The Unicef representative to Comoros, Mustapha Ben Messaoud, presented the organization's new cooperation program with the Union of Comoros for 2027-2030 to the Union Assembly's finance commission on November 6. The program aims to guide the partnership between Unicef and Comoros from March 2027 to December 2030. It aligns with Comoros' 2030 Emergent Plan and the UN's Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2027-2030. The program focuses on making Comoros' social systems more equitable, inclusive, and resilient for children.
The cooperation program outlines four priorities for children in Comoros: survival and early childhood development, learning and skills acquisition, protection from violence and harmful practices, and social policies and resilience. During the presentation, Ben Messaoud emphasized the need for increased funding for social sectors, particularly education and health, in the 2027 budget. He noted that Comoros' 2026 budget allocated 12.4% to education, below the international recommended range of 15-20%, and 8.1% to health, against a target of over 15% set by the Abuja Declaration.
The finance commission members welcomed Unicef's initiative to strengthen exchanges with national representatives. The first vice-president of the Union Assembly, Zoubeiri Mohamed Ahmed, highlighted that this was the first time a UN agency had presented its program to parliamentarians. The commission's president, Iftahou Ben Halidi, expressed the commission's commitment to collaborating with Unicef to promote children's rights in Comoros.
The new cooperation program aims to ensure that every child in Comoros can survive, thrive, learn, and be protected within more equitable, inclusive, and resilient social systems. Unicef's representative and his team presented the program's details to parliamentarians under Ben Halidi's leadership. The program's development was informed by discussions with various stakeholders, including government officials, civil society, and children themselves.
The Unicef-Comoros team engaged with finance commission members on funding for social sectors, education quality, and public investment monitoring. These discussions are crucial as Comoros prepares its 2027 budget. The country's budget allocation to education and health has been below international recommendations, according to Unicef.
Unicef's cooperation program with Comoros for 2027-2030 reflects the organization's commitment to supporting the country's development goals. By focusing on children's survival, education, protection, and social policies, Unicef aims to contribute to Comoros' progress toward becoming an emerging economy by 2030.
The Union Assembly's finance commission has welcomed Unicef's initiative and expressed its readiness to work closely with the organization. This collaboration is expected to enhance budget allocations for education and health, ultimately benefiting children in Comoros.
Key points
- Unicef urges increased budget allocations for education and health in Comoros.
- The new cooperation program focuses on four priorities for children: survival, learning, protection, and social policies.
- The program aligns with Comoros' 2030 Emergent Plan and the UN's Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2027-2030.
