UNDP reaffirms partnership with Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment |13 December 2021

Minister Joubert accepting the donation from Mrs Serumaga

UNDP resident representative for Seychelles and Mauritius, Amanda Serumaga, accompanied by the team of UNDP based in Seychelles, met with the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Flavien Joubert at the department of Foreign Affairs last week.

The two leaders discussed the status of various project portfolios and ways to strengthen cooperation.

They further discussed the structure of the Programme Coordination Unit which is a semi-autonomous executing arm of the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, supported by the oversight of the UNDP.

Minister Joubert outlined his COP26 experience with the UNDP representatives and the implementation of the new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Mrs Serumaga declared that UNDP is ready to analyse other investment opportunities in priority areas such as agriculture and the blue economy as UNDP wants to explore other sectors and not only the Environment and Climate Change. She further mentioned the need to evaluate opportunities for sustainable agricultural development on the outer Islands of Seychelles, for ensuring food security as the Covid-19 pandemic has provided a wake-up call for the revival of agriculture in Seychelles.

Following their active discussions, the head of UNDP handed over a set of IT equipment which comprised 5 laptops, a virtual conferencing system, and other ICT equipment to Minister Joubert.

While accepting the donation, Mr Joubert expressed his gratitude to UNDP for the support it has provided the ministry over the years.

He also mentioned that the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us that communication is the key, and this ICT equipment came at the right time as the ministry has adopted the culture of virtual communications.

On her end, Mrs Serumaga thanked the minister for the continuous partnership, collaboration and trust in UNDP, and highlighted that UNDP is looking forward to more opportunities that will benefit both parties in 2022.

Minister Joubert was accompanied by the principal secretary for Climate Change, Rebecca Loustau-Lalanne, and the principal secretary for Environment, Denis Matatiken.

Press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment