Asunción, Agencia IP.- Paraguayan Chancellor Rubén Ramírez Lezcano emphasized that the government is firmly committed to the comprehensive well-being of its citizens and has established a clear strategy based on four fundamental pillars to promote positive change in society. These indicators include quality jobs, health and food, education, and citizen security.
This was on Tuesday during the second meeting of the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the «Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development 2020-2024» between the Republic of Paraguay and the United Nations, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs chaired the meeting with the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Organization in the country, Mario Samaja.
The Chancellor noted that the National Steering Committee must become a crucial space to discuss and present Paraguay’s needs and aspirations, seeking to coordinate efforts and create synergies that foster a state closer and in the service of its citizens, with more opportunities, well-being, and less inequality.
During the meeting, the main results obtained in implementing the current Cooperation Framework 2020-2024 were also reviewed; lessons learned and best practices were collected, and the following challenges and opportunities to contribute to national priorities were identified.
Next steps
In this regard, the UN Resident Coordinator referred to the following steps to be taken towards the elaboration and subsequent subscription of cooperation, which will seek to adapt to the needs expressed by Paraguayan institutions and be fully aligned with the Paraguay Development Plan.
Attending the meeting as advisory members of the Committee were the Ministers of Justice, Ángel Ramón Barchini; Labor, Employment and Social Security, Mónica Recalde; Social Development, Miguel Tadeo Rojas; Environment and Sustainable Development, Rolando de Barros; Minister Laura Rolón from the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, Deputy Minister of Economy and Planning, Carlos Javier Charotti Ramírez, and the Director of the Technical Unit of the Social Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, Héctor Cárdenas.
Representatives from the United Nations System were also present, including the acting representative of UNICEF, Ralph Midy; the representative of FAO, Iván Felipe León Ayala; the representative of UNOPS, Roberto Carrillo; the national representative of UNFPA, Rocío Galiano Marés, and the resident representative of UNDP, Silvia Morimoto.
The Chancellor was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Victor Verdún, the Director of Multilateral Policy, Helena Felip, and the Director of International Cooperation of the MFA, Eliana Duarte.