President Kutesa holds High-Level Thematic Debate on “Means of Implementation for a Transformative Post-2015 development agenda”

New York, 9 February 2015

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly

Ministers stress the importance of a holistic approach to development

Saying leaders were being presented with a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change our world, for the better,” H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the General Assembly (PGA), hosted his first High-Level Thematic Debate today on “Means of Implementation for a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda”.

“The new universal development agenda represents our collective commitment to humankind and the planet,” said President Kutesa.  “Together, we must spare no effort to formulate and agree on a framework for development and international cooperation that improves the everyday lives of people worldwide, and protects the environment,” he continued.

Several Ministers participated in the meeting, including H.E. Isabella Lövin, Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden, Honourable Maria Kiwanuka, Minister of Finance, Planning and Development of Uganda and H.E. Zlatko Lagumdzija, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Minister Lövin noted that if the international community does not succeed in reaching a new international agreement at this year’s climate conference, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals would be very difficult.  Minister Kiwanuka stressed that a holistic approach would be required; one that included policies geared toward development cooperation, innovative international financing mechanisms, the stimulation of domestic resources, contributions from the private sector and a reduction of existing infrastructure and technology gaps, among other measures.  Minister Lagumdzija said the new agenda offered a vision and set of tools for a shared future, with shared values.

Looking ahead, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said July’s Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa, “presents an opportunity to define and comprehensive financing framework, other means of implementation, and the global partnership for sustainable development”.

Also participating in the morning session were Erik Solheim, Chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD and Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation, among others.

In the afternoon session, panellists examined “Infrastructure Development in the post-2015 development agenda and Partnerships for realizing the SDGs.”  The thematic debate will continue on Tuesday with a panel on, “The Role of Parliaments, Cities and Local Authorities in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda”.