Group photo of participants during the meeting
During a meeting to strengthen the partnership between UN Agencies and the Ambassador of The United Arab Emirates (UAE) which was held yesterday at the UAE Embassy in Kigali, Fodé N’Diaye, Representative of the United Nations, expressed his satisfaction, and appreciation that the UAE will now be able to support refugees at the local level. below are excerpts from an interview with Rwanda News Agency (ARI-RNA):
Fodé N’Diaye, UN Representative in Randa
Fodé N’Diaye (F.N) – First I would like to thank UAE for this initiative. I would also like to congratulate them on the way in which they were the initiator of the development aid at the level of the Emirates which proves that they were well organized.
As you know, UAE is one of the few countries to have exceeded 0.7% of national income in public development assistance. It is one of the first countries, if not the first country in official development assistance with more than 38.9 billion dollars.
We would also like to thank UAE for the continued support to the United Nations with nearly $ 2.5 billion, globally from a variety of Agencies. To conclude, we also discussed what we can also together to continue to support development in Rwanda, for the benefit of the Rwandan people, without leaving anyone behind.
And we have chosen to develop this partnership, obviously still under the leadership of the Government of Rwanda by exchanging more information, by having cooperation around the United Nation Development Assistant Plan, our UNAP, and in turn the joint program to support the program of the Government of Rwanda in terms of its economic recovery plan. And this plan is endowed with 20 million dollars. The United Nations has already mobilized $ 8 million and the remaining $ 12 million is expected to be mobilized from development partners to support the Government. This is a plan also signed with the Government of Rwanda.
RNA- Are there any joint programs here in Rwanda in favor of the population?
F.N. – Currently, we do not have a local partnership with EAU, but globally UAE have participated in several funds from which Rwanda has benefited, for example the CERF (Center Emergency for Relief Fund). The UAE have also supported the WFP, UNFP, WHO, FAO, UNICEF, OCHA, and many other United Nations agencies globally which may have implications at country level. But with regard to the United Nations specifically here, specifically, we currently don’t have an agreement.
ARI – Can the UAE help the refugees in the camps locally?
F.N. – The UAE, as I say you, supports the UNHCR globally. They also support the CERF which also finances humanitarian operations. But this point that you mentioned has also been put on the table to see how they can now support refugees, humanitarian operations at the local level. Obviously, this whole partnership with the UAE is a partnership which is also under the leadership of the Government. Obviously, at the request of the Government, within the framework of all the United Nations, within the framework of cooperation here called the United Development Plan or the Rwanda Development Cooperation Plan. (End)