GFDD and FUNGLODE’s Fifth Global Roundtable hosts the Kenyan Mission to the United Nations

As part of its ongoing Global Roundtable program, GFDD and FUNGLODE hosted a visit from H.E. Josephine Ojiambo, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kenyan Mission to the United Nations.

In addition to her duties as Permanent Representative Ambassador Ojiambo also serves as President of the High Level Committee on South South Cooperation, a Committee housed at UNDP
Headquarters in New York and dedicated to capacity building and the exchange of knowledge from the Global South. Dr. Ojiambo lauded NGOs such as GFDD and its partner organization, South South News for highlighting practices that best exemplified a dedication to the Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations.

With regards to her country, Ambassador Ojiambo explained that Kenya has launched a long-term plan to transform the lives of its citizens by 2010
through a national effort focusing on democratization, youth education and economic diversification.

While Kenya fares well in social indicators when compared to other Sub-Saharan countries, it does not rank as high when compared to the middle-income countries, and especially the second-generation Newly Industrializing Countries, such as Malaysia Indonesia and Thailand – all of which were at the same stage of development as Kenya only 35 years ago.
 
To remain relevant and competitive regionally and globally, Kenya is methodically planning for the future, building on its strengths and confronting the realities of poverty, unemployment and globalization.
 
By taking maximum advantage of science, technology, and innovation, combined with a rigorous commitment to accountable leadership at all levels of government, Kenya is making significant strides towards eliminating absolute
poverty; improving access to social services; promoting private sector development; and creating a sound legal system that protects property rights and effectively dispenses justice.
 
Recognizing that the benefits of economic growth may not reach all of its citizens equally, the Kenyan government has created a number of spending proposals, in particular in the areas of health and education, aimed at stimulating economic growth and promoting equality for
even the most disadvantaged members of society. 
 
In that regard, Kenya has made great achievements in the field of education.  In 2003 an action by the Kenyan government to universalize access to free primary education led to approximately a 70% increase in primary school enrollment.  Currently free access to secondary public education already exists and soon it aims to be at the University level also. Centers of Excellence have
been built in each of its  47 counties.

When asked about the challenge of HIV/AIDS  AIDS, Ojiamba  talked of the need for greater investment from donor countries in educational and antiretroviral drug programs and the necessity for international drug companies to make antiviral drugs and drugs to combat TB, malaria and fungal disease more accessible. 
 
She also mentioned the support her government is
giving to the UN High Level Meeting, to be held in New York City on 8-10 June 2011, which aims to review the progress achieved in realizing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, as well as to promote the continued engagement of leaders in a comprehensive global response to the deadly virus.
 
About the Global Roundtable

In close association with the
United Nations, the Mission of the Dominican Republic to the UN and South South News, GFDD organizes regular meetings with UN Ambassadors and other prominent figures in the international community in an effort to spread the news, knowledge and understanding of other countries, global issues and work of different United Nations bodies to its audience in the Dominican Republic, the US and around the world.
 
The monthly series, GFDD Global Roundtable is also
a part of its program to support the work of the United Nations and, as a non-governmental institution affiliated to it, contribute to the visibility and understanding of its work.

Read more about GFDD Global Roundtable>>