Zimbabwe and the United Nations have signed an agreement to raise US$600 million in funds for a range of projects over the next four years under the Zimbabwe-UN Development Assistance Framework, UN officials say.
The cooperative venture will support pro-poor economic development, improvements in social services and infrastructure, among other ventures, and support good governance to promote sustainable growth and development. Officials say the agreement reflects Harare’s desire to move ahead more quickly in such critical areas.
Most Western bilateral donors have been reluctant to fund development programs other than humanitarian without seeing clear progress on a range of political, human rights and economic reforms by the power-sharing government in Harare.
Officials say the envisioned projects will promote universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, the empowerment of women and gender equality, allowing donors to decided where they would most like to provide support.
UN Resident Coordinator in Zimbabwe Alain Noudehou said UN agencies and Harare ministries will propose development projects to be funded by donors.
Noudehou told VOA Studio 7 reporter Tatenda Gumbo that UN agencies will establish partnerships with donors to advance and fund worthy projects.
