22 February 2012 - The UN System and Guinea-Bissau's Government today signed the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2013-2017) which implementation in the next five years requires $200m.

The document was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, Mamadu Djalo Pires, SRSG and Head of UNIOGBIS, Joseph Mutaboba and DSRSG and UN Resident Coordinator, Gana Fofang.

In his statement, SRSG Mutaboba reitetared the UN availability to help mobilize the US$200m needed for the new UNDAF implementation. "Giving the importance of the amount, the UN System commits itself to support the Government' efforts in coordinating the assistance, developping stategic partnerships and mobilizing resources aimed at driving the country out from political and institutional fragility and poverty", Mutaboba said.

Bissau-Guinean Foreign Affairs minister Mamadu Djalo Pires stressed that 2013-2017 UNDAF success requires an "efficient capacity building policy of national experts based on the needs assessment, the implementation of a development strategy and the establishement of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, to enable the national ownership regarding assistance coordination and resources mobilization and management".

The 2013-2017 UNDAF provides the UN collective and integrated response to the country priorities and needs within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals and focuses three pillars: strengthening the Rule of Law and Republican institutions; enabling a stable economic environment and promoting the sustainable economic development; and increasing the level of human capital development.