Annual Programme Review Meeting of the sixth Country Programme between UNFPA and the national implementing partners was Co-Chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNFPA Representative, Dr. Leila Joudane on Wednesday 10 January 2018. High level participation from all relevant national ministries and organizations provided a good forum to review the achievements and discuss the road ahead to achieve results.
Officials of the Statistical Center of Iran (SCI), University of Tehran (UT), & Ministry of Cooperative, Labor, & Social Welfare (MoCLSW), Secretariat of National Council of Elderly, and the Ministry of Health & Medical Education (MOHME) presented their proposed activities and workplans for 2018 in details for endorsement of the Co-chairs. Some of the anticipated results to be achieved are the road map for ending preventable maternal deaths, establishment of a technical committee to develop the demographic dividend road map, and Iran hosting the regional ageing international forum. Among others, rich exchange on mechanisms and lessons learnt for enhancing the inter sectoral collaboration between various implementing partners for achieving maximum results was also the highlight of the event.
During this event, national officials also presented their 2017 achievements as a result of the joint programmes with UNFPA. Some of the notable results achieved in 2017 were Tabriz Statement as an outcome document of the Regional Forum advocating with policy makers to reaffirm their commitment to have right policies in place for older persons, the National Transfer Account Report which is an effective tool for analyzing the impact of changing population structure on economy, and offering variety of policy options for harnessing the first and second demographic dividend; as well as, responding effectively to the implications of population ageing , and report on Sustainable Development Goals indicator related to population and development including data gaps in Iran.
During this long day event, Dr. Joudane also introduced UNFPA’s Strategic Plan (2018 – 2021) to the participants emphasizing on UNFPA’s ultimate goal of delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and potential of youth fulfilled. She touched based on UNFPA’s global transformative results and noted that UNFPA sixth Country Programme will work towards ending preventable maternal death and ending harmful practices. Dr. Joudane highlighted that UNFPA’s strategic plan calls for working together to deliver Sustainable Development Goals and to be vocal about achievement of results. Expressing her contentment, Dr. Joudane noted that Iran’s UNFPA sixth Country Programme is aligned with UNFPA’s strategic plan and reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to help government achieve its development priorities.
Dr. Joudane concluded the meeting by acknowledging the implementing partner’s collaboration and efforts in 2017 and wishing all a result-based 2018.
