UN and govt. ink Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023-2027

From left: Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana and UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hana Singer Hamdy hold copies of UNSDCF inked at Finance Ministry yesterday

The United Nations (UN) in Sri Lanka and government partners yesterday inked the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the island nation for the next five years. 

The Cooperation Framework will guide the work of UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes for the 2023-2027 period. The Cooperation Framework gives primacy to accelerating actions to ensure a rapid recovery from the economic crisis along with the impact of COVID-19, prioritising support to revitalise the economy and economic activities, social services, decent employment, social cohesion and health and well-being for all people in 
Sri Lanka.

A core budget of US $ 60 million is allocated to fund the Cooperation Framework. The allocation is in addition to the US $ 325 million funding that comes from other resources, spread across the five-year period of implementation. 

Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana signed the Framework on behalf of the Sri Lankan government and UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer-Hamdy signed on behalf of the United Nations. Addressing the signing event yesterday at the Finance Ministry, Hamdy said the Cooperation Framework is mutually owned and anchored in national development priorities, the 2030 Agenda and the principles of the UN Charter. 

“The UNSDCF is structured around four interrelated and mutually reinforcing Strategic Priorities, where the UN system will concentrate its expertise to support Sri Lanka to make transformational and accelerated progress,” said Hamdy.  The Strategic Priorities cover: Inclusive and Equitable Human Development and Well-being, Resilient and Green Recovery and Growth for Shared Prosperity and Environmental Sustainability, Social Cohesion and Inclusive Governance and Justice and Gender Equality. Commenting on the significance of the Framework for Sri Lanka, Treasury Secretary Siriwardana said the effort would be key for the country, as it looks to pursue sustainable and inclusive development.