Opening Remarks by Mr. Ghulam M. Isaczai, DSRSG/RC/HC Joint Steering Committee Meeting

H.E Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, Mr. Mohammed Tamim,

Distinguished representatives of Ministries and government institutions,

My UN Colleagues,

Good morning, Sabah Al-Khair!

It is a pleasure to welcome you today at the Ministry of Planning for the Annual Joint Steering Committee under the Current Cooperation Framework.

I would like to thank you for your participation and organization of this meeting especially my UN team and the Ministry of Planning. 

I extend my gratitude to Minister Tamim for his presence and opening remarks. Your leadership and the commitment of your team in coordinating government partners towards the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Cooperation Framework, is critical.

we look forward to continuing this collaboration and partnership under the Cooperation Framework aligned to the new National Development Plan starting next year.

The Cooperation Framework is a joint commitment between the Government of Iraq and the UN and today we will jointly celebrate the results we achieved in 2023.

This JSC meeting is an opportunity for the UN in Iraq and our government partners to reflect on our achievements in 2023, take stock of what we did right and what needs to improve through the comprehensive evaluation of the current CF and to focus on the final year of its implementation.

Our agenda includes insights from this Report, while highlighting the 2024 priorities and briefing on the evaluation of our current cooperation framework. These discussions will enhance our understanding and strengthen our strategy as we finalize the upcoming UNSDCF.

The presentations today will highlight key achievements and challenges, aiming for an active discussion on how we can leverage the UN’s comparative advantages to support Iraq’s efforts to achieve the SDGs.

I encourage open dialogue and constructive feedback. Let us ensure that our renewed framework not only meets the developmental needs of Iraq but also embodies the spirit of co-ownership and inclusivity, essential for sustainable progress.

I would like to conclude by thanking our UN teams for their support and contributions towards the results of 2023 in particular, I want to extend my gratitude to Ghimar Deeb, deputy UNDP representative, for his significant contributions in leading the Programme Management Team (PMT) since last year, and to warmly welcome Ken Legins, UNICEF deputy representative, as the new Chair of the PMT.

On behalf of the UN family in Iraq, I would like to thank our government partners and the Ministry of Planning for their engagement and support in achieving the joint results towards a just, prosperous, and resilient Iraq where nobody is left behind.

Thank you and Shukran Jazeelan!