New York
UN
Deputy Secretary-General's remarks at the opening of the Special High-level Event of the General Assembly and ECOSOC “Doha Programme of Action as an Accelerator of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda” [as delivered]
Statements | Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General
Statements | Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General
H.E. Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the General Assembly,
H.E. Ms. Lachezara Stoeva, President of ECOSOC,
Ms. Rabab Fatima, Under Secretary-General and High Representative, OHRLLS,
Excellencies, distinguished delegates,
I am pleased to join this Special High-Level Event on the Doha Programme of Action.
As we approach the second part of the LDC-5 conference, we are confronting a uniquely challenging international environment.
The world’s Least-Developed Countries are facing a cascade of crises: soaring food and energy prices, escalating climate catastrophes, widening inequalities, increasing hunger, worsening poverty, rising interest rates, and looming recession.
LDCs are being pushed off track in their pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
The progress they achieved through years of dedicated efforts is evaporating as we speak.
Today, more than half of LDCs are either in debt distress or at a high risk of debt default.
This is eroding their ability to invest in recovery, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
In 2021 alone, LDCs were forced to spend fifteen percent of their export earnings on servicing external debt. Fiscal space for basic services is under threat.
Excellencies,
The Doha Programme of Action – adopted at the first part of the LDC5 in 2022 – is our roadmap for a robust response to leverage the opportunities for lasting change.
Together, we can drive the deep transformations necessary to help LDCs regain momentum towards the SDGs, address structural vulnerabilities, and build resilience.
But it all depends on the means of implementation. Financial resources will be key.
At this critical time, financial support for LDCs is needed more urgently than ever.
Domestic public resources must be leveraged by international assistance. The Doha Programme of Action reaffirmed developed countries’ long-standing commitment to provide 0.2 per cent of their Gross National Income as Official Development Assistance to LDCs.
Delivering on this promise would generate much-needed additional resources to fund vital investments such as universal social protection systems and decent job creation.
At the same time, we will keep pushing for a reform of the global financial and debt architecture, which remains too focused on the short-term, deeply unequal, and inaccessible.
We must do more to prevent LDCs – and, in fact, many middle-income countries – from falling into debt traps.
We must advance on a global SDG Stimulus with the G20 and reform Multilateral Development Banks that must change their business models and accept a new approach to risk.
As a matter of urgency, the international community must finally deliver on its $100 billion climate finance commitment to support developing countries. We must also deliver on the facility agreed at COP27 on loss and damage.
Adaptation finance must be doubled, and half of the adaptation finance must go to LDCs, SIDS and other vulnerable countries.
Mobilizing finance, however, will not be enough.
To create a more resilient, equitable, and accessible society -- and one that can anticipate long-term risks– we must invest in the SDGs through a just transition framework, while placing women, youth, and all vulnerable populations at the heart of these efforts.
Excellencies,
Systemic changes are never easy. But we have opportunities to build momentum and move forward.
LDC5 marks a critical stepping-stone ahead of September’s SDG Summit – this year’s centerpiece moment to ramp up implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Crucially, the SDG Summit should also be an important catalyst for the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action.
Because the 2030 Agenda will fail if we fail LDCs.
I invite you to ensure the participation of your country in the Doha Conference at the highest possible level.
The Secretary-General has been mobilizing the full support of the entire UN system.
We are ready to make LDC5 a success.
But we need all hands on deck.
Thank you.
H.E. Ms. Lachezara Stoeva, President of ECOSOC,
Ms. Rabab Fatima, Under Secretary-General and High Representative, OHRLLS,
Excellencies, distinguished delegates,
I am pleased to join this Special High-Level Event on the Doha Programme of Action.
As we approach the second part of the LDC-5 conference, we are confronting a uniquely challenging international environment.
The world’s Least-Developed Countries are facing a cascade of crises: soaring food and energy prices, escalating climate catastrophes, widening inequalities, increasing hunger, worsening poverty, rising interest rates, and looming recession.
LDCs are being pushed off track in their pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
The progress they achieved through years of dedicated efforts is evaporating as we speak.
Today, more than half of LDCs are either in debt distress or at a high risk of debt default.
This is eroding their ability to invest in recovery, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
In 2021 alone, LDCs were forced to spend fifteen percent of their export earnings on servicing external debt. Fiscal space for basic services is under threat.
Excellencies,
The Doha Programme of Action – adopted at the first part of the LDC5 in 2022 – is our roadmap for a robust response to leverage the opportunities for lasting change.
Together, we can drive the deep transformations necessary to help LDCs regain momentum towards the SDGs, address structural vulnerabilities, and build resilience.
But it all depends on the means of implementation. Financial resources will be key.
At this critical time, financial support for LDCs is needed more urgently than ever.
Domestic public resources must be leveraged by international assistance. The Doha Programme of Action reaffirmed developed countries’ long-standing commitment to provide 0.2 per cent of their Gross National Income as Official Development Assistance to LDCs.
Delivering on this promise would generate much-needed additional resources to fund vital investments such as universal social protection systems and decent job creation.
At the same time, we will keep pushing for a reform of the global financial and debt architecture, which remains too focused on the short-term, deeply unequal, and inaccessible.
We must do more to prevent LDCs – and, in fact, many middle-income countries – from falling into debt traps.
We must advance on a global SDG Stimulus with the G20 and reform Multilateral Development Banks that must change their business models and accept a new approach to risk.
As a matter of urgency, the international community must finally deliver on its $100 billion climate finance commitment to support developing countries. We must also deliver on the facility agreed at COP27 on loss and damage.
Adaptation finance must be doubled, and half of the adaptation finance must go to LDCs, SIDS and other vulnerable countries.
Mobilizing finance, however, will not be enough.
To create a more resilient, equitable, and accessible society -- and one that can anticipate long-term risks– we must invest in the SDGs through a just transition framework, while placing women, youth, and all vulnerable populations at the heart of these efforts.
Excellencies,
Systemic changes are never easy. But we have opportunities to build momentum and move forward.
LDC5 marks a critical stepping-stone ahead of September’s SDG Summit – this year’s centerpiece moment to ramp up implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Crucially, the SDG Summit should also be an important catalyst for the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action.
Because the 2030 Agenda will fail if we fail LDCs.
I invite you to ensure the participation of your country in the Doha Conference at the highest possible level.
The Secretary-General has been mobilizing the full support of the entire UN system.
We are ready to make LDC5 a success.
But we need all hands on deck.
Thank you.