SPM tells UN agencies to align plans with NDS

Sponsored Advertisement

United Nations agencies operating in the country have been told this morning to align their implementation plans to the country’s National Development Strategy (NDS).

The strong reminder comes from the Secretary to the Prime Minister and Supervising Permanent Secretary of Planning Dr. Melchoir Mataki when he opened a Country Implementation Plan Technical stake-holders validation workshop in Honiara.

Dr Mataki sounded the reminder as he revealed that a mid-term review of the NDS for the first half of its implementation to 2016-2025 showed Solomon Islands is “off track” with respect to all the five objectives.

This National Development Strategy 2016-2035 maps out a strategic direction for the future development of Solomon Islands. It presents a visionary strategy for the next twenty years, setting out a long term vision, mission and objectives that reflect the aspirations of all Solomon Islanders. The NDS covers a twenty-year period to provide a longer term framework for planning.

UN through its agencies are key development partners with the Solomon Islands in the implementation of the NDS. The workshop brings together government and UN agencies officials to look at the Country Implementation Plan (CIP).

Dr Mataki stated that in general, the UN has an overall strategy that deals with the Pacific region, then the country implementation plan that focuses on each country.  In the Solomons, the main development framework is the National Development Strategy (NDS).

“I see that in your strive or endeavors that the programmes you do are aligned with our national needs and priorities. But you are still reporting in terms of the frameworks that you have (on the overall framework that the UN sees it).

“May, I respectfully request that perhaps you also look at, in our case, framing it so that it says it very clearly on where it is in terms of the NDS’ five objectives,” said Dr. Mataki.

Further to that, he said that it should also say what the programme has contribute to?  He acknowledged that it would go a long way in supporting the government to improve coordination and also support the them to see where significant resources that have been put into implementation progammes.

Dr. Mataki reiterated that it is critical also for SIG to know – so that it allows them especially on resource allocation especially on areas that have not been focused on.

He also made it clear that better coordination not only need to come from within government but all stakeholders that will involve in the country implementation programme.  “Because you can have a coordination mechanism strategy in place but if people and organizations do not wish to be coordinated it becomes very difficult,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the UN Agus Wandi, Senior Peace & Development Advisor, Office of the UN Resident Coordinator has assured SPM Dr. Mataki that: “We have taken note of your key points on aligning the Country Implementation Plan with the NDS.”