UNDP To Step Up Efforts for Tackling
Inequality and Effective Local Governance in Sudan

Ms. Amat Alsoswa, UNDP Regional Director for Bureau for Arab States, with H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of Southern Sudan and the First Vice President of Sudan

Khartoum, 12 June 2010 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will be at the forefront of support to the national authorities in tackling priorities of capacity development for poverty reduction, gender equity and inclusive governance in Sudan. Vigorous efforts will have to be mounted to address the emerging threat posed by climate change in the form of water scarcity and impact on livelihoods. This was stated by the UNDP Assistant Administrator and the Regional Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States, Ms. Amat Alsoswa on the concluding day of her visit to Sudan, here today.

During her week-long visit, Ms. Alsoswa met with high-level officials in the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan. She also visited several development initiatives implemented by UNDP in Sudan for enhancing national and state-level capacity for good governance and rule of law. In Juba she called on the President of Southern Sudan and the First Vice President of Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny. She also met with the Governor of Jonglei State, Mr. Kuol Manyang Juuk during her field visit to Jonglei state.

Ms. Amat Alsoswa, with Dr. Mustafa Ismail, Advisor to the President of Sudan

Earlier, in her meetings with the Undersecretary, Ministry of International Cooperation, Mr. El Fatih Ali Siddig, and with Advisor to the President on Eastern Sudan, Dr. Mustafa Ismail, she discussed areas of future cooperation between UNDP and the Government of National Unity. Ms. Alsoswa reiterated the importance of focusing on gender equity and ensuring that women who have suffered from long years of conflict are able to participate in and benefit from peace-building and development efforts

“As we scale up our support and outreach to the most marginalized sections of society, a significant effort needs to be mounted in empowering local community-based organizations that have the capacity to implement programmes. This is as important as the need for building the capacity of national and state-level organizations and government planning institutions”, Ms. Alsoswa observed.

Ms. Alsoswa visited El Fasher in North Darfur, Abyei and Jonglei in Southern Sudan during her visit. She made a first-hand assessment of work undertaken in different parts of the country in strengthening the state-level apparatus for local governance, enhancing security through training of police force, beefing up the judicial system in several states.

UNDP, in partnership with other UN agencies and the donor community, is a part of the nation-wide effort in Sudan to enhance capacity of the government at the national, state and local-level for better and equitable delivery of basic services.

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For more information please contact:
Kumar Tiku: Head, Communications Unit, UNDP Sudan: kumar.tiku@undp.org

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.