Victoria, Seychelles, 3 September 2018 - The United Nations and the Seychelles Government has signed a Strategic Partnership Framework (SPF) which consolidate their commitment to support the country’s effort to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030. It was the visiting UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP resident representative for Mauritius and Seychelles Mrs. Christine Umutoni who signed the framework on behalf of the United Nation whilst Secretary of State Ambassador Barry Faure signed for the Seychelles Governments at the Savoy Hotel in Beau Vallon on Thursday 30th August 2018. Before the official signing, in her capacity as the Country Focal Point for Seychelles and Mauritius of the Regional United Nations Development Group, the WHO Regional Director for the African Region Dr. Matshidiso Moeti's message was aired through a pre-recorded statement where she congratulated the Seychelles on the signing of the first ever SPF. The ceremony was attended representatives of UN agencies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government officials.

Seychelles became a Delivering as One (DaO) country in 2013. The development of the SPF is a first of its kind to be developed in the country as it stipulates in one common document all the work and support for better coordination between the 18 UN agencies supporting different sectors. The SPF is the result of consultations with different UN agencies and the government and outlines the cooperation agreement between the government and the UN development system. It identifies four strategic priority areas of cooperation for the next five years including economic transformation, environmental sustainability and resilience, human capital development and data development, science, technology and innovation development. The SPF aligns to national priorities such as the Seychelles’ National Development Strategy as well as the SDGs, especially highlighting the UN contribution to country’s achievement of its human capital development.    

The Strategic Partnership Framework recognizes the existing mandates and distinct expertise of each UN agency to deliver on their responsibilities at country level. As one of the agencies under the umbrella of the UN, the World Health Organisation (WHO) remains the Government’s major multilateral partner in healthcare.  WHO’s contribution will focus primarily on, but will not be limited to strategic priority area three of the SPF which is human capital development. WHO’s support within the SPF is in line with the set of priorities identified under the organisations’ cooperation with the Government, its Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2016—2021 as well as priorities of the WHO’s 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13). WHO remains committed to deliver on its strategic focus providing leadership on health matters, building capacity, policy and support and technical assistance in the various areas. Successful implementation of the SPF is expected to cost a total of $60 million over the span of 2019-2023, and WHO will contribute partly to the total $35 million expected as UN contribution. The Seychelles Government will fund the remaining $25million.

Earlier in the week, representatives of UN agencies and stakeholders from various sectors took part in a working session to validate the SPF 2019-2023. The UN and the government will over the next five years work together to ensure effective implementation of commitments assumed under this SPF.