KAZAKHSTAN: A Good Example
Liter reported on 7 April that during his visit to Semey, the U.N. Secretary-General was accompanied by a number of the U.N. New-York Office staff including Mr. Fedor Klimchuk, a senior political advisor of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA), and several political affairs and human rights officers. Semey is a good example for the work of the U.N. agencies in Kazakhstan, Nikolay Botev, the UNFPA Sub-Regional Office Director, stated speaking about UN activities in the region. “Four agencies are successfully implementing projects here. Our colleagues are delivering as one, helping and supporting each other. We are trying to help the people of Semey region forget the difficult past, make them a happier and more successful and help develop the region."
UGANDA: Big Population Could Foil Bona Bagaggawale
The New Vision reported on 7 April that the 4th Uganda Governance Forum hosted by the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism and UNFPA recently assembled authorities and experts in economic growth to discuss Uganda’s high population growth rate. The main reason given for Uganda’s high fertility rate is uneven economic growth in favour of urban areas. Also the uneven empowerment of urban women compared to women in the rural areas. The highest fertility rate in Uganda occurs among rural women who produce as many as 11 children, while their urban counterparts produce at most five children. Read: The New Vision
MALAWI: Interview with UNFPA Programme Manager
The Nation published an interview on 7 April with Thomas Chataghalela Munthali, an economist and programme manager for UNFPA. Dr. Munthali called for policy, political leadership and public awareness linking poverty reduction programmes, empowerment of girls and address issues related to the country’s rapid population growth rate.
ETHIOPIA: UNFPA Donates Furniture, Books, Computers, Accessories To Agency
Ethiopia News Agency reported on 7 April that UNFPA donated books, servers, computers, and other accessories worth over 3.5 million Birr to Ethiopian Drug Fund and Supply Agency. Receiving the donation, agency deputy director Wondwosen Ayele said the donated equipment will help UNFPA enhance efforts toward connecting its affiliate offices and health service providing institutions of the country with wide-area information network. UNFPA has plans to increase the number of its affiliate offices in the country to 23, which stands at 11 presently. Read: Ethiopia News Agency
GLOBAL: UN Agencies Launch Latest Factbook For Taking Care Of Children
UN News Centre reported on 7 April that six United Nations agencies and the World Bank launched a revised book that provides life-saving information to families and communities on how to prevent child and maternal deaths, diseases, injuries and violence. “Through simple messages, Facts for Life aims to bring vital knowledge to parents and caregivers, who are the first line of defense in protecting children from illness and harm,” said Ann Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF, which co-published the book. WHO, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDP, UNAIDS and the World Bank are also involved in publishing the book. Read: UN News Centre and in Spanish: UN News Centre