WFP, UNICEF and WHO intensify cooperation [Archives:2006/946/Local News]
SANA'A, May 10 ) A memorandum of understanding was signed on 10th May 2006 between the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund(UNICEF) and the World Health Organization(WHO). The signing ceremony was hosted by WFP and was attended by a number of UN officials from WFP, UNICEF, WHO and UNIC as well as journalists from the Yemeni media.
In his statement to Al-Thawra daily newspaper, Dr. Mohamed El-Kouhene, WFP Representative in Yemen, said that the agreement aims at intensifying the coordination efforts between the 3 UN agencies so as to overcome the problems faced by Yemen in the areas of health and education, particularly girl's education in rural regions.
Dr. El-kouhene has expressed his optimism that the agreement will achieve positive results and will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Yemen. As for the implementation mechanisms of this agreement, Dr. El-kouhene indicated that a technical working group has been established and will meet shortly to define the geographic areas and the categories of beneficiaries to be assisted. Asked why WFP took the initiative of bringing together the 3 agencies, Dr. El-kouhene indicated that cooperation and coordination between the 3 agencies is already a reality on the ground. “What we are doing is intensifying it and updating the joint operational framework.” Referring to the ongoing joint visit of the Executive Directors of UNICEF and WFP to Panama and before that to Africa, which aims at intensifying the joint effort to reach the MDGs in that region, Dr. El-kouhene added that “we are in a way following the foot steps of our heads. We need to work together, because none of us can achieve the expected goals alone, but the 3 of us can. We can achieve more, better and faster.”
On his part Mr. Ramesh Shrestah, UNICEF's Representative said that UNICEF has already collaborated with both WFP and WHO in the areas of education and health, indicating that “such agreement will formalize more and strengthen the partnership by all interested in issues of health and education.” He added that the agreement we have today will further strengthen the partnership between the 3 agencies.
Dr. Hashim El-Zain, WHO's Representative said that “this day is really a historical day in Yemen,” indicating that the programme which seems to be small in papers, is a huge one and it is a good opportunity for all of us to complement each other activities in order to have a real good effect. He said that the work of the 3 agencies together, will strengthen the cooperation and also will encourage others from other UN agencies to join us in these areas. He concluded that we are hoping to attract other partners to join us in this initiative in the future.
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