KABUL - The second annual meeting between the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations Country Team took place today to discuss ways to strengthen their partnership through the current transition period and into the Transformation Decade (2015-2024). 

“The UN has supported the efforts of the Afghan Government to build a more peaceful future for the country. While transition continues toward greater Afghan ownership and responsibility, Afghanistan will still benefit from the support of the UN,” said H.E Zalmai Rassoul, Minister of Foreign Affairs during his opening address to Ministers, other members of the Government and to the Heads of the 25 UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes working in Afghanistan. “In particular, the UN’s good offices are vital to move from its traditional role to technical support of Afghan-led political processes and capacity building for Afghan institutions. The UN focus on aid coherence in support of Afghanistan’s National Priority Programs, strengthening the leading role of Afghan institutions, and reinforcing integration and delivery as one, remains crucial. The Government of Afghanistan is looking forward to close cooperation in this regard.” H.E. Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Ján Kubiš, who co-chaired the meeting, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to Afghanistan.“The United Nations has had a presence in Afghanistan for over 60 years. It is a deep and enduring partnership in which the United Nations will continue to provide support, at the Government's request, through the critical but challenging transition process and beyond. We are here to assist in building the stability, growth and prosperity that the Afghan people aspire to and deserve," said Mr Kubiš. Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Mr. Mark Bowden, who is also the UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator, highlighted the importance of strengthened partnerships with the Government in his keynote speech.  

‘’The UN will be defined in the long term by what we achieve over the next 2 years. During this period, we must not only engage fully in support of Government but we must continue to think about the longer term, about the Transformation Decade,” said Mr. Bowden. 
“Again, the challenges are daunting and the opportunities are immense but made more achievable through strengthened partnership”. 
A lively plenary discussion raised issues for future and on-going dialogue.

 NOTES TO EDITORS:
•    Afghanistan has been a member of the United Nations since 1946.  

•    In July 2010, at the Kabul Conference, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in his speech requested the UN to adopt a “One UN” approach. The UN Secretary General accepted the President’s request for the UN system in Afghanistan to rethink its approach to the strategic frameworks and embark on a revitalized process of establishing a set of clear and focused priority areas where the UN system can work in support of Afghans and the Government’s development strategies and priorities.

•    In May 2012 the UN jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan hosted the first high level meeting on “UN Coherence in Afghanistan”. A key outcome of the meeting was the commitment by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United Nations to institute this meeting as a regular and ongoing dialogue to facilitate discussions on the role of the United Nations as Afghanistan moves towards its ‘Transformation Decade 2015 – 2025’. This mechanism would address immediate and long term issues including engagement with the Government’s National Priority Programme, capacity development and would also promote all stakeholder transparency in the UN Development Assistance Framework and the underlying UN Coherence process.