December 22: UN agencies working in Bhutan have committed over US$ 63 million to the Royal Government over the next five years. The money will be used to implement the UN common country programme action plan.

An agreement to this effect was signed yesterday. The agreement was signed by the Planning Secretary Karma Tshiteem and the UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Nicholas Rosellini.

The money will be used to implement the UN common country programme action plan signed between the UN system and the Royal Government in June this year. It will be implemented over the next five years from 2008 to 2012.

Under the action plan, the UN Development Assistance Framework has identified five priority areas to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

These are poverty reduction, health, education, governance, and environment and disaster management.

The coordination officer of UNDP Sunita Giri said the the UN agencies will now have a common country programme action plan. This she said will enhance the effectiveness of UN activities in Bhutan by enabling the different UN agencies to function within a coherent framework.

She said it will also streamline monitoring and reporting procedures and there will be a common system of giving funds and reporting for the government.