Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MASERU507
2007-08-29 10:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Maseru
Cable title:
LESOTHO: 2007 UNICEF COUNTRY PROGRAM DOCUMENT COMMENTS
how-toVZCZCXRO3004 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN DE RUEHMR #0507 2411053 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 291053Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY MASERU TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0087 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3305 INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 3698
UNCLAS MASERU 000507
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR IO/EDA: MOLLY GOWER, AF/S;
USAID ALSO FOR USAID/GH: DALE GIBB AND JANET PHILLIPS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF SOCI UN LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: 2007 UNICEF COUNTRY PROGRAM DOCUMENT COMMENTS
REF: STATE 116975
UNCLAS MASERU 000507
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR IO/EDA: MOLLY GOWER, AF/S;
USAID ALSO FOR USAID/GH: DALE GIBB AND JANET PHILLIPS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF SOCI UN LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: 2007 UNICEF COUNTRY PROGRAM DOCUMENT COMMENTS
REF: STATE 116975
1. In response to reftel, Embassy Maseru submits the following
comments regarding the 2007 UNICEF Draft Country Programme
Document for Lesotho.
2. UNICEF is a visible and active UN agency in Lesotho,
cooperating effectively with the GOL, donors, and partners. The
five-year program proposal (2008-2012) focuses on appropriate
initiatives in the areas of child survival; education;
adolescent HIV/AIDS prevention and protection; and policy,
legislation, and social protection. Given a dearth of national
statistics and data, we would like to see UNICEF play a greater
role in undertaking or coordinating much needed surveys on
nutrition, health, and orphans and vulnerable children to help
facilitate donor responses to HIV/AIDS, TB, and food security
crises.
3. In paragraph 28, the document cites a strategy of "advocacy
for increased health budget allocations by the Government [of
Lesotho]." It should be noted that the Lesotho Poverty
Reduction Strategy (LPRS),cited elsewhere in the Draft Country
Programme Document, states that there is no fiscal "headroom" to
finance additional recurrent expenditure, and Ministry of Health
expenditures are already a notably high percentage of the GOL
budget. Poverty reduction is a cross cutting sector in UNICEF
Country Programme Document, and as such, the document should
take into consideration that increased recurring GOL budget
allocations may not be the best path to realizing these goals.
4. In paragraph 37, the document refers to emergency
preparedness funding necessary for, among other items,
ameliorating the "volatile political situation as a result of
the general elections in February 2007." While the political
situation is a major concern, such efforts might be better left
to other UN organizations with more expertise in this area, such
as UNDP.
MURPHY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR IO/EDA: MOLLY GOWER, AF/S;
USAID ALSO FOR USAID/GH: DALE GIBB AND JANET PHILLIPS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF SOCI UN LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: 2007 UNICEF COUNTRY PROGRAM DOCUMENT COMMENTS
REF: STATE 116975
1. In response to reftel, Embassy Maseru submits the following
comments regarding the 2007 UNICEF Draft Country Programme
Document for Lesotho.
2. UNICEF is a visible and active UN agency in Lesotho,
cooperating effectively with the GOL, donors, and partners. The
five-year program proposal (2008-2012) focuses on appropriate
initiatives in the areas of child survival; education;
adolescent HIV/AIDS prevention and protection; and policy,
legislation, and social protection. Given a dearth of national
statistics and data, we would like to see UNICEF play a greater
role in undertaking or coordinating much needed surveys on
nutrition, health, and orphans and vulnerable children to help
facilitate donor responses to HIV/AIDS, TB, and food security
crises.
3. In paragraph 28, the document cites a strategy of "advocacy
for increased health budget allocations by the Government [of
Lesotho]." It should be noted that the Lesotho Poverty
Reduction Strategy (LPRS),cited elsewhere in the Draft Country
Programme Document, states that there is no fiscal "headroom" to
finance additional recurrent expenditure, and Ministry of Health
expenditures are already a notably high percentage of the GOL
budget. Poverty reduction is a cross cutting sector in UNICEF
Country Programme Document, and as such, the document should
take into consideration that increased recurring GOL budget
allocations may not be the best path to realizing these goals.
4. In paragraph 37, the document refers to emergency
preparedness funding necessary for, among other items,
ameliorating the "volatile political situation as a result of
the general elections in February 2007." While the political
situation is a major concern, such efforts might be better left
to other UN organizations with more expertise in this area, such
as UNDP.
MURPHY