UN agencies to implement Qatari funded projects in Darfur

February 16, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Darfur Regional Authority and the United Nations signed Tuesday an agreement to implement a number of development projects in Darfur five states funded by the State of Qatar.

The two parties signed “project documents totalling $88,500,000 million announcing the initiation of the Foundational and Short Term (FaST) activities (…) supported through the United Nations Fund for Recovery, Reconstruction and Development in Darfur Fund (UNDF) by the Qatar Development Fund (QDF), State Of Qatar over a period of 18 months,” Said a statement issued by UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Sudan.

The FaST activities are the initial and immediate actions that will kick start the longer term objectives of the Darfur Development Strategy (DDS), providing durable development solutions and evident peace dividends in Darfur, further said the statement.

The signing ceremony was attended by the DRA chairperson, Sudanese minister of international cooperation, state minister of finance, head of Darfur peace implementation office, Qatari ambassador and the UN resident in Sudan.

The purpose of the FaST is to reduce dependency on humanitarian aid and to speed transition to recovery in the war affected region. It also intend to involve young men and women in economic activities and avoid their relapse in violence.

The total funding requirement for the FaST activities is US$ 177.4 million.

The implementation of the FaST projects involves 13 UN agencies: UN Women, UNICEF, UNEP, UNHCR, ILO, UNOPS, UNDP, UNFPA, WHO, UNIDO, FAO, UN Habitat, and IOM.

The State of Qatar, which sponsored a peace process to end the Darfur conflict, pledged to pay $2 billion for Darfur reconstruction and development programmes.

The gulf state has already implemented several projects through Qatari foundations and private groups.

(ST)