Luanda – The Deputy Permanent Representative of the Angolan Mission to the UN in New York João Gimolieca Monday highlighted the social programes underway in the country aimed to fight poverty and mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on most vulnerable groups.
In his virtual address at 60th Session of the Social Development Commission, the ambassador mentioned the challenges and measures to deal with poverty and Covid19.
He underlined the Covid-19 pandemic recovery, the implementation of the SDGs and the threat posed by climate change as some of the multiple challenges that the country has faced in the last decade of action for the Least Developed Countries.
To respond to these adversities while advancing with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the diplomat said that the government has implemented measures of combat the pandemic.
They include the strengthening of health measures, the immunisation of about 16 million people aged from 12 years of age and measures to protect vulnerable citizens.
João Gimolieca said that the social development programmes in Angola, based on the Integrated Plan for Local Development and Combat Poverty 2018-2022 (PIDLCP), are aligned with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (2020-2030) and the Addis Ababa Action Plan for Financing for Development.
The diplomat underlined that despite the successive economic crises that have caused delays in the progress achieved in the last five years, the country presented its First Voluntary Report on Development, during the High Level Forum in 2021.
In light of the implementation of the SDGs, he added that programmes are being carried out to encourage entrepreneurship, self-employment, micro and small companies.
This include providing work tools, especially to young people, under the PAPE Entrepreneurship Support and Promotion programme, the Programme for the Conversion of the Informal Economy PREI and others that compete for the same objective.
In his speech, João Gimolieca said that the “Kwenda” Cash Transfer Programme is being implemented in favour of the most disadvantaged populations, especially in rural areas, with a view to alleviating poverty exacerbated by the pandemic.
He referred to the increase in the supply of basic food products, aimed at lowering the prices of food products with greater consumption, increasing the purchasing power of citizens and the implementation of the Integrated Programme for Intervention in Municipalities (PIIM).
The actions outlined by Executive are intended to improve the quality of education and professional skills of young people, as well as the transfer of technology, in order to promote a more sustainable and resilient development and contribute to the diversification of the economy.
According to João Gimolieca, as part of its efforts to deal with the impact of Covid-19, the government created the Social Solidarity Grant Programme to support the most vulnerable families.
“The drought that put more than 1 million people in a situation of vulnerability in the south of the country has been Angola’s biggest challenge”, he said, stressing the unsustainable burden of the external debt, amid sharp increases in interest rates.
The seven-day event enabled the participants to discuss priority topics.
They focused on inclusive and resilient recovery from Covid-19 for sustainable livelihoods, well-being and dignity for All: Eradicate poverty and hunger in all its forms and dimensions to achieve the 2030 Agenda, with calls for inclusive food systems and digital updates to reach those most in need around the world.
The Commission for Social Development is the advisory body responsible for the social development pillar of global development.
Source: Angola Press News Agency