"Nkosi, Sikelela i-Afrika." UNICEF echoes the message of hope from President Cyril Ramaphosa and looks forward to continuing our work with government and partners towards a better life #ForEveryChild in South Africa.
Yesterday at South Africa's Parliament, and auspiciously on Nelson #MandelaDay, the President of South Africa delivered #OPA2024. Checked against our 2023 #Manifesto4EveryChild in South Africa, UNICEF South Africa sees many reasons to look forward to our collaboration with the "Cooperation Nation" and to join the army of "social weaver birds". It's no longer an "Indlulamithi 2035" scenario, but a promising reality. My immediate takeaways of entry points for strengthening the UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government, people and children in SA are: -An effective, integrated and comprehensive poverty alleviation strategy is necessary to provide protection and support to the most vulnerable in society. -We will focus on achieving universal access to early childhood development, which is a prerequisite for improved learning in later years. -We will ensure schools are conducive to education, with enough classrooms, safe and appropriate sanitation facilities, clean water and a daily meal for those who need it. -To ensure that we produce the skills that our economy needs, we will expand vocational and technical training in schools and post-school institutions, and take a demand-led approach to skills development. -As we implement the National Health Insurance, we will focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, improving training of healthcare personnel and using technology to improve healthcare management. -We will continue to implement the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Femicide and expand victim support services, like the Thuthuzela Centres and GBV desks in police stations. UNICEF pledges to continue to support children in having their voices heard and agency recognized in the forthcoming National Dialogue to discuss the critical challenges facing [the] nation and to agree on what is needed to achieve a better future for this great country. #ForEveryChild, an army of "Social Weaver Birds" and a "Cooperation Nation"!