The Head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday offered her congratulations to South Sudan for holding a peaceful and transparent referendum on South’s separation.
Helen Clark, the UNDP Administrator, thanked the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission as well as all of the international partners, who worked with the UNDP to help to make the polls a success.
The UNDP provided supplies and technical and logistical support for the referendum, which took place during the week ending on January 15. On Monday, the results of the referendum were officially announced, revealing that Southern Sudan would be the world's newest independent nation.
Clark said that creating a solid government was essential for the new country.
"Many actors have a stake in this process, as enabling strong government in Southern Sudan will improve the long-term development and security prospects of the whole region," she said.
She emphasized that the UNDP would work side-by-side with South Sudan to help to make the transition to nationhood successful.
"The people of Southern Sudan will look to the future State to provide services such as security, health and education," she said. "UNDP is standing by the people of Southern Sudan as they move forward into the next stage of building a strong, stable, and responsive state. UNDP is working with the government of Southern Sudan to build up core government functions and efficient processes, particularly in the areas of rule of law, security and public finance."
The UNDP is working with international donors and the government of south Sudan to send professional civil servants from surrounding countries to boost the Southern Sudanese government and help advise local civil servants in the nascent country.
The referendum on southern secession was mandated by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in 2005 by the North and South. The CPA ended a two-decade-long civil war between the two sides.