Closing ceremony of the One UN Project

Closing ceremony of the One UN Project

Dr Jassim Taqui

The One UN Project, “Livelihood Restoration, Protection and Sustainable Empowerment of Vulnerable Peasant Communities in Sindh Province”, steered by the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh and jointly implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) with the financial support of United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS).

The project resulted in improving the lives of 12000 families in targeted Districts of Mirpurkhas and Dadu in the Sindh Province. The Project utilized multiple actions to improve the human security and reduce the poverty of the targeted communities. 

ILO Country Director, Pakistan , Ms Ingrid Christensen delivered the keynote speech setting the tone for the rest of the speakers. She spoke about the 2010 and 2011 floods of Pakistan and its adverse impact on Sindh, particularly Mirpurkhas and Dadu districts, highlighting the relief operations by FAO and ILO. Now, however UN WOMEN combined with ILO and FAO to  complete the project that lasted for 3 years. She commended the unity of UN agencies and said she was inspired by the transformation in the life of the beneficiaries of the project.

FAO Representative, Pakistan, Patrick Evans spoke about lessons learnt in his presentation especially the advantage of UN agencies working together. He commended the outcome of the project particularly the empowerment of women, improving irrigation system, water management and livestock through ILO loans to the farmers belonging to 12,000 families.

UN Women Country Director, Pakistan Sengeta Tapa said the project could be a potential for the Government to expand it to other parts of Sindh and Pakistan.

Commissioner Mirpurkhas Division Shafiq Ahmad lauded the project , highlighting more coordination between UN agencies and the Government of Sindh.

UN Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne brilliantly concluded the 3-hour long ceremony by stating that  multidimensional poverty is a pain to the society. Quoting from recent UN statistics, he revealed that poverty in Sindh touched  the fearful figure of 75.5 percent. He proposed enforcing “ human security” on the principle of reaching first to the most secluded people. He said that the project improved people’s life and choice and succeeded in devising principles to connect people. He described the project as unique in the sense that it gave  the people voice.

Ending his speech by posing a thought –provoking question, what we do next?... the scope is huge but it needs will and human security.”