Magharebia

Several UN bodies and Morocco are to implement a five-year framework plan to assist in the development of the country with a focus on human development from 2007 to 2011. At a meeting in Rabat on Thursday (23 February) attended by Moroccan and UN officials, the International Labour Bureau pledged $10m, the UN Population Fund $8m, UNICEF $6.7m, the UN Development Programme $5.6m, and the World Health Organisation $2m in contributions to the action plan.

At the joint meeting, Secretary General of the Moroccan Foreign Ministry Omar Hilale announced the creation of a steering committee that will be tasked with following up on the action plan, which was drawn in co-operation by the involved parties. Emmanuel Dierckx de Casterlé, UN co-ordinator residing in Morocco, said the integrated plan is evidence of the commitment of UN agencies to assist in Moroccan development, with special emphasis on human development. (MAP)