SKN PM Timothy Harris signs UN’s five-year cooperation framework

St Kitts and Nevis: SKN Prime Minister Timothy Harris, on Thursday, signed on the United Nations (UN) Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) for the Caribbean for the period 2022-2026.

The cooperation document was signed on behalf of the government of St Kitts and Nevis during a virtual ceremony. The twin-island became the first Caribbean country to sign on the UN’s five-year cooperation framework following the signing.

The deal was finalized in November 2021, according to the government of St Kitts and Nevis. This new framework will focus on four priority areas – economic resilience and shared prosperity; equality and well-being; resilience to climate change shocks and sustainable natural resource management; and peace, safety, justice, and the rule of law.

SKN government further said that the United Nations’ support to the Caribbean country would be guided under this new cooperation framework for the next five years.

“We welcome this new multi-country framework in which we are embarking and which we hope will bring not just structure in terms of deliverables but also provide an important framework for results to happen. For many, the UN is an important institution that they hear about. We want our people to appreciate the significant contribution to all areas of socio-economic life and political life by the results we are able to bring,” the prime minister said, as per the government.

The Prime Minister further recalled that the economy of St Kitts and Nevis was severely affected because of the global pandemic and stated that the small Caribbean nation would continuously need the support of the UN.

Thursday’s meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sustainable Development – Mrs Elreter Simpson-Browne; the UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean – Mr Didier Trebucq; UN Country Coordination Officer for St. Kitts and Nevis in the person of Mr Cosbert Woods; and Permanent Secretary in Foreign Affairs Ministry – Ms Kaye Bass.