Norwegian government provides $ 3.8m for GSP
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Norway and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Thursday signed a cost-sharing agreement to the tune of US $ 3.8 million for the Gender Support Programme (GSP).
The programme will address political, economic and institutional issues impending gender equality efforts in Pakistan.
The agreement was signed between the Norwegian Ambassador Janis Bjorn Kanavin and Jan Vandemoortele, UNDP Resident Representative in the presence of the Economic Affairs Division and representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Women Development, Ministry of Local Government and Planning and Development Division.
The foresaid funding is in addition to the earlier Norwegian support of US $ 2.3 million. The programme, budgeted at around US $ 17 million, positions itself to provide coordinated policy, technical and managerial support to its national partners in the design, implementation and monitoring of policy commitments and programme priorities, in line with the PRSP, National Plan of Action and Medium Term Development Framework.
On this occasion, Norwegian Ambassador Janis Bjorn Kanavin said that the recent catastrophe in Pakistan has touched everyone and Norway has so far committed more than US $ 33 million to the relief efforts.
“As a partner of development cooperation in Pakistan, we are aware of the great need for reconstruction and rehabilitation but not at expense of ongoing efforts such as Gender Support Programme. The full contribution of women in Pakistani society is needed more than ever,” he said.
UNDP Resident Representative Jan J Vandemoortele said that gender equality is at the heart of reaching the millennium development goals.
He remarked: “Experience showed that development that is not en-gendered is development that is endangered. We have learnt many times over that in the arena of human development what works for men does not necessarily work for women.”
The present partners of the Gender Support programme include the Ministry of Women Development implementing partner for the “Women’s Political School” project; Ministry of Finance for the “Gender Responsive Budgeting Initiative”; Ministry of Local Government for “Gender Justice through Musalihat Anjuman” Project and the Planning & Development Division, who take the lead in implementing the “Gender Mainstreaming through Planning and Development Division and departments” initiatives.
The government of Norway is the only donor that provides un-earmarked programmatic support to national partners in prioritizing and balancing gender equality interventions.
The agreement signed on Thursday by both represents a renewal of this joint collaborative and cooperative relationship. UNDP banks on support by the government of Norway and other cost-sharing partners in promoting and advancing a gender agenda in Pakistan.