Speech by Ms. Christine McNab

Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme

Hussein Youth City

Monday, 28 February 2005

Ladies and Gentlemen

UNDP is proud to be one of the partners of the Government of Jordan in the development, formulation and implementation of national initiatives and strategies which respond to Your Majesty’s vision for the development of Jordan. Your Majesty’s vision includes the participation of all people in development, for the benefit of all people, and as a model for the region.

I have seen that Your Majesty often meets with young people, and that you have encouraged their participation in all aspects of development. It is often said that young people are the future of a country: in Jordan this is frequently amended to say that the young people are also our present. Their needs and contributions need to be considered in everything we do.

The partnership between the United Nations Development Programme and the Higher Council for Youth started in 2003. Support to the development of the National Strategy for Youth has been central to our cooperation and in this endeavour we have been joined by our sister agency, UNICEF.

The participatory approach to developing the strategy has been remarkable. Around ninety thousand young men and women together with their families participated in the formulation and development of the strategy. It is anticipated that youth themselves will be the main engine in the implementation of the Strategy and the Programme of Action.  I wish them well in this enterprise.

I have full confidence that the country can rely on the support of the youth of Jordan to meet the country’s Millennium Development Goals challenges.

We are honoured to join you in this celebration of the National Youth Strategy and the United Nations in Jordan is looking forward to future collaboration for youth, with young people, based on the National Youth Strategy and the supportive and dynamic leadership of Your Majesty.

Thank you