Africa
Arab States
Central and Eastern Europe
Asia and the Pacific
Latin America and the Caribbean
Interregional Programmes |
 During 1997, UNFPA continued to assist countries in all regions of the world in
advancing the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on
Population and Development (ICPD). The work of the Fund focused on its three programme
priority areas: reproductive health, including sexual health and family planning;
population and development strategies; and advocacy. Key themes that featured in and
informed the work of UNFPA included: addressing the reproductive health needs of young
people; promoting reproductive rights; strengthening national capacity; increasing the
range of and access to quality reproductive health services; and encouraging partnerships
with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other groups in civil society. Women’s
empowerment and gender issues remained cross-cutting dimensions of all of the Fund’s
work.
The Fund’s coordination and collaboration with other United Nations agencies and
organizations in all regions continued to expand in 1997, with increased levels of
communication and cooperation, including through regular meetings of various theme groups,
such as on gender, the environment, and HIV/AIDS. In all countries, UNFPA is a full and
active participant in the United Nations Resident Coordinator system. The United Nations
Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) process also contributed to enhanced inter-agency
collaboration. UNFPA has worked closely with other sister agencies of the United Nations
system in the preparation of the UNDAF document in the countries participating in the
pilot phase. Other mechanisms such as the inter-agency task forces of the Administrative
Committee on Coordination (ACC) and the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) have also
led to expanded inter-agency cooperation. As in previous years, the Fund continued
collaborative efforts and joint initiatives with, inter alia, UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR, UNAIDS,
WHO and the World Bank. In addition, partnerships with regional organizations, as well as
international and national NGOs have been strengthened. Examples of such activities are
contained in all parts of this annual report.
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