The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-chaired the first meeting of the Country Programme Steering Committee on 10 March 2024. The meeting was held to review the progress of the implementation of the 2023-2024 UNFPA Country Programme implementation and discuss the 2024-2025 joint work plans between UNFPA and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Present at the meeting were representatives from key national partners including the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the Statistical Center of Iran, and the National Population Headquarters.
Mr. Gholam Hossein Darzi, Assistant Director General of the Division of International Specialized Agencies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted the importance of seizing opportunities aligned with national development priorities and welcomed collaboration with UNFPA.
Ms. Ayna Seyitlieva, UNFPA's Officer in Charge, stressed on the alignment of the UNFPA programme with national priorities and emphasized the need to accelerate the implementation of the 7th Country Programme focusing on the joint areas of cooperation, including improved integration of maternal health, including infertility management, into universal health coverage, technical support to the upcoming register-based census, aging and disability, disaster preparedness and emergency response.
Annual Joint Steering Committee Meetings between UNFPA and national stakeholders play a vital role in driving progress and ensuring the Country Programme produces tangible results.
