Draft country programme document for Eritrea (2007-2011 )

Introduction

1. The formulation of the 2007-2011 country programme document (CPD) is guided by the priority needs and challenges of the Government of Eritrea as identified in the 2005 common country assessment (CCA), the 2007-2011 United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) as well as the 2005 Millennium Development Goals report and other prior policy frameworks. The CPD is therefore derived from documents and processes entailing extensive consultations and meetings between senior government officials, representatives of civil society and United Nations organizations. I. Situation analysis 2. The long-term goal of the Government remains that of poverty reduction through rapid economic growth and accelerated human development. Embarking steadfastly on the path to economic growth and development is therefore the key challenge ahead for Eritrea. Without the resumption of rapid economic growth, the gains made so far to achieve the Millennium Development Goals are at risk. 3. According to the first Millennium Development Goals report (2005), Eritrea is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals dealing with gender equality at the primary school level, child health, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major diseases, and access to safe water. However, it remains off track with respect to the eradication of extreme poverty and achievement of universal primary education, two critical goals towards human and economic development. Lack of adequate data on environmental sustainability did not permit a clear assessment of progress in that area. 4. Immediately after independence in 1993 and up to 1997, Eritrea formulated and implemented socio-economic policies and strategies, attaining an average annual growth in gross domestic product (GDP) of 7 per cent and other marked improvements throughout key sectors. However, the border war (1998-2000) and the ongoing border stalemate, compounded by recurring droughts, have reversed positive post-independence gains. According to the Ministry of National Development, since the end of the war, annual growth in GDP, a key factor of poverty reduction, has been low, averaging 1 per cent (1998-2004), thereby intensifying the vulnerability of the 3.66 million people in Eritrea, as indicated in the 2002 National Demographic Health Survey. Internally displaced persons, expellees and returnees from Ethiopia, the urban poor, the disabled, pastoralists, female-headed households, orphans and high-risk HIV/AIDS groups have been particularly hard hit. In 2003, Eritrea was designated one of the four countries to be supported in the implementation of a joint United Nations transitional recovery response effort: repatriation, reintegration, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Of the 60,000 internally displaced persons, 19,000, mostly women and children left in camps, were recently resettled. 5. The environment in Eritrea is naturally fragile. The climate is semi-arid and water is very scarce. Moreover, poverty has driven people to extract environmental resources in unsustainable ways leading to the vicious cycle of environmental degradation, food insecurity and increased poverty. 6. Food security is a key national priority. However, Eritrea remains in the grip of an emergency that has been prolonged and deepened by frequent droughts and the stalemate over the demarcation of the border with Ethiopia.download