The United Nations System and the Government of Costa Rica signed a new Development Assistance Framework for Costa Rica 2018- 2022 (UNDAF) on Friday, March 31.

The document defines the cooperation and support pledged by the UN to the country over the next five years in a program named “Nobody Left Behind”, said Danilo Mora Díaz, communications officer for the UN System.

The activity was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel González; the Minister of Planning and Economic Policy Olga Marta Sánchez; and the United Nations System Coordinator Alice Shackelford.

The signing took place with the participation by the presidency, public institutions, civil society, private sector, academia and other groups important to the UN’s work in Costa Rica.

Manuel González stated that:

“The UNDAF is an indispensable and complementary part of the titanic task we have to fulfill our commitments to the Sustainable Development Objectives, such as poverty reduction and inequality, ending hunger and ensuring food security, a healthy life for all, inclusive and quality education, gender equality, availability of water and hygiene, access to clean energy, sustained and sustainable economic growth with full employment, strong infrastructure, safe human housing, sustainable consumption and production, measures to address climate change, conservation of natural resources and marine ecosystems, peaceful and inclusive communities, andbuilding partnerships to achieve goals.”

Alice Shackelford, Resident Coordinator of the UN explained that,

“We have jointly identified the country’s development priorities and defined the objectives and results to be achieved, with a focus on human rights, gender equity, environmental sustainability, capacity building, and results-based management. Special attention has been given to excluded and vulnerable groups that are being left behind, such as indigenous and Afro-descendant populations, persons with disabilities, migrants and refugees, LGBTI people, women, and children and adolescents, especially when these groups live in poverty.”

The UNDAF 2018-2022 will focuses its actions in three key areas in order to advance the achievement of sustainable development with equality:

1. Strengthening the capacities of public institutions, private organizations and civil society to facilitate and forge national, innovative, transformative and dialogue-based pacts and agreements that move the country towards its sustainable development goals.

2. Strengthening institutional capacities for innovation, efficiency and effectiveness of public management in order to accelerate compliance with the national priorities for sustainable development.

3. Strengthening the capacities of the population for greater participation and defense of their rights.