia on peacekeeping

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has identified the over-ambition of young military officers who do not want to wait for their turn as one of the major causes of coups d’état in Africa.

    The UNDP Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security, Mr. Matthew Alao, made this known shortly after the Graduation Ceremony of the Leadership and National Cohesion Course at Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

    While stating that the military cannot be divorced from the society where it is situated, the UNDP Team Lead listed over-ambition by young military officers, eroding core societal values, religious beliefs, and lack of education as the key reasons for more coups in West African countries and Africa at large.

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    While warning that this leadership deficit is taking a toll on the country and should be addressed right from the family unit to the community level, Alao also described Nigeria today as very individualistic, saying, “We have lost it. Now it’s all about me and my family. And this is leading us nowhere. This is why this course is very critical at this moment.”

    Alao said the leadership course, which happened to be the brainchild of the past Commandant of the Peacekeeping Centre, Major General Obinna, was born due to the spate of coups happening in West Africa. “They felt that providing leadership training to the middle-level military and civilians is an antidote to it. They felt that because of that quality training, that orientation on subordination is weakening in the military and political space of West Africa. They felt that UNDP, with the funding made available by the government of Japan, is sponsoring it,” Alao added.

    On the persistent coups and counter-coups staged in Africa by military officers, Alao said the fundamental problem the world is facing today is the lack of core values. “Our core values are breaking down fast. You will see agitation and expectation on so many issues that may not be reality.

  • Climate change: Children drive UNDP global campaign 

    Climate change: Children drive UNDP global campaign 

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched the Weather Kids Campaign to bolster its endeavors in raising global awareness of climate change, with children driving the advocacy.

    The Campaign, themed ‘What will our future look like if we do not take action urgently?’ initiated by the UNDP in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization and The Weather Company is an innovation that involves children driving the climate change issues and the need for stakeholders to take action.

    The innovative campaign features children posing as meteorologists forecasting the 2050 weather using 2023 reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (PCC) and the UNDPC Climate Horizons with Ann and a scenario of a 1.5 to 2°C temperature increase

    In a statement on Tuesday by Carpe Diem’s  Public Relations Consultant, Teniola Arigbede, the Chief Marketing Officer, of Weather Company, Randi Stipes said the idea is to show what will happen if the world fails to uphold the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which pledged to pursue efforts to limit global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1.5 degrees Celsius.

    “As the world’s most accurate forecaster, we believe people will feel the changing climate

    most through the weather they experience. 

    “No single person is immune to weather and

    its impacts, especially as those impacts of severe events are growing in intensity”,

    Stipes noted.

    According to her, the idea is to show what will happen if the world fails to uphold the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which pledged to pursue efforts to limit global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit or 1.5 degrees Celsius.

    “What makes this campaign’s solution unique?

    “Talking about the weather is no longer small talk, it has become breaking news every day and the most crucial conversation for our and our children’s futures.

    “The campaign highlights the catastrophic consequences of global inaction on climate change and emphasizes the impact on future generations.

    “It aims to stimulate people across the globe for urgent climate action as it is not too late, and we believe we can still reverse this, aligning with UNDP’s mission and mandate and the UNDP Climate Promise”, Stipes added.

  • UNDP’s weather kids campaign urges climate action

    UNDP’s weather kids campaign urges climate action

    The Weather Kids campaign, created in partnership with the World Meteorological Organization and The Weather Channel, has called for urgent climate action for the next generations.

    In a statement released, it said: “Global television audiences who tuned in for their local weather reports on Thursday were met with a surprise – a special forecast from the year 2050. While the format was familiar, the forecasts – anchored by childre​n – were not.

    “These young TV meteorologists joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its new Weather Kids campaign, created in partnership with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and The Weather Channel, the flagship consumer brand of The Weather Company.

    “Supported by global celebrities and UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors, including Oscar-winning Malaysian actor Michelle Yeoh, American actor Connie Britton and Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, the campaign is part of UNDP’s efforts to boost awareness on the impacts of climate change and to mobilize people around the world to take meaningful climate action for future generations.

    Watch the 2050 forecast delivered by Weather Kids:

  • Edun, UNDP seek efforts to tackle development challenges

    Edun, UNDP seek efforts to tackle development challenges

    • Finance minister launches 2023/’24 Human Development Report

    The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, yesterday launched the 2023/2024 Human Development Report (HDI).

    The report was packaged by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria.

    The 2023/’24 Human Development Report (HDR), titled: Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation In A Polarised World, reveals a troubling trend.

    It shows that the country has not done well in all areas of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    It also shows that there was a rebound in the global HDI – a summary measure reflecting a country’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, education, and life expectancy – which has been partial, incomplete, and unequal.

    Speaking at the launch, Edun said: “The HDR is a rallying cry that we can and must do better than this, and it charts a way forward for conversations on reimagining development cooperation for a better world. In re-imagining cooperation, international financial architecture ought to be structured to proactively support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the realisation of human rights.

    He added: “The only way to facilitate such a structure is through ambitious reforms, starting with a more inclusive, representative and, ultimately, more effective global economic governance.”

    In the last 34 years, UNDP has released the Human Development Report and Index annually, ranking all countries by health, education, and living standards.

    In the last three decades, UNDP has produced more than 800 global, regional, national, and sub-national reports, as well as organised hundreds of workshops, conferences, and other outreach initiatives to foster human development.

    The HDI is about expanding the richness of human life rather than simply the richness of the economy; it also focuses on people, their opportunities and choices.

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    UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Fall said: “The HDR argues that polarisation and mismanagement of cross-border interdependencies are at the root of many contemporary challenges, ranging from debt distress in numerous low- and middle-income countries to threats to food security to a pervasive sense of disempowerment around the world.

    “Polarisation within and amongst our countries is creating ‘a global gridlock’ and preventing us from forging international cooperation towards addressing our shared challenges. This polarisation, whether at the sub-national, national, regional, or global levels, signifies an erosion of trust, that is dividing societies into opposing camps and poisoning domestic and international cooperation.”

    In her remarks, the Resident Representative for UNDP Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, said: “Since its (HDR) inception, the Human Development Report has become a flagship knowledge product. This unique annual report has not only helped to establish a new broad definition of development, but also to evaluate the progress made and highlight key challenges drawing on statistics.

    “This report encourages political leaders and development practitioners around the world to keep raising our ambitions and following up on areas that need support.

    “The report calls us to change course; otherwise, the world may not recover from the decline in human progress.

    “The repercussion of not changing course and removing the gridlock is in the additional lives that will be lost, in opportunities that will be forgone, and in feelings of despair…”

  • Presidency, UNDP, EU unite for acceleration of climate action plan

    Presidency, UNDP, EU unite for acceleration of climate action plan

    The Presidency has spoken on the urgency of accelerating climate action plans through national financing strategies and Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs).

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who noted this also underlined the importance of speeding up climate action plans through these frameworks.

    In a statement  by Special Adviser,  Media to SSAP-SDGs, Desmond Utomwen, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire stated this at a Climate Finance side event, hosted by her office, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), at COP28 in Dubai.

    The event showcased Nigeria’s dedication to climate action and sustainable development on the global stage.

    In addition to stressing the event’s importance in promoting discussions on financing strategies crucial for climate action, she underlined the importance of addressing climate challenges as the world approaches the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

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    Demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to the global climate agenda, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire highlighted the passage of the Climate Change Act 2021 and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change.

    She reminded the audience of Nigeria’s pledges at COP26 in 2021, including the ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

    The Presidential aide underscored the integrated approach to SDGs implementation in Nigeria, aligning short and medium-term national development plans with the SDGs since 2016.

    She added that the importance of the Integrated National Financing Framework as a manifestation of Nigeria’s dedication to the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing development.

    With an eye towards the future, Orelope-Adefulire emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to giving top priority to the important reforms and projects included in the INFF Roadmap.

    The country wants to raise public and private funding while maintaining caution in public sector spending to promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notwithstanding global fiscal challenges.

    The Senior Special Assistant stressed the importance of partnerships with the United Nations Development system, private sector, and non-state actors for a holistic approach to implementing the INFF Roadmap in Nigeria.

    In his remarks during the panel session, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, who chairs the National Steering Committee on Nigeria’s INFF, highlighted how Nigeria would accelerate her Climate Action Plan through the INFF.

    He noted that with global efforts in the implementation of the SDGs, climate action, inclusive facing serious challenges, climate action and ambition must be accelerated through international cooperation, collaboration, and mobilization of the necessary financial resources.

    He also stressed that the SDGs require increased investments and alignments from public, private, domestic, and international sources, as the climate emergency is a global crisis that requires a global response.

    Also speaking, UNDP’s Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, praised Nigeria on the INFF initiative. She stated that Nigeria recognises that understanding its internal financing landscape, making deliberate efforts to consider all economic dynamics, would benefit economic development, social enhancement, and the tackling of climate change.

    She noted that to bridge the disconnect between the issues and funding, over 80 countries are turning to the INFF, insisting that the INFF, as one of the 12 SDGs stimulus packages, can help finance national climate goals and integrate the financing of climate actions and Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs.

    “Let’s not forget, climate change has an unwavering attack and impact on development gains. We are losing a lot of ground because of climate change. Many investments that have been made over decades are being lost. So, what we are looking at today is a serious threat to our very essence. Let’s fight back by using the INFF as a tool to accelerate and build a resilient economy and resilient communities.” She sated.

    These positions were also echoed by the Deputy Minister on Maritime and Natural Resources/Head of National SDGs Secretariat Ministry of National Development Planning, Vivi Yulaswati, Director Global Committee on social business for SDGs China, Alex Wang, and Ahmad Salihijo of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, who were the other members of the panel.

  • Presidency, UNDP, EU push for acceleration of climate action plan through INFF

    Presidency, UNDP, EU push for acceleration of climate action plan through INFF

    The presidency has echoed the urgency of accelerating climate action plans through national financing strategies and Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs).

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who noted this also underlined the importance of speeding up climate action plans through these frameworks.

    In a statement issued by SA Media to SSAP-SDGs, Desmond Utomwen, Orelope-Adefulire stated this at a Climate Finance side event, hosted by her office, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), at COP28 in Dubai. 

    The event showcased Nigeria’s dedication to climate action and sustainable development on the global stage.

    In addition to stressing the event’s importance in promoting discussions on financing strategies crucial for climate action, she underlined the importance of addressing climate challenges as the world approaches the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

    Demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to the global climate agenda, Orelope-Adefulire highlighted the passage of the Climate Change Act 2021 and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change. 

    She reminded the audience of Nigeria’s pledges at COP26 in 2021, including the ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

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    The presidential aide underscored the integrated approach to SDGs implementation in Nigeria, aligning short and medium-term national development plans with the SDGs since 2016. 

    She added the importance of the Integrated National Financing Framework as a manifestation of Nigeria’s dedication to the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing development.

    With an eye towards the future, Orelope-Adefulire emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to giving top priority to the important reforms and projects included in the INFF Roadmap. 

    The country wants to raise public and private funding while maintaining caution in public sector spending to promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notwithstanding global fiscal challenges. 

    The Senior Special Assistant stressed the importance of partnerships with the United Nations Development system, private sector, and non-state actors for a holistic approach to implementing the INFF Roadmap in Nigeria.

    In his remarks during the panel session, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, who chairs the National Steering Committee on Nigeria’s INFF, highlighted how Nigeria would accelerate her Climate Action Plan through the INFF. 

    He noted that with global efforts in the implementation of the SDGs, climate action, inclusive facing serious challenges, climate action and ambition must be accelerated through international cooperation, collaboration, and mobilization of the necessary financial resources. 

    He also stressed that the SDGs require increased investments and alignments from public, private, domestic, and international sources, as the climate emergency is a global crisis that requires a global response.

    Also speaking, UNDP’s Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, praised Nigeria on the INFF initiative. 

    She stated that Nigeria recognises that understanding its internal financing landscape, making deliberate efforts to consider all economic dynamics, would benefit economic development, social enhancement, and the tackling of climate change. 

    She noted that to bridge the disconnect between the issues and funding, over 80 countries are turning to the INFF, insisting that the INFF, as one of the 12 SDGs stimulus packages, can help finance national climate goals and integrate the financing of climate actions and Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs.

    “Let’s not forget, climate change has an unwavering attack and impact on development gains. We are losing a lot of ground because of climate change. Many investments that have been made over decades are being lost. So, what we are looking at today is a serious threat to our very essence. Let’s fight back by using the INFF as a tool to accelerate and build a resilient economy and resilient communities.”

    These positions were also echoed by the Deputy Minister on Maritime and Natural Resources/Head of National SDGs Secretariat Ministry of National Development Planning, Vivi Yulaswati, Director Global Committee on social business for SDGs China, Alex Wang, and Ahmad Salihijo of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, who were the other members of the panel.