The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), Bauchi State Office has explained that its 9th Country Programme is aligned to the National Development Plan, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda, 2063.
The assertion was made by the State Programme Officer, Deborah Tabara while giving an overview of the UNFPA 9th Country Programme, during a One Day State UNFPA 9th Country Programme biannual maternal health (MH), Family Planning (FP), Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV partners meeting held over the weekend.
Deborah Tabara further said that the programme is also aligned with the UNFPA Strategic Plan of 2022-2025 as it also contributes to the achievement of SDGs goals 2,3,5, 10, 13, 16 and 17.
The State UNFPA Programme Officer further said that the programme is also focusing on human rights, gender equality, and gender transformative approaches that will be cross-cutting in addressing SRH and GBV information and services.
Other areas that the programme aimed to focus on, according to Deborah Tabara, include: gender mainstreaming, social norms and practices that perpetuate inequalities and vulnerabilities, data and intelligence generation to monitor the progress of the transformative results leading to informed evidence-based policy and programme development in Bauchi State.
The meeting was organised by the Bauchi Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
While speaking at the meeting, State Commissioner of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Aminu Hammayo said that the meeting was timely, especially as the State is on the verge of implementing the social protection policy that seeks to carter for the less privileged and vulnerable target group in the State.
He commended UNFPA for supporting the meeting and also informed that the Ministry would explore avenues of sourcing for resources to see if such partner meetings could be held at quarterly periods.
In opening remarks shortly before the commencement of the meeting, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Idris Sale Giade said that the meeting would provide an opportunity for State relevant MDAs, CSOs and Implementing Partners to share experience in the areas of MH, FP/SRH and HIV which is the core thematic focus of the meeting.
Idris Sale further said that the meeting would also pave the way for the integration, State ownership and information sharing and knowledge, including challenges, good practices and lessons learned during program implementation in Bauchi State.
He then urged all the relevant State MDAs to always avail the Ministry their quarterly data in order to build an enriched database for the State.
The Programme Director in the Ministry, Usman Umar Muhammad while highlighting what the meeting would seek to achieve, said that one of the major objectives of bringing the Forum together was to achieve the UNFPA’s three transformative results of ending preventable maternal deaths, unmet need and GBV and harmful practices.
Usman Muhammad further said that the meeting would also provide an avenue to explore coordination and synergy amongst various implementing partners aimed at achieving effective re
Our correspondent reports that there were overview presentations from participants during the meeting that triggered robust and productive discussions on successes, challenges, experience sharing, prospects and lessons learnt in the implementation of their respective programs and activities in Bauchi.
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