Regional Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Mr. Nils Kastberg is here in discussion with President Bharrat Jagdeo when the visiting envoy paid a courtesy call at the Office of the President, Wednesday. Accompanying him was UNICEF Resident Representative to Guyana, Mrs. Shreelakshmi Gururaja, at left. (Picture by Cullen Bess Nelson)
THE national debt problem among the regional economies is impacting negatively on countries' ability to achieve millennium goals as set out by the United Nations. As such, any further increase in national debts would lead to greater disparities between rich and poor and multiply the socioeconomic hardship, which is on the increase.

This is the view of Regional Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Mr. Nils Kastberg, who attended the meeting here to discuss the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Government of Guyana/UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation 2001-2005.

At a press briefing shortly after the opening ceremony of the meeting, which was held at Le Meridien, Pegasus, on Wednesday, Mr Kastberg told the media that there is need for greater budgetary allocations for the social sector so as to dramatically reverse the plight of children mired in poverty.

According to Kastberg, on a regional basis an average of US70 cents is spent per child per day, which is inadequate because in order to satisfy the basic requirements, a minimum of US$1.05 should be spent. It is in this context that he called for greater allocations to the social sector.

He also expressed the need for a reform of social programmes to improve their quality so that such problems as malnutrition among children can be tackled.

Economic slow-down is another factor which is hampering social programmes, Kastberg offered, noting that whenever there is economic decline governments slash spending in the social sector which further aggravates the existing social problems and in many instances leads to social conflicts.

The UNICEF official noted, too, that systematic monitoring of problems facing children is essential in the effort to solve those problems. He stated that society has a responsibility to know what is happening with children. He also encouraged the effort for dialogue between different communities to foster greater social cohesion and harmony in multi-cultural societies.

Asked how well Guyana is prepared compared to other countries in relation to achieving the millennium goals, the Regional Director said there is a great awareness of the goals, but there is need to convert it into practical programmes such as increased social sector spending.

At the opening ceremony of the meeting, Mr Kastberg emphasised the need for greater participation and involvement of youths in the formulation and execution of programmes designed to uplift their educational and moral standards.

UNICEF Resident Representative to Guyana, Dr. Shreelakshmi Gururaja noted that there is a direct link between school dropouts and street violence and drug peddling among other social problems. In this regard, she said that a five-year programme is being worked out with the Economic Commission on Latin America (ECLAC) to address the issue of protection of street children.

Mrs. Gururaja emphasised the need for every socio-economic programme to have the child in focus, to determine its social impact on the daily lives children.

Earlier, at the opening ceremony of the meeting, Minister within the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Bibi Shadick, reiterated the Government's commitment towards the eradication of poverty, observing that the mere growth in the economy will not by itself lead to a reduction in poverty.

The Minister observed that in wealthy societies notable disparities exist between rich and poor.

She acknowledged that large numbers of people are still poor, but pointed out that several adverse factors have hampered the efforts aimed at addressing social problems, including the aftermath of the 2001 General Elections and the crime wave which has traumatised a large number of families and children.

The Minister noted that the MTR continues to be a powerful analytical tool to determine the effectiveness of social programmes and to make the necessary adjustments in ensuring objectives are achieved, adding that monitoring and evaluation are also essential components.

The Mid-Term Review of the Government of Guyana/UNICEF Country Programme of Co-operation for the period 2001-2005 is being held with the primary aim of making a systematic and in-depth review of progress in relation to the programme objectives and anticipated results. It also identifies and recommends mid-term adjustments in the key elements of the design of the country programme.

The Country Programme provides the basis for the relationship between the Government of Guyana and UNICEF. It outlines various programmes of co-operation aimed at placing children first in the national planning and development progress, increasing their participation in development and ensuring progress towards the development of their full potential.

The MTR process required the involvement of different partners and counterparts at different stages, and was grounded in a participatory and interactive process encouraging a sense of ownership and responsibility for its completion.

The methodology included consultations, meetings, desk analysis, filed-based assessments and evaluations of (the process) by different groups. It made a systematic comparison of findings across different approaches, types or sources of information, methods of data collection and types of analyses and drew on monitoring reports, evaluative activities or completed evaluations. Locally recruited consultants and UNICEF staff from UNICEF in Guyana, the Caribbean the Area Office and the UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean supported the MTR exercise in Guyana.

UNICEF supports the Government of Guyana in planning and implementing programmes to realise children's rights. Global and regional commitments such as the Millennium Development Goals, the World Fit For Children and the Regional CARICOM Plans of Action relating to Child Development, Health, Education and HIV/AIDS support and guide the achievement of goals leading to progressive fulfillment of children's and women's rights.