Ha Noi, October 8, 2007 – The Netherlands announced funding today of $2.5 million in support of UN reform efforts in Viet Nam through the One UN Initiative.
Dutch Ambassador Mr André Haspels praised the progress made by the United Nations in Viet Nam and pledged $2.5 million in support of the One Plan, which expects to synthesise the programme of all UN agencies in Viet Nam by early 2008. Funding for the One Plan is unique in that it is not allocated to specific projects, but rather to programme priorities.
“The Netherlands is committed to UN reform and supporting the aid effectiveness agenda in Viet Nam,” said Haspels. “The Government has shown great leadership in ensuring the UN remains a relevant and effective body in this country. A goal we wholeheartedly support.”
The United Nations, in close partnership with the Government has been working to move beyond basic coordination efforts to the One UN Initiative, designed to provide more effective support to Viet Nam and its development efforts. The One UN initiative is the UN’s response to Viet Nam’s call for a more effective UN in line with the Ha Noi Core Statement on Aid Effectiveness. Officially announced in December 2006 as one of only eight countries in the world to pilot reform efforts, Viet Nam is a global leader in aid effectiveness and UN reform.
“Countries like the Netherlands want to see a UN that is flexible and evolves to better work with Viet Nam to meet its socio-economic development needs,” said UN Resident Coordinator John Hendra. “The One Plan is the foundation of the One UN Initiative, and will allow donors to fund efforts to provide assistance to do just that.”
