UNDP, Uganda sign sh36b five-year development programme

THE UNDP resident representative, Mr. Daouda Toure, has warned that the second cooperation programme the agency signed with Uganda on Thursday should be implemented with utmost transparency, reports John Eremu. Toure said the successful implementation of the US$20m (sh36b) five-year programme will enable the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) mobilise more resources from other development partners. "What is important now is to ensure the timely implementation of the programme and we want it done with maximum efficiency and maximum transparency," Toure said at the signing ceremony in Kampala. "Cross-cutting issues provided for in the programme like gender and environment should be taken care of against the set bench marks and not just given lip service," he added. Just like government, Toure said, the agency has gone into results based management whereby it will be judged against achieved bench marks. "We aim at every dollar spend under UNDP-funded programmes making our target audiences better than what they have been before," he said adding that his office will keep a close watch on the progress of the programme. The Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Chris Kasami, commended UNDP for the role it plays in Uganda's poverty eradication efforts. He said the government aims at reducing absolute poverty to 10% by the year 2017 and the new programme was crucial for achieving that goal. A 20-member steering committee for the programme was inaugurated.