ONE UN REPORT 2021

FOREWORD BY RESIDENT COORDINATOR

On behalf of the United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs), I am pleased to present the 2021 UN Report, which provides an outline of the UN’s commitment in the State of Kuwait, ensuring that No One is Left Behind while facing the global crisis. In effect, the UNCTs in Kuwait made noticeable progress on the Risk mitigation & Recovery Plan under COVID-19 (RMRP), a joint UNCT workplan to support Kuwaiti Stakeholders respond to socio-economic consequences of COVID-19. I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Government of Kuwait for its continued commitment to continue offering solutions to stay on track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. We thank our host government for their trust and partnership translated through a unique and strategic collaboration, notably on Humanitarian Development, Socio-economic Development and Peace and Security, as articulated in this report. With such Cooperation, the UN complemented the Government of Kuwait response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 by addressing the health and primary and secondary effects.

The Government of Kuwait showcased great cooperation and support to implement flagship joint initiatives which are grounded in the critical elements of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2021, the UN and the Government of Kuwait continued to jointly review and finalize the Strategic Cooperation Framework (SCF) 2022-2025 and agreed on the way forward which awaits the final endorsement of the concerned authority for initiating implementation.

I acknowledge the invaluable support of our development and humanitarian partners for the great collaboration in coordinating the response plan, notably including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development (GSSCPD), the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Affairs, Public Authority for Manpower, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, private sector and the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local and international communities among others.

All our partners are shareholder in successful implementation of our planned outputs. Complementing the Government’s efforts, the One UN’s multi-sectoral response was driven from the Cooperation Framework Priorities and guided by the RMRP, which included health, protection, recovery, education, youth and women empowerment, climate action, advocacy and communications, and community engagement, countering hate speech and misinformation, all underpinned by multilateral cooperation.

Proudly, I am happy to highlight that the UNCTs and the Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) were in support of the government counterpart and partners at large, on containment and mitigation of the impact of the pandemic and beyond. By the end of 2021, the country achieved 80% immunity rate. The UN technical and administrative support for Kuwait’s timely and well structured submission of its National Vaccination Deployment Plan, was crucial. In 2022, the UNCTs will continue to support the Government and development partners, and will remain focused on the needs of women, children, youth, climate change and the most vulnerable, strengthening the health and education systems, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enhancing social protection frameworks, and supporting socioeconomic development.

Furthermore, the UNCTs will continue emphasizing the importance to address Education and Human capital, youth engagement in climate action, anti-corruption, promoting women in political and economic leadership, addressing socioeconomic challenges, human rights, and ensuring international positioning while continuing to cast the spotlight on efforts addressing gender-based violence, hate speech and misinformation and revealing the human face of Kuwait centered on its own pride as the Humanitarian and Development Center