Newsletter

P4

Consultation on

Ethnic Diversity

and Health

P8

Guyana takes steps

to implement decent

work

P11

Guiana Shield Action Plan to

Facilitate Biodiversity Corridors

developed to achieve Aichi Targets

P14

Strengthening the delivery

of Health and Family Life

Education in Guyana

January — June 2014 Issue #2

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As we publish this second edition of our newsletter it is appropriate to

take stock of what the UN System has accomplished so far for this year.

We have all continued to implement our respective work plans –

interacting with our partners in a meaningful way; in so doing we

continue to contribute to Guyana’s overall development, while at the

same time we are achieving the outputs of Guyana’s 2012-2016 UNDAF.

At the same time, we are still working towards the achievement of the

MDGs. The UN maintains strong partnerships with a wide range of

stakeholders throughout the country including in the hinterland, so that

our work is not only concentrated in Georgetown and its environs.

In June this year we conducted a Mid Term Review of the UNDAF,

which allowed us to reflect on what we have achieved, and what more we

need to do in the remaining two years of this development assistance

framework. Moreover, the Mid Term Review allowed us, with our

partners in government and civil society to meet collectively. The

Review found that the UN remains a valued partner in Guyana’s

development.

Later in the year we also will be observing UN month and this year our

focus is on youth. You will hear more of the activities for UN month

through our website and other social media.

Until next time.

Khadija Musa UN Resident Coordinator

“ … interacting

with our partners

in a meaningful

way; in so doing

we continue to

contribute to

Guyana’s overall

development”

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UNDP’s 2014 Human Development Report was released in July. The Report presents a composite of

Indices: the Human Development Index (HDI) for 187 countries and UN-recognized territories; the

Inequality – adjusted HDI for 145 countries; the Gender Development Index for 148 countries, the

Gender Inequality Index for 149 countries, and the Multi-dimensional Poverty Index for 91 countries.

GUYANA’S HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS YEAR’S HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Guyana’s HDI value and rank

Guyana’s HDI value for 2013 is 0.638 – in the medium human development category –

positioning Guyana at 121 out of 187 countries and territories. Guyana’s HDI of 0.638 is

above the average of 0.614 for countries in the medium human development group, and

below the average of 0.740 for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Between 1980 and 2013, Guyana’s HDI value increased from 0.156 to 0.638, an increase of

23.6 percent or an average annual increase of about 0.65 per cent.

Inequality-adjusted HDI

Although Guyana’s HDI value is 0.638, when the value is discounted for inequality, the

HDI falls to 0.522, a loss of 18.2 per cent. The average loss due to inequality for medium

HDI countries is 25.6 per cent.

Gender Inequality Index

Guyana’s value is 0.524, ranking it 113 out of 149 countries.

Gender Development Index

The female HDI value for Guyana is 0.629 in contrast with 0.638 for males, resulting in a

Gender Development Index value of 0.985.

Multi-dimensional Poverty Index

This index represents the share of the population that is multi-dimensionally poor, adjusted

by the intensity of the deprivation. Guyana’s value is 0.031.

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The Pan American Health Organization/World

Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) conducted a

two-day national consultation in April 2014 on

Ethnic Diversity and Health. This consultation

was held in an effort to contribute to the

development of the PAHO/WHO Regional

Strategy on Ethnic Diversity and Health, which is

being conducted by PAHO/WHO’s regional

office.

This was the first consultation conducted in the

Caribbean Region to discuss the Strategic

Document and served to enhance awareness of

the importance of identifying racial and ethnic

disparities and how these impacted health.

Discussions revealed that Guyana had made

significant advances in the field of ethnic

diversity and health and that many of the

initiatives and programs in the country were

already responding to the strategic lines of action

of the PAHO Regional Document. For example,

the Indigenous People’s Act, which specifically

referred to the right to health of indigenous

peoples, which responds to the differential impact

of various social determinants on indigenous

persons.

One of the main conclusions from the

consultation was that an intercultural approach

promotes equitable interaction between groups with different cultural identities who perceive health as

a right.

The national consultation was co- facilitated by Dr. Rosalinda Hernández, Advisor Family Health

(FCH) and HIV PAHO/WHO Guyana, and Ms. Sandra Del Pino, Cultural Diversity Specialist from the

PAHO/WHO office in Washington, DC.

UN System participation during the Ethnic Diversity

and Health consultation

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Given the Caribbean region’s high annual food

import bill, which now stands at approximately

USD 4.25 billion and the majority of the food

imports are in the form of processed foods made

from wheat and corn, there is the potential to

reduce the food import bill by using local food

substitutes such as breadfruit and cassava. With

this objective in mind, the Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in

collaboration with the Ministries of Education and

Agriculture, and the Carnegie School of Home

Economics organized a two day breadfruit

demonstration session in May.

A group of 20 Secondary School Home Economics

Teachers and Agro-Processors from across the

country received training at the Carnegie School of Home Economics on various ways in which

breadfruit could be used to prepare innovative and nutritious meals as a substitute for wheat.

Participants were shown how to make breadfruit flour, which was then used to prepare a range of

attractive and interesting breadfruit dishes such as pholouri, roti, cupcakes, muffin, and dessert.

Breadfruit is a staple food and has appeared on the local dining tables without ever really imposing

itself on the national diet. It is anticipated that the participants will disseminate the knowledge and

skills acquired from the workshop so that breadfruit can become a greater part of the local culinary

culture.

The Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie

Ramsammy and participants of the training.

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The United Nations Country Team and the Government of Guyana, on Wednesday June 18, held a

Mid Term Review (MTR) of the 2012-2016 United Nations Development Framework (UNDAF). The

MTR examined the first two and a half years of UNDAF’s programme cycle, and proposed

recommendations for the remainder of the UNDAF period. Participants in the review included

representatives of the United Nations Country Team, government partners, representatives of the

implementing agencies, and members of civil society.

In delivering the opening remarks, UN Resident Coordinator, Ms.

Khadija Musa gave a brief history of UNDAF, which she noted “brought

together UN expertise both in and out of Guyana.” The Resident

Coordinator said that the Review was “intended to be a learning and

sharing session. What happens in the next two years, completes the

cycle and the lessons which were learnt feed into the process of refining

the GoG/UN Development Cooperation”.

The Ministry of Finance is the lead counterpart in implementing UNDAF,

and in the absence of the Minister of Finance, the Ministry was

represented by Ms. Donna Levi, the head of the ministry’s bilateral

division. In her address, Ms. Levi observed that through UNDAF, the Government of Guyana and the

UNCT were “consolidating and stimulating positive change, growth and development.”

The MTR revealed that the collective efforts of the UN Country Team (UNCT) and Government are

contributing in a significant way to achieving the established outcomes of the UNDAF.

With UN support, Guyana has progressed in advancing the achievement of the MDGs and activities

related to the Post 2015 agenda and there has been outstanding progress on MDG1 (the fight against

hunger). Guyana however lags behind on the targets related to maternal health. With UN support,

the MDG Acceleration Framework (MAF) on Maternal Health was developed to eliminate the main

obstacles related to the achievement of this goal.

“ … What happens in

the next two years,

completes the cycle

and the lessons which

were learnt feed into

the process of refining

the GoG/UN

Development

Cooperation”.

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The United Nations family has had a long association with young people. Through its various

agencies, the United Nations Country team has implemented several initiatives which aim at supporting

youth, allowing their voices to be heard. One such initiative is UNFPA’s Youth Advisory Group

(YAG), which was established in Guyana in 2009, as part of the organisation’s commitment to young

people’s empowerment and rights.

Its focus is on three thematic areas: Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), Gender Based

Violence (GBV) and Sexual Violence (SV), and Youth Participation and Awareness, through

advocacy. YAG targets youths in various regions in Guyana, and through information dissemination,

the group has been making its voice heard. YAG combines traditional media, non-traditional media,

and social media in their Means of interaction with other youths.

YAG is also involved in articulating young persons’ views on issues such as the post-Beijing agenda,

and in guiding the discourse on Small Island Development States (SIDS).

In this regard, YAG participated in two virtual

activities this year. The first was a United Nations

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Virtual

Youth Forum, held under the theme “Realizing

the Future They Want.” Held on June 3, the

forum allowed youth participation at a key session

of ECOSOC’s Youth Forum and was broadcast via

video link. This session discussed young persons’

views on targets and indicators that could be

included in the post-2015 Development Agenda

and a key thematic area of health.

The second virtual activity was an Online Youth

Capacity Building Session for youth across the six

country offices of UNFPA’s Sub-Regional Office

for the Caribbean, in support of UNFPA’s Action

Plan, which advances both the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)’s

priorities and UNFPA issues in the Caribbean SIDS discourse. The session enabled youths to advocate

and mobilize support and was conducted on June 18.

Participants at the United Nations Economic and

Social Council (ECOSOC) Virtual Youth Forum

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At a Meeting held between the ILO Decent Work Team and representatives of the tripartite

constituents in Guyana on 16 May 2014, to review the country’s Decent Work Country Programme

(DWCP), a number of steps to implement the Programme were noted. The Minister of Labour, Hon.

Nanda Gopaul, and the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Hon. Jennifer Webster,

advised that the DWCP covering the period 2012 – 2015 was fully supported by Parliament, which

meant that legislative action, when needed, was taken quickly.

Regular meetings of the National Tripartite Forum were held to discuss

labour matters and the consequent recommendations adopted and passed

on to Parliament meant that HIV/AIDS Regulations had been tabled and

gazetted; a national monthly minimum wage of GUY$35,000 (USD170)

was implemented from July 2013; and Occupation Safety and Health

(OSH) Regulations related to mining, chemicals, manufacturing and

noise were currently being finalized. Of particular importance was the

ratification of the Domestic Workers Convention 2011 (No 189).

Amendments to the Labour Law meant that domestic workers and

security guards are protected by that law for the first time. The minimum

wage also extended to domestic workers thus ensuring decent work for

that sector.

The Government took initiatives to carry on the work started under the

Tackling Child Labour through Education (TACKLE) Programme to end child labour such as the

support given to parents to keep children in school, and the focus of the Training Agencies to provide

practical courses for dropouts in the areas of cosmetology, brickmaking, and bricklaying.

Representatives of the Trade Unions and the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry endorsed

the success of the tripartite approach and commended the Minister of Labour in leading the process.

Issues for future work were identified, which included improving youth employment rates; ensuring

that robust and timely labour statistics were available; and the need for increased enforcement of labour

legislation.

Giovanni di Cola, Director, ILO Office for the Caribbean, congratulated the parties on their efforts to

ensure decent work for all in Guyana and committed the support of the Decent Work Team to continue

assisting the social partners in the areas prioritized by the DWCP.

“… national

monthly minimum

wage of

GUY$35,000

(USD170) ...“

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UNFPA in collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission hosted a three day workshop in June

2014 for the Integration of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender based/Sexual Violence into

Disaster and Risk Reduction Plans.

The workshop saw participation from the Regional Democratic Councils

of Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, youth volunteers from Civil Society

Organisations, and representatives from the Ministry of Local

Government.

The critical issues addressed during the workshop were maternal health;

access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information and

services; gender based/sexual violence which could occur during a

disaster; and strategies for integrating responses to these issues especially

in the shelters.

The interactive sessions allowed participants to

identify areas they would need to incorporate in

their planning period for disasters. The

importance of a workshop of this nature was

highlighted as participants expressed gratitude for

the information shared, since they had never

considered their importance during a disaster.

Participants

expressed gratitude

for the information

shared, since they

had never

considered their

importance during

a disaster.

Participants at Workshop

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Former President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo was elected Chairman of FAO’s 22nd Session of the Committee

on Forestry (COFO) for the period 2014-2016. The COFO is the highest FAO Forestry statutory body.

In his remarks upon taking up the Chair, Dr.

Jagdeo emphasized the need to advance the global

forests agenda, in light of the role forests play as

an important mitigation option for addressing

climate change. Apart from pointing to the need

for an enabling policy environment at the national

level, and access to, and the scaling up of financing

as two priority areas, he also underscored the

important role COFO and the FAO play in pushing

for a globally supportive environment for action on

forests.

The biennial sessions of COFO, which this year

were held in Rome from June 23-27, 2014, brought

together heads of forest services and other senior

government officials to identify emerging policy

and technical issues, seek solutions, and advise

FAO and others on appropriate action on global forestry issues. COFO 22 also provided an opportunity

for member countries to consider ways of promoting forests’ contributions to global developmental

objectives and ensuring that they feed into global negotiation processes. These include the development

of the Sustainable Development Goals as part of the post-2015 development agenda.

While in Rome, Dr. Jagdeo also met with FAO Director-General, Mr. Jose Graziano Da Silva. Among

issues discussed were expanding the FAO’s work in the Caribbean and the need for the organization to

play a more pivotal role on the issue of forests and climate change.

FAO Director-General, Mr. Jose Graziano Da Silva and

Guyana’s Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo during their meeting in

Rome.

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To avoid landscape

fragmentation and loss of

species and habitats for

biodiversity, participants

of a three-day workshop

agreed on a Regional

Action Plan related to

biological corridors,

connectivity conservation,

and trans-boundary

conservation within the

Guiana Shield Ecoregion.

Twenty-six protected areas management professionals and international

biodiversity experts participated in the workshop on Biodiversity

Corridors in the Guiana Shield to Streamline Support for the

Achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which was held at the

Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and

Development in Kurupukari, Guyana, from 21 to 23 May 2014. They

shared their experience and best practice on biodiversity corridors and

developed a Regional Action Plan to facilitate biodiversity corridors.

The Regional Action Plan calls on governments and partner

organisations to:

Support national efforts to better manage and monitor small and

medium-scale gold mining, including promoting best practices for biodiversity conservation and

water resources management.

Encourage the further development of transboundary marine protected areas in the Guiana Shield

through ongoing initiatives such as Marine Mammals Conservation network (MAMACOCOSEA)

Create synergies with existing global and regional platforms in order to take advantage of

efficiencies of scales efforts and momentum

Twenty-six

protected areas

management

professionals and

international

biodiversity experts

participated.

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Develop and strengthen linkages with collaborative connectivity projects

Organize a technical database that allows identifying and prioritizing transboundary corridors

Strengthen and facilitate academic research (university research cooperation and other research

institutions) into connectivity science.

Participants pledged their support to work together to fulfill the actions outlined as initial steps towards

developing trans-boundary cooperation and achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in the Guiana

Shield.

The workshop was executed by the Guiana Shield Facility (GSF) in collaboration with other regional

and international partners. The GSF is a project being implemented by the United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP) in Guyana.

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Two of Guyana’s municipalities – Linden and

New Amsterdam - on April 29, signed a

Municipal Declaration, which represents the

municipals’ commitment to addressing HIV

with key populations.

The Municipal Declaration reflects the

fundamental principle of respect for human rights

of all those who suffer from stigma and

discrimination, and reaffirms the spirit of the

universal access to HIV prevention, treatment,

care, and support under a human rights frame as all

parties collectively work towards Getting to Zero.

Under the first Declaration on HIV and AIDS, the

mayor and town councils of Linden and New

Amsterdam have agreed to:

Work with all local and national stakeholders to strengthen partnerships on HIV and AIDS.

Support and promote 24 hours access to HIV counseling and testing.

Renounce stigma and discrimination against persons infected or affected by HIV/AIDS at

all levels – schools, workplace, and community.

Respect the dignity and worth of every person, without distinction on the basis of race,

colour, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender-identity, language, religion, property, birth,

or other status.

Renounce homophobia and support the rights and dignity of all persons regardless of their

gender, sexuality or employment, to care, treatment, and support as human rights.

Encourage the participation of all stakeholders.

UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Roberto Campos and Chairperson of

the Linden Interim Management Council, Mr. Orrin Gordon with the

signed declaration

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In June 2014, a two day review

and planning forum was held by

the Ministry of Education, in

partnership with UNICEF, to

discuss a coordinated approach

to strengthening the delivery of

Health and Family Life

Education (HFLE) within the

school system in Guyana.

The forum facilitated

stakeholder discussions on the

findings of a recent evaluation,

“Piloting Health and Family

Life Education as a Timetabled

Subject in Guyana”, which was

conducted in 2013 by the

Ministry of Education with support from UNICEF. The

forum provided an opportunity for group discussion and

evaluation to review current progress and future plans for the

HFLE programme.

UNICEF has historically played a significant role in the

implementation of HFLE in Guyana, provided funding and

technical support for both in-school and out-of-school

initiatives. Since the introduction of HFLE as a timetabled

subject in 2010, the programme has been expanded from 30

schools in the initial pilot, to a current total of 117 schools

across the country.

Addressing issues such as violence and sexuality through life skills education are extremely important;

programmes such as HFLE enhance children’s ability to think critically and make better decisions.

Evidence has shown that when young people master these skills, it results in a reduction in bullying

and violence (including violence against young women), and avoiding teen pregnancy and participation

From left - Dr. Morella Joseph, HFLE Programme Manager (CARICOM); UNICEF Representative Guyana and Suriname, Marianne Flach; Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam; Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration), Donna Chapman; Deputy Chief Education Officer (Development), Doodmattie Singh; and facilitator Bonita Harris.

Participants at the forum

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in high risk behaviour such as alcohol and substance abuse; all critical issues that affect young people

in Guyana.

In his remarks at the opening of the forum, Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, emphasized the

importance of having HFLE as part of the national curriculum, and noted its significance as a tool for

addressing some of the realities facing young people.

UNICEF Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Marianne Flach, also emphasized the need for

discussion on the social issues which currently impact on children and adolescents, and noted that

strengthening HFLE can have a positive impact on children and society as a whole. She reiterated

UNICEF’s support in continuing to expand this programme and promote the development of children

and adolescents in Guyana.

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The Guyana Diaspora Project (GUYD), launched in 2012, is an initiative of the International Office for

Migration (IOM) implemented to contribute to the economic development of Guyana through the

support and engagement of the Guyanese Diaspora and private and public sectors in Guyana. The project

aims at identifying and documenting the skills and knowledge of Guyanese diaspora willing to support

the development of their country.

To date, a skills gap assessment has been facilitated to determine which areas in the Guyanese workforce

lack particular skills to help facilitate a possible matching of gaps in Guyana with skills available in the

Diaspora.

The Government of Guyana (GoG) is now moving forward in engaging the Diaspora more

meaningfully, taking onboard several recommendations made by IOM that will support the

development of policies for greater Diaspora involvement in development. Over the next two (2)

years, IOM will be providing additional support to the GoG through a regional initiative that will pave

the way for investment and opportunities for entrepreneurship that will benefit developing communities

in Guyana. The project will support the development of a diaspora strategy that will include steps for

greater involvement and participation of the Diaspora in development initiatives. Additionally, through

the establishment of a regional website, diaspora from North America and the United Kingdom will be

able to participate in a forum that will establish opportunities for networking and the forging of

partnerships for entrepreneurship in Guyana. Look and see visits will be conducted by entrepreneurs

who are willing to explore opportunities that are available in Guyana.

IOM remains committed to providing the necessary expertise to continue supporting the GoG in

reaching its objectives for greater involvement of its Diaspora towards development in Guyana.

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In keeping with the promotion of healthy lifestyles

throughout Guyana, PAHO Staff at the Guyana

Country Office, have started aerobics sessions. This

programme started after recommendations at the

May staff retreat, when it was noted that staff

members do not have the time available to schedule

exercise in their daily work routine. Sessions started

in June and are conducted by PAHO’s Dr. Rosalinda

Hernandez. They aim to increase physical activities

in the office.

The after-work sessions are held twice weekly in the

parking lot next door to the PAHO office and last for

one hour. Apart from the aerobics sessions, staff members are also encouraged to have healthy diets,

take care of their bodies, and practice healthy lifestyles.

Staff participation in the aerobics sessions has been high.

Featured

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Did you know?

The UN Guyana Country Team is comprised of seven (7) resident and four

(4) non-resident offices:

Resident Offices Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)

International Organisation for Migration (IOM)

Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO)

United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

Non-Resident Offices International Labour Organisation (ILO) - Trinidad

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - Panama

UN Women - Barbados

The United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) - Jamaica

United Nations Guyana 42 Brickdam and UN Place,

Stabroek,

Georgetown.

Email: unguyana@one.un.org

Phone: (+592) 226-4040

http://fb.com/UnitedNationsGuyana

https://twitter.com/UNGuyana

https://www.youtube.com/user/unitednationsguyana