Armenian deputy PM, UN resident coordinator cover agenda of Sustainable Development Goals

Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and UN Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp chaired a working meeting at the Government today to consider pivotal documents pertaining to the UN-Armenia cooperation frameworks.

The discussion, attended by representatives of the Armenian Government and UN agencies, attracted also heads of several UN offices in Armenia, who joined the event online.

The agenda comprised the draft framework document of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the draft projects developed by three UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA).

In a greeting address to the participants, Grigoryan promised a further development and deepening of the UN-Armenia relations on the basis of the key agenda documents.

"Given that we are in a stage of elaborating and revising sectoral strategies and the 2020-2050 Strategy of Armenia's Transformation, I attach importance to the harmonization of the UN cooperation documents with our national strategies with a focus on the agenda of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

"Availing the opportunity, I would like to also state that we recently published Armenia's second voluntary national review on UN Sustainable Development Goals, which is really important in terms of evaluating the joint efforts by the Government and our international partners, and outlining future actions," he said.

According to the Government's press service, the resident coordinator was later given the floor to introduce the sustainable development frameworks.

Mr Sharp appreciated the meeting as an opportunity to coordinate the strategic framework of the organization's 2021-2025 partnership with the Government. He also praised the document as a complete cooperation proposal "stemming from Armenia's national priorities and needs."

The UN official promised to discuss the cooperation programs with the three agencies to promote the realization of the UN partnership frameworks in collaboration with the organization's 12 agencies in Armenia. He expressed confidence about the successful implementation of the 2030 agenda, "guaranteeing a better life and future for all".

Summing up the discussion, the deputy PM and the resident coordinator mutually agreed on the importance of meetings in similar formats as a real effort to make the cooperation more effective and constructive.