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The first year of implementation of the UNDAF 2007-20011 presented the UNCT in El Salvador with new coordination and harmonization challenges. With the UNDAF underway, the UNCT was successful in transforming the results of the common programming process into concrete programmes and activities of the different UN Agencies and Programmes.
Although El Salvador is classified as a middle-income country, poverty rates are still relatively high. The extreme poverty rate is 9.6% and moderate poverty rate is 30.8%. Preliminary data from the 2007 Population Census estimates the actual population at 5.9 million and calculates that around 3 million Salvadorans live outside of the country, the majority of them in the United States. High levels of violence, delinquency and insecurity continue to be priority concerns for both the government and the general public. In 2007 alone, homicide rates reached an alarming rate of more than 54 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants.
El Salvador has been making steady progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and evidence suggests that these positive trends will continue. According to national indicators, the target of halving poverty (MDG1) has already been achieved, as has the target of access to sanitation, (MDG 7, Target 10). National data also indicates that the indicator in target 10 related to universal access to clean water has almost been reached. In the case of the other goals, the country still has some way to go, but the current trajectory hints that backed by strong public policies, El Salvador has the potential to achieve the MDGs.
This year has been characterised by the heightening of political polarisation. Likewise, 2008 promises to be a difficult pre-electoral year as El Salvador prepares for its General Elections in 2009 where Salvadorans will elect a President, in addition to Legislative Assembly and Local Government representatives.
The UN Agencies and Programmes continued to make constant efforts to coordinate the assistance given to the country, namely in the four priority areas of the UNDAF: Democratic Governance; Economic Development and Achievement of MDGs, Human & Social capacity, Environment & Disaster Management.
The UN has maintained a good relationship with the Salvadoran Government as a result of constant communication with government development partners. The UNCT believes it to be of the utmost importance for the Government to recognise the UN as a key public policy adviser.
Summary on progress towards UNDAF outcomes
Outcome 1: Democratic Governance
The UNDP has given technical support to the National Commission for Citizen Security and Social Peace, and has been pro-active both in the elaboration of a Citizen Security policy proposal and in implementing the recommendations of the Commission.
Various agencies, have been implementing innovative programmes aimed at reducing the high levels of armed violence in the country, especially among young people. UNICEF has played an important role in promoting the rights of the child in this context.
UNICEF has also been providing technical assistance in the preparation of a draft proposal for chid protection legislation.
UNFPA has taken onboard the important task of promoting gender mainstreaming and the ratification of CEDAW in various public institutions including the Supreme Court.
Significant efforts have been made to promote the incorporation of women into political life, by training women for political careers and participating in the organisation of related Diplomas.
UNDP has supported the creation of an online Legislative Observatory in order to promote discussion and accountability of the elected Representatives.
UN Agencies have supported the construction of the National Local Development Agenda.
Outcome 2: Economic Development & MDG Achievement
The UN has provided technical support in the elaboration of the National Census (UNFPA) and various other statistical instruments such as the National Census to monitor the Physical Development of the Child (PAHO/WHO, UNICEF, WFP).
WFP has carried out an Investigation about the Basic Food Basket, indicating costs on the national economy of the heavy rainfall and winds in 2007.
FAO and UNICEF have jointly developed a Family Investment Strategy to encourage wise use of remittances.
OIT has elaborated and publicised a series of materials adverting the risks of child labour in the fishing and sugar cane industry.
The 2007-2008 UNDP HDR will be centered on the issue of Employment. UNDP also has a Urban Poverty Programme, which includes the elaboration of a Interagency National MDG Plan.
Efforts have also been made to improve Consumer Rights in the National Consumer Protection System, including a programme which aims to incorporate a gender approach in this system.
Outcome 3: Human and Social Capacity
PAHO/WHO has provided training to the Public Institutions related to Basic Social Services, in many aspects of public policy and practice.
PAHO/WHO & UNFPA, together with the Global Fund and UNAIDS, has worked throughout the year to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and give technical assistance and support the Country Coordination Mechanism for HIV/AIDS, the National Authority for VIH/AIDS and have helped to improve the National System for Monitoring and Evaluation of HIV/AIDS.
UNFPA and PAHO/WHO in particular have undertaken a role of advocacy to include Sexual and Reproduction Rights in the public agenda by launching awareness campaigns and training public health staff.
UNICEF has supported the Ministry of Education in various aspects including promotion of literacy programmes. UNICEF has also made efforts to systematise best practices in pre-school education and to promote the important role that the family plays in a child’s education.
UNICEF and UNDP have also supported the Government’s Poverty Reduction strategy namely the “Solidarity Network” programme.
FAO and WFP have important initiatives aimed at improving Food Security and Nutrition in El Salvador. WFP continued its successful programmes providing food aid to underprivileged schools and vulnerable populations.
Outcome 4: Disaster Management and Environment
The UN has maintained constant dialogue and coordination with the National System for Territorial Studies and the National Civil Protection System. A National Report about Risks and Vulnerabilities was also produced and WFP has recently developed a vulnerability analysis map (VAM), which will be of great use when determining future policies.
The UN is dedicated to promoting the agenda of climate change. To this end, several UN Agencies participate in the Committee on Climate Change convened by the Ministry of Agriculture. In addition technical support has been given in the elaboration of the National Climate Change Plan. The UN has also supported government efforts to implement the Montreal Protocol and have developed various programmes aimed at improving access to water resources and sanitation.
FAO has supported the National Forestry Commission and have participated in the elaboration of a National Forestry Strategy.
Much progress had been made in 2007, in the sense that the majority of the Disaster Management related UN activities have been carried out jointly by the agencies using the UNETE framework. Summary on progress in UN Reform
The UN System in El Salvador comprises 9 Resident Organizations: FAO, ILO, PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS, WFP and World Bank. IOM also has a country office in El Salvador. In order to ensure complete participation of all UN Representatives, the UNCT will commence monthly “expanded UNCT” meetings in 2008 to include the Representatives of the World Bank, IOM and UNAIDS, who have not previously participated in UNCT meetings.
In 2007 the UN Agencies jointly elaborated the Report entitled ”Trajectory of MDG achievement in El Salvador”. This in-depth report provided an analysis of the current status of the MDG Indicators in El Salvador and offers statistic-based predictions about future trends. This report will be used as a baseline for the elaboration of the National MDG Plan which is programmed for 2008-09. In addition, plans are underway to design an Urban Poverty Plan (UNDP) and to improve the monitoring of MDG Indicators.
The UNCT has continued to facilitate monthly donor meetings and attend MDG working groups with donor and government participation.
The progress made throughout the first year of UNDAF was analysed in an UNCT/Technical team Retreat towards the end of 2007. Throughout 2007 the UN Agencies and Programmes in El Salvador have continued to unite forces and identify opportunities for joint programming, resulting in the elaboration of 5 Joint Programmes in the following areas: Gender Equality, Youth Employment and Migration, Impact of Migration on Woman, Children and the Family, Human Security and Disaster Management. Three of these Joint Programmes were granted funding, and two of them are already in the implementation phase. With regards to the Monitoring and Evaluation of the UNDAF, a DevInfo training session was carried out in order to prepare the M&E group for the future implementation of this software.
A special effort was made to strengthen and formalise the UNDAF Theme Groups. At the moment there are 5 theme groups functioning, all with TORs and regular meetings established. In addition to the existing groups (Gender, UNAIDS, UNETE), two new Theme Groups were established: Food Security and Nutrition and Violence Prevention. The main achievements of these groups are highlighted below:
UNETE
Coordinated by WFP, the United Nations Emergency Team updated the Contingency Plan and protocols related to Floods and Landslides and Avian Influenza. The Disaster Management Joint Programme funded a variety of UNETE activities, including the strengthening of the UN Support Centre for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance and the elaboration of a Geo-referenced Map of Temporary Shelters. This map will be an important tool in the planning of the National Disaster Management strategy for the rainy season 2008.
UNETE has also played an important role in disaster response efforts in the Region, a role which has gained them a reputation as one of the most effective UN Emergency Teams in the Region.
UNAIDS
UNFPA currently presides the UNAIDS group, formed by the Representatives of PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF& WFP. In order to further enhance the effectiveness of UNAIDS, an interagency group of HIV/AIDS experts was created to provide the necessary technical advice to the UNAIDS team. Throughout 2007, UNAIDS has offered substantial support to the National HIV/AIDS Authority (CONASIDA) and has played an instrumental role in the preparation of two projects which have been presented to the Global Fund.
The implementation of the UN Cares Strategy to promote HIV/AIDS awareness in the workplace has been particularly noteworthy. In 2007, the UN organised a variety of HIV/AIDS awareness events for UN staff, including a Behaviour Adaptation Workshop given by an international specialist and an Educational Camp for UN Staff dependants.
Violence Prevention
This recently formed group is headed by UNDP. This group worked together in the preparation of the Human Security Joint Programme which was granted funding by the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (financed by the Japanese Government). Since the official creation of this theme group in October of 2007, the group has conducted a Planning Workshop where it managed to document and coordinate all of the UN activities carried out in the area of violence prevention and citizen security. The group has elaborated a Work Plan for 2008, where it highlights the joint priority intervention areas for the coming year.
Food Security and Nutrition
Given that various UN Agencies carry out important programmes and activities in this area, it was decided that the Food Security and Nutrition group should be created as an ideal forum to exchange information and harmonise UN interventions. Considering that both FAO and WFP have strong mandates in this field, it was agreed that both agencies should co-chair this group.
Gender
Gender is integral part of all UN development interventions in El Salvador. Chaired by UNFPA, the Gender Theme group has been working on advocating gender equality both internally and externally. This important advocacy work materialised in the organisation of a Gender and Migration Forum (IWD) and a successful gender violence advocacy campaign which took place throughout the 16 days of Activism.
Additionally, the Gender Theme Group has elaborated a proposal for an Interagency gender strategy which seeks to incorporate gender mainstreaming policies in all UN Agencies and some major development partners.
The group also invested much time and effort in the formulation of a Joint Programme proposal which was presented in the MDG Fund Gender window. Although this proposal was not selected for funding, the experience afforded the UNCT the opportunity to extract lessons learned for future joint programmes.
In addition to these 5 Theme Groups, the UN in El Salvador also has 2 functioning Operational Interagency Groups:
Operations Management Team
The Common Services Workshop was carried out in 2007 thanks to support provided by UNDG and in particular the Regional Common Services Team. As a result of this workshop, the UN now has a Common Administrative Plan for 2008, which will allow the Agencies to benefit from cost-efficient quality services. The OMT has been especially involved in following-up the Common Premises study and has supported the efforts to find more appropriate premises for the four agencies who currently share premises: ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, World Bank.
Communications
The Communications Group, chaired by UNICEF, has made a constant effort throughout 2007 to visualise the work of the UN in El Salvador. A UN Press Strategy was developed for UN Day, where UN Agency Representatives participated in TV and Radio Interviews to promote UN activities. In addition, the group jointly elaborated a supplement highlighting the key areas of the UNDAF which was published on UN Day in one of the most popular daily newspapers. The year 2007 also saw the inauguration of the UN Monument in the UN Plaza in the Capital City of El Salvador. Key aspects of the proposed 2008 workplan
As a result of the 2007 UNDAF Review Retreat and UNCT planning meetings, the following activities have been identified as 2008 UNCT priorities:
Support the preparation of the National MDG Plan. UN Support for Monitoring the MDGs 1 & 2 has already begun with technical assistance from the MDG Support Team. Create MDG Working Group.
UN Support to the Government for the coordination of the XVIII Ibero-American Summit which will concentrate on “Youth and Development”. Given the scale of this event, it will be important for the UN to support the preparation process.
Political Analysis Sessions for the UNCT throughout the Pre- Electoral year.
Strengthen the UNDAF theme groups and create new theme groups
Update the UNDAF M&E Framework by improving the quality of the UNDAF indicators and employing DevInfo as a monitoring tool.
The UNDAF Annual Revision will be carried out towards the end of the year.
Create new Joint Programmes in the following areas: Climate change, MDG Plan, Joint Programme for HIV/AIDS.
Implement the already approved Human Security Joint Programme.
Continue to analyse the possibility of having UN Common Premises in El Salvador.
Monitor the HACT implementation process.
Develop a UN Joint Communications Strategy.
Strengthen the UN Disaster Management response, including the elaboration of protocols for large-scale disasters.
Further promote the UN Cares strategy.
Implement the Interagency Gender strategy. Recommendations
As mentioned in the the 2008 Work Plan, the XVIII Ibero American Summit entitled "Youth and Development" will be held in El Salvador this year. As requested by the Government of El Salvador, the UN will be offering technical assistance throughout the preparatory stages of the Summit and for formulation of the the substantive content of the Summit itself. Given these circumstances, we would ask for the full support and cooperation of the Regional Directors Team.
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