The United Nations (U.N.) and Jamaica this week signed an agreement aimed at ensuring a coordinated approach to national development.

The agreement, it is hoped, will prevent duplication of efforts and ensure efficient use of US$20 million in U.N. funds over the period 2007 to 2011.

The U.N. Development Assistance Framework 'road map' is being piloted in Jamaica, Ethiopia and Vietnam as part of wider U.N. reform.

In Jamaica the road map covers the five areas of education; HIV/AIDS; environment and poverty; health and justice; and peace and security.

Problems not new

Dr. Wesley Hughes, director general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), told The Gleaner at the signing ceremony held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Tuesday, that the problem of poor communication among donors was not new.

"Before, essentially what we used to do is to deal individually with agencies such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank," Dr. Hughes said. "Very often we would have meetings sequenced with people coming day after day asking the same questions."

Juan Espinola, resident U.N. coordinator, acknowledged that U.N. agencies in Jamaica previously had often overlapped because they were not adequately communicating.

"Now we are much more part of the planning process to do this as part of Jamaica's medium-term socio-economic framework, and we have now joined forces with them and defined which are the gaps to fill," said Mr. Espinola.

In his address Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning, said the process had seen U.N. agencies willing to concede territory but urged them to continue to be flexible as Jamaica's development goals continue to change.

"This represents the focal point of the Government's interface with international partners, it's important that this be recognised," Dr. Davies urged donors.

He asked that the U.N. and other donors include research by the PIOJ and other local bodies in their planning.

UN agencies that signed the agreement

Development Programme (UNDP)

Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Population Fund (UNFPA)

Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO)

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

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

Environment Programme (UNESP)

Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

The World Bank