Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,

Peace and development go hand in hand. There is no peace without development, and no development without peace.

Conflict and insecurity make sustainable development impossible.

And a lack of sustainable, inclusive development contributes to rising social tensions and unrest.

Today’s cascading and compounding crises show the urgent need for a joined-up approach.

The impacts of the climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, contributing to spiraling costs for food, energy and finance.

Inequalities are widening as a cost-of-living crisis takes hold. In some countries, people have taken to the streets to protest against gender-based violence and continued discrimination against women.

Many of our African countries are suffering under this burden. Sustainable development – guided by the 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 – is our best chance to address the root causes of conflict and leave no one behind.

Getting the SDGs back on track requires coordinated action by peace, political, humanitarian and development actors.

We must build on existing initiatives that provide comprehensive, integrated approaches, including the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel and the Lusaka roadmap for silencing the Guns in Africa.

I urge participants at this policy conference to reflect on practical measures to implement the development-humanitarian-peacebuilding nexus, to deliver peace, security and sustainable development everywhere in Africa.

That includes strengthening joint conflict analysis, enhancing conflict prevention mechanisms, ensuring the meaningful participation of women in peace processes, and implementing joint initiatives to support humanitarian aid, political dialogue and development programmes.

I encourage you to think through specific openings for effective nexus planning on the African continent.

For example, how can we creatively accelerate economic integration under the Continental Free Trade Area?

How can we reform national agricultural policies to sustain food systems, protect livelihoods and promote social cohesion?

Investing in the nexus means investing in root causes and solutions to crises - investing in sustainable and inclusive development. Ensuring that basic investments in livelihoods, jobs, health are protected and prioritized while a country navigates political crises or humanitarian emergencies.

The United Nations is committed to investing in best practice methodologies and working with the African Union, Members States and all our partners to tackle these challenges and advance towards more peaceful, resilient and just societies.

I look forward to hearing your ideas and proposals.

Thank you.