Moldova has “a good story to tell” in the forthcoming Millennium Development Goals summit in New York, which is scheduled later this month, according to United Nations Development Program Administrator Helen Clark.
Moldova on Sept. 9 issued its second MDG report, which notes the strides made in eradicating poverty, reducing maternal and infant mortality, extending natural areas protected by the state, and developing information technology. The report also indicates the country’s progress in improving education and health infrastructure, and combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
“I’m pleased that on the MDGs, Moldova already has a good story to tell on 21 of 27 of the targets,” Clark said during her two-day visit to the European nation, which kicked off Sept. 9.
“But challenges do remain. Efforts will need to be accelerated for Moldova to achieve all the targets - for example, in the areas of universal primary education, turning the tide on HIV/AIDS, and increasing access to clean water sources and to sewerage systems,” Clark added.
The report also maps out Moldova’s strategy in the next five years to meet the 2015 deadline of attaining the MDGs.
Clark said UNDP will help Moldova’s government raise some USD75 million for short- and medium-term recovery and reconstruction efforts in the country’s flood-hit areas.
“The principles of disaster and climate risk management need to be fully integrated into national development strategies, policies and planning processes, to save lives and safeguard vital infrastructure in the future,” Clark said during the presentation of the needs assessment in the wake of the floods that ravaged Moldova in July.
Clark added: “UNDP is committed to assist the government in those efforts. The forthcoming initiative on Disaster and Climate Risk Management in partnership with the government will aim at strengthening risk assessment capacities through the creation of a National Disaster Observatory. In parallel, a special focus will be placed on reducing vulnerabilities and improving climate risk management capacities at the local level.”
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