The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a US$15 million (approx. Frw8 billion) contribution towards the ‘One UN’ Programme in Rwanda.

According to a UN statement, the contribution was announced last week by the head of DFID in Rwanda, Sandra Pepera, to the acting UN Resident Coordinator, Dr Joseph Foumbi.

‘I highly commend the commitment that DFID is expressing with this contribution. The One UN pilot initiative is not just the UN’s business, it is a joint effort and its success depends on support from all UN Member States,’ the statement quotes Foumbi as saying after the agreement was signed.

The One UN Programme brings together all UN activities planned for 2008 – 2012 in Rwanda. DFID’s financial support represents 10 percent of the $155m funding gap for the One UN programme.

‘We believe that the One UN Programme will lead to a more efficient and cost-effective UN country presence, to speed up work towards achieving the MDGs and improving the lives of Rwandans,’ Pepera said.

At the request of the Government of Rwanda, the country was selected as a ‘Delivering as One’ pilot nation in January 2007. All UN agencies operating in Rwanda signed up to the ‘One UN’ Programme last November. The Programme focuses on various areas that include education, health, environment, population, sustainable growth and social protection among others.

‘We’re really pleased with the rapid progress that the Rwanda pilot has made so far and the success that it has already achieve; but this is just the beginning,’ Pepera added.
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