Canada, Ireland & New Zealand Pledge 8.9 Mln to One UN Initiative in Vietnam

The Governments of Canada, Ireland and New Zealand on November 2 announced combined contributions of almost US$9 million to support UN reform efforts in Vietnam. Government and UN officials - known as the Tripartite National Task Force – will help the UN better respond to Vietnam’s changing socio-economic development needs with more coordinated assistance.

 

“This is an outstanding show of support for the One UN Initiative in Vietnam,” said UN Resident Coordinator John Hendra at the meeting. “The One Plan Fund is a direct response to the government’s call for more flexible, responsive and effective United Nations assistance here.”

 

New Zealand Ambassador Dr James Kember agreed, saying that Vietnam is seen as a model country among the eight UN reform pilot countries and, “Donor and developing countries all benefit from an integrated, streamlined operation and from greater coherence around the delivery of development assistance.”

 

The Charge d’Affaires of Ireland, Mr Peter E Smyth, confirmed his country’s commitment to work with the UN to meet Vietnam’s changing development needs. “This country is rapidly developing and business as usual will not be enough,” he said.

 

For his part Canadian Ambassador Mr Gabriel Lessard added that, “Canada will continue to work with the Government and UN system in Vietnam to ensure that the most effective assistance is delivered for the people of Vietnam.”

 

Today’s commitments include a contribution of US$4 million from New Zealand for the four year period of 2007-2010, and pledges of approximately US$2.1 million from Canada and 2.8 million from Ireland for 2007 and 2008. All are direct contributions to the One Plan, which is unique in that it is not allocated to specific projects, but rather to UN programme priorities. The One Plan is expected to synthesise the programmes of all UN agencies in Vietnam by early 2008.

 

In close partnership with the Government, the UN has been working to move beyond coordination efforts to a One UN presence in Vietnam, to provide more effective support to Vietnam. In December 2006, Vietnam officially became one of only eight countries in the world to pilot reform efforts.