UNDP Administrator Helen Clark has met with Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister of Development Cooperation Heikki Holmaas in the wings of the UN General Assembly and thanked them for Norway’s strong partnership with UNDP.
Prime Minister Stoltenberg co-chairs the UN Commission on Life Saving Commodities for Women and Children which has today released its recommendations for increasing access to life-saving medicines and health supplies in the world’s poorest countries, with a focus on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health.
The Commission’s recommendation to stimulate research into new medical commodities for low and middle income countries is of particular interest to UNDP.
“UNDP is currently exploring opportunities to enhance South-South co-operation platforms for innovation and research and development for treating HIV and neglected tropical diseases, and looks forward to engaging further with the Commission,” Helen Clark said.
Also high on the agenda of the high-level meetings was Norway and UNDP’s quest for inclusive and green growth.
Combatting deforestation has been an issue Norway has addressed through its engagement with the UN-REDD Programme and where UNDP has been an important partner.
Helen Clark said UNDP was encouraged by the progress of UN REDD and looked forward to further cooperation with Norway on deforestation and related issues, including joining forces in making the private sector part of the solution in the sphere of sustainable development.
Having both participated in the Open Dialogue with the High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, Minister Holmås and Miss Clark further discussed UNDP’s ability to implement a post 2015 agenda with focus on equity and sustainability.
In 2011, Norway was UNDP’s third biggest donor with a total contribution of US $255.4.
