un guyana newsletter issue #2
DESCRIPTION
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. 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.TRANSCRIPT
Newsletter
P4
Consultation on
Ethnic Diversity
and Health
P8
Guyana takes
steps to
implement
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, Mr. 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: [email protected]
Phone: (+592) 226-4040
http://fb.com/UnitedNationsGuyana
https://twitter.com/UNGuyana
https://www.youtube.com/user/unitednationsguyana
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