From right to left: Mr. Mohammed Younys, Mr. Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, Ms. Ameerah Haq, H.E. General Salva Kiir, Mr. Jafet Enriquez, Dr. Luka Tombekana Monoja, Mr. Jerzy Skuratowicz

Juba, Southern Sudan, June 2008 - First Vice President of the Republic of the Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), H.E. General Salva Kiir received on 6 June a UNDP delegation led by Ms. Ameerah Haq, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative. President Kiir addressed several issues on the situation in Southern Sudan and the collaboration between the GoSS and UNDP, including disarmament, demobilization and reintegration opportunities and concerns, funding mechanisms in support of development projects, as well as UN support for peace and development in the region.

Ms. Haq was accompanied by Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director of UNDP/ Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS), Mr. Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, Country Director of UNDP Sudan, Mr. Jerzy Skuratowicz, and Head of UNDP Office in Southern Sudan, Mr. Jafet Enriquez, and Programme Advisor of UNDP/RBAS, Mr. Mohammad Younus.

The objective of the UNDP mission to Juba was to further advance the implementation of a set of development initiatives in partnership with the government of Southern Sudan.

“It is time for development and recovery in Southern Sudan. Emergency projects are less needed now”, said First Vice President Kiir emphasizing the importance of pressing ahead with the transition from relief to development.

First Vice President Kiir also expressed confidence in UNDP’s ability to play a greater role in Southern Sudan. “UNDP workshops in 1990s really helped the SPLM to carry out dialogue and negotiations. Those workshops benefited the Southern Sudanese and the Government of Southern Sudan is ready to continue with UNDP now.”

Comparing the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement to “a car without rear gear”, First Vice President Kiir stressed that peace and dialogue remain the only way forward in the country.

In 2005, the CPA ended a conflict that lasted over two decades until the Government of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) signed the peace deal.

As a result of the 22 years of civil war an estimated 2 million people have died and 4 million others displaced. The war consumed much of the country’s resources that could have served its economic development.

The situation in Southern Sudan is characterized by a fragile peace, a lack of infrastructure and basic services, a depressed economy, and nascent governance and rule of law structures with significant and urgent capacity-building needs. Translating the CPA into actions and programmes that will facilitate sustainable post-conflict recovery, governance and delivery of services has been an immense challenge to the GoSS.

Against this background, UNDP Programme in Southern Sudan is carrying out institutional capacity development of governance institutions at the three levels of GOSS, states and counties, through a combination of support to institutional infrastructure, human resource development, and technical assistance.

Another strategic priority for UNDP in Southern Sudan is to improve access to justice and develop institutional capacity of rule of law institutions in Southern Sudan, including the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development, the Judiciary, the Police and Prisons services, and the Southern Sudan Human Rights Commissions.

Community-based initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, and reducing risk of future crises and conflicts through enhancing community security and well being constitute major focus areas for both UNDP and the people it serves in this part of the country.

For more information on UNDP’s work across Southern Sudan, please visit: http://www.sd.undp.org/UNDP_south_sudan.htm