The Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms. Asa Pehrson and Dr Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF representative in Zimbabwe after signing the child support funding agreement in Harare
By George Swarei
The Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms. Asa Pehrson and Dr Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF representative in Zimbabwe on Tuesday signed a funding agreement of 5.8Million USD to support Child protection programmes in Zimbabwe.
The signing ceremony was held at the residence of the Swedish Ambassador in Harare.
Through its 5.8 million USD funding to UNICEF, Sweden will support the efforts of the Government of Zimbabwe in five programme areas that are critical to protect children against violence, abuse and exploitation.
The targeted areas include access to response services for the most vulnerable children through the National Case Management System; prevention of Violence Against Children and Gender Based Violence through interventions that address harmful practices, social and gender norms and behavioral drivers of violence; access to justice for children; access to birth registration services; and policy, legal and regulatory framework improvements.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Pehrson underscored the importance of protection to children’s well-being.
“Sweden believes that an efficient protection is essential to the children’s wellbeing because, as vulnerable people, they are more exposed to issues of mistreatment, exploitation, discrimination and violence,” she said.
The funding will be used primarily in ten districts: Binga, Chiredzi, Bulilima, Buhera, Zvishavane, Mbire, Epworth, Beitbridge, Mutasa and Bulawayo.
The districts were selected based on key deprivation factors namely urban, rural, and peri-urban locations; poorest and vulnerable districts; districts prone to climate shocks; and remote districts to address the leave no one behind dimension.
The Swedish funding is part of the Child Protection Fund III, a multi-donor fund mechanism which is open to all partners interested in supporting the efforts of the Government of Zimbabwe to provide a safe and secure protective environment for children to grow up in.
UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe, Dr Tajedeen Oyewale said:
“Sweden has been a long-term partner and donor to the protection sector in Zimbabwe. We are grateful to the Government of Sweden for this new contribution that will enable the fulfilment and realization of children’s rights to protection in Zimbabwe. We hope that many other countries will soon follow Sweden’s example and join the Child Protection Fund.”
Mr Simon Masanga, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare who was representing the government of Zimbabwe said, “Government of Zimbabwe is committed to addressing all forms of violence against children to ensure that every child grows in a safe, secure and protective environment.
“Our aim is to create a Zimbabwe fit for children through strategic partnerships and to expand child protection financing through the Child Protection Fund. Government expresses its gratitude to the people of Sweden for the continued financial support towards the protection of vulnerable persons in Zimbabwe over the years.”
“The support rendered today will go a long way in improving the wellbeing of children, particularly those who are marginalized and vulnerable,” he added.
