UNCT Retreat 18-19 May 2008, Sabratha , Libya

UN country Teams are truly exploring how the UN can respond to national priorities by joint analysis, joint thinking, joint prioritization and joint budgeting. This enables greater responsiveness to national priorities. Overall from the government perspective, the leadership role of the Resident Coordinator has been strengthen. Enhanced role of the  UN RC is an important aspect for the successful implementation  is the initiative of this retreat.

The Two days Retreat  was organized at city of Sabratha on 18-19 of May 2008. Participants from Libya, Morocco, Egypt and Tunis attended this Retreat. Under Secretary of the General People’s Committee for Planning, Government Officials, UN officials and representatives  of all UN organizations working in Libya participated. Under Secretary gave brief of National Development plan. In total Nine session took place discussing different issues.

For the first time in Libya a UN Communication Group (UNCG) was formed to work on one UN communication strategy and plan. It comprise of communication focal points from all UN Agencies. On the 2^nd day The RC chaired this 7^th session and Info Asst. of UNIC co-chaired the session and gave brief on the Communication Group thus formed. UNCG will endeavor to promote the concept of  ‘One UN’ achieving good public image visibility and impact. It will also  seek inter-agency  cooperation in the field of communication and increase media profile of UN at both national and Regional levels. It will chart out a work plan every year including activities like International Days, UN Day, meetings, conferences, launches of press releases and UN Reports. The session also discussed the problems faced by UNIC for the previous years.  more.........

On 14^th May 2008 a press conference was arranged by UNIC for the Resident Coordinator at UNDP office, Tripoli to explore the objectives of the Retreat. He highlighted the Agenda and objectives of  the UNCT Retreat to be held  on 18-19 of May 2008 at Sabratha, Libya. Several newspaper correspondents, National and private TV, Radio attended the conference. TV and Radio broadcasted the press conference.  Big coverage was reported of the event in the news papers.

In coordination with WHO, a program was organized by UNIC at our  premises on  Thursday  17/04/2008 to award prizes and certificates to the successful candidates.  The competition was held by WHO Regional Office for the Arab  Region (EMRO) on the theme  “Protecting Health from  Climate Change” to commemorate the World Health Day 2008. Many  participants took part in the competition from the Arab Region, thirteen from Libya   were awarded prizes.

Prizes were distributed by the RC, WHO Representative, UNIC Info. Asst. and  Officials from Ministry of Health.  Parents of the candidates, NGO's UN staff and media personal attended the program.  Journalists from  different newspapers and Al- Bait Magazine covered the program. They interviewed the WHO representative and Info Asst of UNIC. It was shown on Allebiya TV on same day. Local newspapers and TV gave a good coverage of the program