Harare, 20 February, 2012:  Although still low, Zimbabwe’s overall Human Development Index (HDI) performance is on the rebound, with relative improvement in health, education and income over the past couple of years, the UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative (UN RC / UNDP RR), Mr. Alain Noudehou, has said.

Harare, 16 February, 2012: The UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Alain Noudehou has called upon Zimbabwe’s youth to be involved in the constructive and peaceful engagement on development and civic issues on their future and that of their country, saying this is critical to their wellbeing and Zimbabwe.

Harare, 25 January 2012: Drafters of Zimbabwe’s constitution have completed a preliminary proposed draft of 18 chapters based on the issues that were agreed upon.

It was history in the making in Bulawayo on 23 November, 2011 as the country’s second largest city hosted the Trans African Caravan of Hope, a vehicle for mobilization and awareness creation for African civil society, highlighting the challenges that climate change poses to the continent’s efforts to overcome poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Harare, 20 January 2012

Spraying households with chemicals to kill mosquitoes in Mwenezi, a heavily populated district in southern Zimbabwe, Felix Tendai works with relentless zeal, knowing well that the tiny insects that cause malaria pose a major health hazard in his locality. With scores of spraying teams spread throughout the locality, and other malaria-infested areas, the deadly disease seems to be in retreat, thanks to the efforts of the Global Fund in Zimbabwe.

Harare, 12 December 2011: Exuberant and charming high student Talent Sithole, has a basic understanding of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Asked why the MDGs are important, she quips: “They enlighten us about the need for girls and boys to have equal rights because we are all the same as human beings.” Her colleague, Etwin Chifumba describes achievement of MDGs as necessary, saying this would “assist many of us from poor backgrounds to achieve our full potential in education.”

UNDP and UNFPA unveiled their draft four-year Country Programme Action Plans, offering  insights into the intervention the two key UN agencies will provide in support to national priorities in Zimbabwe, as the country moves from recovery to development assistance.

Continuing its support to the constitutional reform process in Zimbabwe, UNDP has in the last two weeks received an additional USD 3.1 million. The latest contributions bring to USD 21 million the total resources availed by development partners to date in support of a people-driven constitution making process.

The officials were attending the closing ceremony of the three-week Gender and Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI), training in Mutare on 24 November, 2011.

JOINT STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & CHILD WELFARE AND UNDP