Ashgabat, 19 August 2009 – The Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Country Team have signed the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Turkmenistan, which outlines the key areas of Government-UN cooperation for the period from 2010 to 2015. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Rashid Meredov, signed the UNDAF on behalf of the Government and UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Richard Young, signed on behalf of the UN Country Team. The official signing ceremony brought together senior partners from various Government ministries and institutions, representatives of public organizations and United Nations agencies, as well as the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA). 

Formulation and development of UNDAF 2010-2015 involved a comprehensive and participatory process of joint consultations conducted between the Government, public organizations, resident and non-resident United Nations agencies and UNRCCA throughout 2008. As a result of these consultations, four key priority areas of cooperation for the next six years have been identified. These include: strengthening democratization and rule of law; strengthening human development to achieve the Millennium Development Goals; improving sustainable development and inclusive growth; and promoting peace and security.  

“The UNDAF is the joint long-term business plan of the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations formulated to support Turkmenistan in achieving its development priorities. The formulation and development of a new UNDAF 2010-2015 is very timely and opens immense opportunities for further cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN,” said Richard Young during the official signing ceremony.  

This is the second United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Turkmenistan. The current UNDAF, which covers the period from 2005 to 2009, will be completed in December 2009. The implementation of the UNDAF 2010-2015 will start on 1 January 2010 and, in line with this, individual UN agencies will now develop specific programmes of cooperation with different Government and public stakeholders. 

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework represents the business plan for the joint work of the Government and the United Nations towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals. It is based on the principle of national ownership and is guided by national development priorities as well as international instruments and conventions signed and ratified by Turkmenistan.