UNFPA has been involved in the Syrian Arab Republic since 1971, when UNFPA supported the national census. The fifth country programme cycle started in 1996. It will run for five years, until 2000, and amounts to $18 million. The bulk of this will come from UNFPA’s regular programme resources, says Abdul Muniem Abu-Nuwar, UNFPA Representative for the Syrian Arab Republic, the rest from multi-bilateral arrangements and the Government.

Abdul Muniem, a native of Jordan, is a relaxed person with a wry sense of humour, which belies his keen sense of purpose. He admits that his job is a real challenge. "We are making headway towards better reproductive health and family planning services," he explains, "but some in the government, mainly economists and planners, still think economic development is the key to everything. This dichotomy in government thinking is affecting population policies."

UNFPA’s new five-year country programme has made some inroads by bringing in new NGO partners and institutionalizing population and development within the government structure. For the first time ever, the State Planning Commission has agreed to set aside $5 million of the population budget for use by NGOs and grass-roots organizations. In addition, says Abdul Muniem enthusiastically, the government seems to be genuinely committed to a multi-sectoral population policy, with elements plugged directly into each development ministry.

UNFPA’s country programme concentrates on a number of key areas: improving reproductive health and family planning services; gender issues; sexual and family life education for youth, both in school and out of school; information campaigns; and advocacy with parliamentarians, government officials and the media.

Abu-Nuwar has assigned two of his five programme staff officers to deal with advocacy and the media, in addition to their other duties. Advocacy efforts with the government are channelled through the Parliamentary Committee on Population and the Environment.

In addition to working with WHO, UNICEF, FAO, UNESCO and UNDP on a regular basis, Abdul Muniem chairs a United Nations committee on women’s advancement. Currently, UNFPA is participating in a joint United Nations project, called Healthy Villages, in collaboration with WHO and the Ministry of Health. The core of the project is providing reproductive health and family planning services, but other health issues are considered. "In one village, for instance, 50 men gave up smoking," observes Abdul Muniem. "In another, we are experimenting with a new approach called integrated marketing communication." Someone from the village is appointed project director and helps local people and project staff identify health priorities. "These projects illustrate what is meant by ‘people-centred development’," says Abdul Muniem.

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