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Uruguay, as a high-middle-income country, faces challenges like low investment rates and growth instability despite high public spending. The role of Non-Resident Agencies (NRAs) is crucial for providing technical assistance and enhancing programmatic support. Approximately 21 NRAs maintain contact in Uruguay, 10 of which have signed the One UN Programme. There is an urgent need to build bridges between these NRAs and the government to leverage their expertise and improve the implementation of public policies. Strengthened collaboration can significantly enhance development outcomes.
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Country context • Uruguay is a high – middleincome country. • Implicitduality: • Highhumandevelopmentindicators. • High degree of public spending as a proportion of GDP (30.5%). • ODA is minimal when compared to public spending (0.3%). • vs • Low investment rates. • Unstable growth rate compared to other countries in the region. • Institutionalweaknessesregardingdesign and implementation of publicpolicies.
Agencies in country context • Few resources available from IFI’s and UN Agencies • NRAs added value to UNS at the local level: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE • Government is not always informed of availability of expertise from NRAs • NEED TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN NRAs AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS.
NRAs in Uruguay • Contacts are maintained with 21 NRAs. • 10 have signed the One UN Programme: ITC, ILO, UNIFEM, UNEP, UNAIDS, IFAD, UNHCR, WTO, UNODC and UN-Habitat. • 5 of them participate in UNCT meetings regularly: IFAD, ILO, UNAIDS, UNEP, and UNIFEM. • Theyalsoparticipate in thematicgroups.
NRAs in Uruguay (cont.) • RCO through NRA Specialist: • Circulates information • Receives and consolidates inputs forreportingpurposes. • Providesprogrammatic and logisticsupport. • Coordinatesparticipation and oftenrepresents NRA objectives at interagencymeetings and efforts.
Engaging NRAs at Country Level • NRAs are UN Agencies with less resources; they need support to ensure their presence in the country. • Specific protocol for NRA treatment could be seen as differential treatment. • Increase awareness with regard to their capacities: (i) participation in UNDAF process; (ii) capacity to respond to request for assistance; (iii) capacity to mobilize expertise to joint programming; (iv) capacity to implement joint projects through technical and /or policy expertise.
Challenges facing NRAs • There has been a perception that some NRAs are more interested in the resources they can access rather than in programmatic activities. • The UN needs to support the involvement of NRAs: • Logistic and technical support to allow their connection with national counterparts. • Programmatic support. • Mechanisms through which NRAs could administer resources locally.
Role of NRA Specialist • Support for NRAs through the RCO is necessary to: • ensure the perspectives of all NRAs are considered; • provide a neutral dialogue and interaction support mechanism; • guarantee a minimum predictability with regard to the flow of funds.
Summary of key points • NRAs add value to the UN system in country. • Need to build bridges between NRAs and their counterparts. • RCO has an important role to play in NRA engagement in country. • It is necessary to increase awareness with regard to their capacities.