Remarks by H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly

At the India-UN Development Partnership Fund – 6 years of Collaborative Partnership event

[As Delivered]

29 November 2023

 

Your Excellency, Ms. Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India,

Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General,

Mr. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator,

Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco,ASG for Development Coordination,

Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, Director, UN Office for South-South Cooperation,

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

 

Let me begin by warmly thanking Her Excellency Ruchira Kamboj and her team at the  Permanent Mission of India, as well as all partners, for hosting us at today’s very timely event.

I welcome the theme of empowering vulnerable communities – and congratulate both India and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, for the six productive years of collaborative partnership – important work geared towards fostering meaningful inclusivity and, of course, advancing the principle of leaving no one behind.

Indeed – as we have heard – the India-UN Development Partnership Fund has supported 76 projects in 54 countries. This is no small feat, especially in this age of shrunken fiscal spaces compounded by the impacts of the pandemic and other global shocks in recent years.

Of these, 28 projects are in Small Island Developing States, spanning all the SDGs – from climate resilience and livelihood development to health and education, as well as agriculture and food security sectors.

The fact that the beneficiaries of the Partnership Fund cut across the membership of the Global South – of which India remains integrally a dynamic part – and supports all geographic regions, while maintaining a strong emphasis on SIDS and LDCs speaks volumes about its vision of development and indeed, its ability to channel funds where they are needed most.

It is well targeted initiative of endurance – and agility – that I wholeheartedly endorse.

And I am equally pleased that the Caribbean Community, CARICOM – my own region – is a major constituency of the Fund’s attention, where it supports innovative, Southern-owned and led, demand-driven sustainable development projects.

I see that in my own country of origin, Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, this includes the establishment of a telemedicine system to enable remote care.

Such projects not only support the fulfilment of SDG3 but have cross-cutting effects that reverberate for the achievement of peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all – across the world.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sitting with the Heads and Representatives of several UN Agencies and Units to re-launch the Advisory Board for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS – a large constituency of highly vulnerable countries which I have committed to ensure are well supported developmentally during my Presidency, and beyond.

Noble initiatives such as these – which prioritize the most vulnerable of all – resonate well with my priorities, and must be supported.

Excellencies,

We are all accustomed to the fact that keeping an eye on the horizon is nothing new for India.

Its exemplary leadership in addressing global challenges and being a strong voice in multilateral affairs is well-known – and has been for many on full display, particularly in recent years including during the pandemic.

India’s G20 Presidency marked another commendable historic milestone as the first ever to usher in the African Union as a permanent member into this grouping – thus sending a strong signal to the Global South of India’s commitment to the need for solidarity and fairness in global economic governance.

Home to one-sixth of humanity, India also plays an unparalleled role in the global mission – including here at the UN – to create a more just and equitable world.

Its long legacy includes, among others, the championing of democracy, promotion of women-led development and its pioneering role leading to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.

The enduring partnership between India and the UN has therefore spurred just and inclusive development – from the world’s densest cities to its remotest villages – and today serves as a guidelight within the Global South, in the true spirit of South-South Cooperation.

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

As we traverse and navigate multiple overlapping crises, we must remain steadfast in our resolve to galvanize momentum and move the 2030 Agenda forward.

We must innovate and shape new economic modes that both incentivise and reap the full benefits of our collective development efforts.

With this in mind, the UN calendar is filled with events that bear profound impact on the Global South – from High-Level Meetings in the General Assembly to the Fourth International SIDS Conference, the Third Landlocked Developing Countries Conference and the Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement at COP28.

As I underscored during yesterday’s morning Gayap Dialogue, bold outcomes for the upcoming Summit of the Future in 2024 will also be key.

In all our efforts – and amid our multiple priorities, not to mention the hurdles we encounter on the way – forging just, inclusive and multistakeholder cooperation will be indispensable for the societal transformation we all aspire to achieve.

I am certain that today’s unveiling of the Annual Report – and the ensuing discussion and exchange of best practices – will prove most illuminating of these efforts and I eagerly await your insights.

I thank you.

 

Your Excellency, Ms. Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India,

Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General,

Mr. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator,

Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco,ASG for Development Coordination,

Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, Director, UN Office for South-South Cooperation,

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

 

Let me begin by warmly thanking Her Excellency Ruchira Kamboj and her team at the  Permanent Mission of India, as well as all partners, for hosting us at today’s very timely event.

I welcome the theme of empowering vulnerable communities – and congratulate both India and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, for the six productive years of collaborative partnership – important work geared towards fostering meaningful inclusivity and, of course, advancing the principle of leaving no one behind.

Indeed – as we have heard – the India-UN Development Partnership Fund has supported 76 projects in 54 countries. This no small feat, especially in this age of shrunken fiscal spaces compounded by the impacts of the pandemic and other global shocks in recent years.

Of these, 28 projects are in Small Island Developing States, spanning all the SDGs – from climate resilience and livelihood development to health and education, as well as agriculture and food security sectors.

The fact that the beneficiaries of the Partnership Fund cut across the membership of the Global South – of which India remains integrally a dynamic part – and supports all geographic regions, while maintaining a strong emphasis on SIDS and LDCs speaks volumes about its vision of development and indeed, its ability to channel funds where they are needed most.

It is well targeted initiative of endurance – and agility – that I wholeheartedly endorse.

And I am equally pleased that the Caribbean Community, CARICOM – my own region – is a major constituency of the Fund’s attention, where it supports innovative, Southern-owned and led, demand-driven sustainable development projects.

I see that in my own country of origin, Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, this includes the establishment of a telemedicine system to enable remote care.

Such projects not only support the fulfilment of SDG3 but have cross-cutting effects that reverberate for the achievement of peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all – across the world.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sitting with the Heads and Representatives of several UN Agencies and Units to re-launch the Advisory Board for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS – a large constituency of highly vulnerable countries which I have committed to ensure are well supported developmentally during my Presidency, and beyond.

Noble initiatives such as these – which prioritize the most vulnerable of all – resonate well with my priorities, and must be supported.

Excellencies,

We are all accustomed to the fact that keeping an eye on the horizon is nothing new for India.

Its exemplary leadership in addressing global challenges and being a strong voice in multilateral affairs is well-known – and has been for many on full display, particularly in recent years including during the pandemic.

India’s G20 Presidency marked another commendable historic milestone as the first ever to usher in the African Union as a permanent member into this grouping – thus sending a strong signal to the Global South of India’s commitment to the need for solidarity and fairness in global economic governance.

Home to one-sixth of humanity, India also plays an unparalleled role in the global mission – including here at the UN – to create a more just and equitable world.

Its long legacy includes, among others, the championing of democracy, promotion of women-led development and its pioneering role leading to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.

The enduring partnership between India and the UN has therefore spurred just and inclusive development – from the world’s densest cities to its remotest villages – and today serves as a guidelight within the Global South, in the true spirit of South-South Cooperation.

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

As we traverse and navigate multiple overlapping crises, we must remain steadfast in our resolve to galvanize momentum and move the 2030 Agenda forward.

We must innovate and shape new economic modes that both incentivise and reap the full benefits of our collective development efforts.

With this in mind, the UN calendar is filled with events that bear profound impact on the Global South – from High-Level Meetings in the General Assembly to the Fourth International SIDS Conference, the Third Landlocked Developing Countries Conference and the Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement at COP28.

As I underscored during yesterday’s morning Gayap Dialogue, bold outcomes for the upcoming Summit of the Future in 2024 will also be key.

In all our efforts – and amid our multiple priorities, not to mention the hurdles we encounter on the way – forging just, inclusive and multistakeholder cooperation will be indispensable for the societal transformation we all aspire to achieve.

I am certain that today’s unveiling of the Annual Report – and the ensuing discussion and exchange of best practices – will prove most illuminating of these efforts and I eagerly await your insights.

I thank you.

Your Excellency, Ms. Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India,

Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General,

Mr. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator,

Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco,ASG for Development Coordination,

Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, Director, UN Office for South-South Cooperation,

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

 

Let me begin by warmly thanking Her Excellency Ruchira Kamboj and her team at the  Permanent Mission of India, as well as all partners, for hosting us at today’s very timely event.

I welcome the theme of empowering vulnerable communities – and congratulate both India and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, for the six productive years of collaborative partnership – important work geared towards fostering meaningful inclusivity and, of course, advancing the principle of leaving no one behind.

Indeed – as we have heard – the India-UN Development Partnership Fund has supported 76 projects in 54 countries. This no small feat, especially in this age of shrunken fiscal spaces compounded by the impacts of the pandemic and other global shocks in recent years.

Of these, 28 projects are in Small Island Developing States, spanning all the SDGs – from climate resilience and livelihood development to health and education, as well as agriculture and food security sectors.

The fact that the beneficiaries of the Partnership Fund cut across the membership of the Global South – of which India remains integrally a dynamic part – and supports all geographic regions, while maintaining a strong emphasis on SIDS and LDCs speaks volumes about its vision of development and indeed, its ability to channel funds where they are needed most.

It is well targeted initiative of endurance – and agility – that I wholeheartedly endorse.

And I am equally pleased that the Caribbean Community, CARICOM – my own region – is a major constituency of the Fund’s attention, where it supports innovative, Southern-owned and led, demand-driven sustainable development projects.

I see that in my own country of origin, Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, this includes the establishment of a telemedicine system to enable remote care.

Such projects not only support the fulfilment of SDG3 but have cross-cutting effects that reverberate for the achievement of peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all – across the world.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sitting with the Heads and Representatives of several UN Agencies and Units to re-launch the Advisory Board for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS – a large constituency of highly vulnerable countries which I have committed to ensure are well supported developmentally during my Presidency, and beyond.

Noble initiatives such as these – which prioritize the most vulnerable of all – resonate well with my priorities, and must be supported.

Excellencies,

We are all accustomed to the fact that keeping an eye on the horizon is nothing new for India.

Its exemplary leadership in addressing global challenges and being a strong voice in multilateral affairs is well-known – and has been for many on full display, particularly in recent years including during the pandemic.

India’s G20 Presidency marked another commendable historic milestone as the first ever to usher in the African Union as a permanent member into this grouping – thus sending a strong signal to the Global South of India’s commitment to the need for solidarity and fairness in global economic governance.

Home to one-sixth of humanity, India also plays an unparalleled role in the global mission – including here at the UN – to create a more just and equitable world.

Its long legacy includes, among others, the championing of democracy, promotion of women-led development and its pioneering role leading to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.

The enduring partnership between India and the UN has therefore spurred just and inclusive development – from the world’s densest cities to its remotest villages – and today serves as a guidelight within the Global South, in the true spirit of South-South Cooperation.

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

As we traverse and navigate multiple overlapping crises, we must remain steadfast in our resolve to galvanize momentum and move the 2030 Agenda forward.

We must innovate and shape new economic modes that both incentivise and reap the full benefits of our collective development efforts.

With this in mind, the UN calendar is filled with events that bear profound impact on the Global South – from High-Level Meetings in the General Assembly to the Fourth International SIDS Conference, the Third Landlocked Developing Countries Conference and the Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement at COP28.

As I underscored during yesterday’s morning Gayap Dialogue, bold outcomes for the upcoming Summit of the Future in 2024 will also be key.

In all our efforts – and amid our multiple priorities, not to mention the hurdles we encounter on the way – forging just, inclusive and multistakeholder cooperation will be indispensable for the societal transformation we all aspire to achieve.

I am certain that today’s unveiling of the Annual Report – and the ensuing discussion and exchange of best practices – will prove most illuminating of these efforts and I eagerly await your insights.

I thank you.