United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in Geneva, Switzerland, has signed a partnership agreement and memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Civil Society Organisations on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI) on the monitoring and implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
While signing the agreement, the director of the Peace Division of UNITAR, Evariste Karambizi, said it was the first time the world body was signing a partnership agreement and MoU with the CSOs coordinating platform in Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that the working relationship will be of great benefit to the government, CSOs and the non- governmental organisations working on sustainable development goals, climate change financing and environments.
Karambizi further said that the partnership would open access to intervention grants on SDGs and climate projects and programmes financing.
In his brief remarks, Olivet Vandam, senior manager representing United Nations Satellite Centre, confirmed that the agreement and MoU also cover their mandate.
On his part, a diplomat and former director, UNITAR, who is at present the executive adviser, Diplomatic and Development Partners of CSCHEI, Ambassador Lawrence Boms, assured the UNITAR management that the partnership and MoU will be taken seriously, especially when the whole world is giving priority to climate change and action advocacy.
The director-general of CSCHEI, Kunle Yusuff, who led the team to the headquarters of UNITAR in Geneva, Switzerland to sign the partnership, presented the working documents officially to UNITAR and UNOSAT.
He explained that CSCHEI is a coordinating platform that supervises, organises, mobilises, and promotes CSOs, community based organisations, and faith-based organisations within the scope of social development, community enhancement and humanitarianism.
Yusuff emphasised that the working documents of CSCHEI aligns completely with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030.
He said that the partnership agreement will provide effective and efficient coordination between donor agencies, development partners CSOs, NGOs and faith-based organisations.