UN supports Cote d'Ivoire's priority action plan

ABIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire, November 22, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Côte d'Ivoire and Humanitarian Coordinator Ndolamb Ngokwey co-chaired a meeting of the Pilot Committee for the Priority Action Plan on Monday 21 November with State Minister Albert Mabri Toikeusse, Minister of Planning and Development,

After the meeting, Mr. Ngokwey stated that the encounter was a meeting of the Pilot Committee for UN System support for the consolidation of peace in the areas of social cohesion, reconciliation and security. He said the meeting was positive and provided an opportunity to validate the work done by experts in three main areas of intervention: the restoration of state authority; support provided to the Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CDVR, French abbreviation) for social cohesion, and peace-related questions. “We already have the possibility today to commit three million dollars and we already have the possibility of developing projects to the tune of an additional seven billion dollars,” Mr. Ngokwey said.

Mr. Ngokwey, who is also the UN system's resident coordinator, was optimistic with regard to prospects for obtaining the remaining financing so as to be able to attain the 28 million dollars needed to achieve the total consolidation of Côte d'Ivoire. “If we manage to show results, we can have the additional funds,” he said, adding: “The next step is the submission of this file so as to speed up project formulation and not abuse the patience of populations in distress.”

For the co-chair of the pilot committee, Minister Albert Mabri Toikeusse, the idea is to see how the UN system can organise itself to accompany the Government in its efforts to provide relief to the Ivorian populations, particularly in the west of Côte d'Ivoire. A framework for drawing on resources from the consolidation fund had been put in place to that effect. “I would like to announce that the United Nations, through this fund, is placing ten and a half million dollars at the disposal of Côte d'Ivoire,” he said. “It was a question of validating the emergency plan, which will be implemented quite rapidly.”

Minister Toikeusse added that the remaining 7.5 million dollars will be earmarked for promoting efforts made within the framework of national reconciliation, social cohesion and security. “Globally, the programme we drew up costs 28 million dollars and 10 million dollars are available,” he explained. “And I have been happy this evening to register many other interventions by the agencies and by the humanitarians, and the State will also continue its efforts in that direction.”