UNITED NATIONS GIRLS EDUCATION INITIATIVE

The situation of children and women in Guinea-Bissau remains critical. Economic performance tends to fluctuate with the performance of the agriculture sector, the largest sector of the economy. This severely affects social services, particularly health and education.

UNICEF and the Government have decided to include early childhood as a cross-cutting issue of the programme of cooperation. The country programme seeks to facilitate an increasing recognition of children’s rights. Efforts are being directed at setting up the necessary mechanisms and strengthening the government’s capacity to ensure full implementation of Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Furthermore, activities undertaken through the country programme aim to contribute to poverty alleviation and support other Millenium Development Goals priorities.