Libreville, November 26, 2024 – In a significant stride toward sustainable development, Gabon has officially launched the Development Planning and Institutional and Technical Capacity Building Programme. The ceremony, held at the Boulevard Hotel, brought together key national and international stakeholders, including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Ambassador of Spain, Ramon Molina, who represents one of the initiative's primary contributors.
This ambitious 12-month programme, funded by the United Nations Joint SDG Fund, is a collaborative effort led by Gabon's General Planning Commission and implemented by several United Nations agencies, including UNICEF, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UN-Habitat, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It underscores the shared commitment of Gabon and the United Nations to strengthening institutional frameworks and advancing sustainable development initiatives.
The programme is structured around addressing Gabon's institutional and technical challenges in development planning. It will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the country's planning systems to modernize and strengthen processes, while also enhancing the skills of stakeholders in planning, land management, and related areas. In addition, the initiative will focus on identifying and addressing technical deficiencies, deploying modern planning tools, and mobilizing innovative financing mechanisms such as green and blue financing to support sustainable projects.
The anticipated outcomes of the programme include the development of a detailed institutional analysis of Gabon's planning ecosystem, the introduction of state-of-the-art planning and programming tools, improved coordination and monitoring mechanisms, and enhanced statistical capacities to support evidence-based policymaking. A key deliverable of the programme will be the preparation of Gabon's next National Development Plan, setting a strategic direction for the country’s growth.
The launch event was marked by high-level speeches that reflected the strong support and collaboration underpinning the initiative. H.E. Ramon Molina emphasized Spain’s commitment to fostering sustainable development in Gabon, while Ms. Savina Ammassari, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Gabon, highlighted the critical role of international cooperation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Dr. Marie-Reine Chirezi Fabry, UNICEF’s Resident Representative, stressed the importance of institutional strengthening in creating a foundation for equitable development, and Mrs. Huguette Nyana Nkoume, Secretary General of the Vice-Prime Minister's Office, expressed Gabon's gratitude for the international partnership driving the initiative.
As Gabon embarks on this ambitious journey, the Development Planning and Capacity Building Programme symbolizes a pivotal step toward achieving a sustainable and inclusive future. By addressing systemic gaps and mobilizing innovative financing, the programme aligns with Gabon's long-term vision of equitable growth and environmental stewardship.
This collaborative initiative not only demonstrates the country's readiness to meet global standards in sustainable development but also reinforces its position as a regional leader committed to realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
