Reverend Salesulu,Honourable Faimalotoa Stowers, Minister for Women, Community and Social Development of Samoa,Excellencies, Ambassadors,SIDS Focal Points,Distinguished Delegates,
It is a great pleasure for me to be here in this beautiful island, to witness with you, this occasion – the Inaugural Meeting of the Focal Points of Small Island Developing States.
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak at this Meeting. It is indeed a milestone, as it marks the fulfilment and realisation of a vision that is rooted in the SAMOA Pathway.
I acknowledge and commend the hard work and contribution of my colleague, Ms. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, the Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) and her team, for successfully organising this Meeting. As you know, it coincides with our return to Samoa after four years, to prepare for the High-Level Review of the SAMOA Pathway.
Distinguished Delegates
The idea for the formation of the SIDS Focal Point Network follows the successful example for the LDCs and LLDCs.
Today, as SIDS representatives, you will launch your own network.
From here on, in your capacity as designated Focal Points, you will be actively involved in the localization of the SAMOA Pathway and the SDGs – as well as their implementation, monitoring and review, in your respective countries.
Your network will play a critical role in enhancing coherence of SIDS issues across all levels—global, regional and national.
It offers a unique opportunity to share experiences and best practices on mainstreaming the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda into national development processes. This involves improving capacity to tap into existing and enhanced means of implementation, including viable financing and technology cooperation, and entrepreneurship.
Distinguished Delegates,
I note from the meeting agenda that there will be an opportunity for interactive discussions on the formulation of the work programme and on how to strengthen the role of National Focal Points.
This is an essential undertaking. It will allow everyone to commence this journey, on a common understanding of our role and purpose. This is critical as we strive to enhance our joint efforts in the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda.
I encourage you to look into and identify ways to better serve as the interface between the global and regional processes and national implementation. This will include setting-up and strengthening national institutions for implementation, monitoring and review.
I further encourage you to ascertain ways on how your network can contribute to enhancing global processes – such as the High-level Political Forum – in advancing the SIDS sustainable development agenda.
Distinguished Delegates
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), pursuant to its normative, analytical and capacity building mandates, will work collaboratively alongside UNOHRLLS, through the respective SIDS Unit, to support the work of the SIDS National Focal Points.
I wish you all the very best in your deliberation today.
Thank you.
It is a great pleasure for me to be here in this beautiful island, to witness with you, this occasion – the Inaugural Meeting of the Focal Points of Small Island Developing States.
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak at this Meeting. It is indeed a milestone, as it marks the fulfilment and realisation of a vision that is rooted in the SAMOA Pathway.
I acknowledge and commend the hard work and contribution of my colleague, Ms. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, the Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) and her team, for successfully organising this Meeting. As you know, it coincides with our return to Samoa after four years, to prepare for the High-Level Review of the SAMOA Pathway.
Distinguished Delegates
The idea for the formation of the SIDS Focal Point Network follows the successful example for the LDCs and LLDCs.
Today, as SIDS representatives, you will launch your own network.
From here on, in your capacity as designated Focal Points, you will be actively involved in the localization of the SAMOA Pathway and the SDGs – as well as their implementation, monitoring and review, in your respective countries.
Your network will play a critical role in enhancing coherence of SIDS issues across all levels—global, regional and national.
It offers a unique opportunity to share experiences and best practices on mainstreaming the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda into national development processes. This involves improving capacity to tap into existing and enhanced means of implementation, including viable financing and technology cooperation, and entrepreneurship.
Distinguished Delegates,
I note from the meeting agenda that there will be an opportunity for interactive discussions on the formulation of the work programme and on how to strengthen the role of National Focal Points.
This is an essential undertaking. It will allow everyone to commence this journey, on a common understanding of our role and purpose. This is critical as we strive to enhance our joint efforts in the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda.
I encourage you to look into and identify ways to better serve as the interface between the global and regional processes and national implementation. This will include setting-up and strengthening national institutions for implementation, monitoring and review.
I further encourage you to ascertain ways on how your network can contribute to enhancing global processes – such as the High-level Political Forum – in advancing the SIDS sustainable development agenda.
Distinguished Delegates
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), pursuant to its normative, analytical and capacity building mandates, will work collaboratively alongside UNOHRLLS, through the respective SIDS Unit, to support the work of the SIDS National Focal Points.
I wish you all the very best in your deliberation today.
Thank you.
File date:
Monday, October 29, 2018