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The Sustainable Development Goals in Bahrain
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. With 21 United Nations Entities represented in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the work of the United Nations encompasses all 17 SDGs.
Press Release
23 May 2023
Secretary-General's remarks to the 2023 ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment
Excellencies,
Halfway through the timeline of the 2030 Agenda, we are leaving more than half the world behind.
Poverty and hunger are again growing.
The climate crisis is escalating.
Conflict and persecution have forced one hundred million people from their homes.
And the economic destruction and dislocation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic was prolonged and amplified by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The cost of food, energy, and finance has risen sharply, with a devastating impact on vulnerable countries and communities. Inequalities and gender discrimination are on the rise.
The Sustainable Development Goals – our only comprehensive solution to these crises – are far off track.
We have gone into reverse on more than 30 per cent of SDG targets – including our most fundamental goals of reducing poverty and hunger.
Progress on another 50 per cent is weak and insufficient.
But it is not too late to turn the tide. And we are determined to do just that.
The SDG Stimulus, the proposed reforms of the global financial architecture, the Acceleration Agenda on climate, the Transforming Education Summit, Food Systems transformation, the Global Digital Compact, the Global Accelerator on Social Protection and Jobs, the Black Sea Initiative and the Memorandum of Understanding on promoting Russian food and fertilizers to global markets – all these initiatives are aimed at reducing poverty, inequality and hunger, and getting the 2030 Agenda back on course.
Around the world, United Nations country teams lead our efforts for sustainable, inclusive development.
They are our eyes, ears and hands, supporting governments, convening stakeholders, and striving to translate global and regional commitments on the SDGs into action.
When we started the reform process, no one foresaw that our country teams would be operating in such challenging conditions.
Despite that, four years on, the reforms have succeeded.
My report on the QCPR implementation demonstrates that.
The verdict is in: Resident Coordinators are bringing United Nations entities together in support of countries’ priorities for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
They are also working together to help address crises that cross borders.
The overwhelming majority of host governments agree.
Fully 88 per cent say that Resident Coordinators provide effective and strategic leadership in support of their national plans and priorities.
All Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries surveyed said the UN’s activities were closely aligned with their needs and priorities.
And all small island developing states said collaboration between UN entities has improved since the reforms.
The system is data-driven – which is delivering new levels of transparency and accountability.
In Egypt, the reinvigorated role of the RC was a catalyst to mobilize UN expertise and comprehensive action to support the Egyptian Presidency of COP-27 on the climate crisis.
In Pakistan, the newly-empowered RC system coordinated across the entire UN family with the government, in response to the devastating floods that affected 33 million people.
The Cooperation Framework was the blueprint for a long-term approach to support recovery, going beyond the immediate humanitarian response to involve international financial institutions.
In Small Island Developing States, the integrated support provided by our multi-country offices is helping to address issues ranging from climate adaptation to debt distress.
Excellencies,
The transformative vision of the 2030 Agenda relies on a global partnership and unprecedented investment.
But that investment has not been forthcoming.
Many developing countries simply cannot afford to invest in the SDGs because they face a financing abyss.
The annual SDG funding gap stood at 2.5 trillion dollars before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the OECD, it now stands at some 4.2 trillion.
Developed countries adopted expansionary fiscal and monetary policies and have now largely returned to their pre-pandemic trajectory of economic growth.
Developing countries have been hobbled by their inability to do the same. Vulnerable Middle Income countries are denied debt relief and concessional financing; and the Common Framework for Debt Treatment is not yet effectively working. If they go to the markets, developing countries may be charged interest rates up to eight times higher than their developed counterparts.
It is clear that something is seriously wrong with the rules and governance structures that produce these results.
I have therefore called for an SDG Stimulus – an emergency measure to scale up affordable long-term financing for all countries in need, by at least 500 billion dollars a year.
At the same time, we are working on long-term proposals to right the fundamental injustices and inequalities in global financial architecture which reflect the global realities of 78 years ago.
I count on your support for these proposals, and for all our efforts to accelerate the 2030 Agenda.
Excellencies,
Meanwhile, we rely on our partnerships with the governments of developing countries to get the most out of every development dollar.
And to do that, we need adequate, predictable and flexible funding for the UN development system.
I thank those Members that have maintained or increased their financial support to the UN development system.
However, the Resident Coordinator system is still chronically under-funded.
We are far from reaching the targets we committed to four years ago.
The Resident Coordinator system is the anchor for all our efforts to support countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Yet, in 2022, the RC system suffered from a funding gap of 85 million US dollars.
The Joint SDG Fund is far short of the Funding Compact target of 290 million US dollars per year.
Unless Member States step up, we are effectively starving the UN development system of the support it needs to deliver for Member States.
A recruitment freeze is reducing our ability to deliver. With every month that passes, further reductions will have to be made, affecting our ability to coordinate the UN system and convene beyond it.
We have responded to the concerns of Member States. We are now turning to Member States to meet their commitments.
Let us recall we are talking about 85 million dollars – a tiny investment for the returns we are already witnessing.
Development coordination saves lives by eradicating poverty and preventing humanitarian crises.
Countries are spending more than two trillion dollars a year on military budgets.
It is simply not credible to pledge support for peace, if they are not prepared to invest a tiny fraction of this amount in sustainable development – the greatest conflict prevention tool we have.
I therefore urge Member States to reconsider my recommendation for a hybrid 2.0 funding model for the UN development system.
The current funding model for the RC system is far too vulnerable to fluctuations in voluntary funding, making it unpredictable and unsustainable.
It has also failed to provide sufficient resources.
The most logical, principled solution is to fund the Resident Coordinator system with a greater share of assessed contributions under the Regular Budget of the United Nations.
Therefore, in the coming months, I intend to launch a transparent, inclusive consultation process with Member States so that all views are heard before a formal proposal is submitted to the General Assembly.
I ask you to approach these consultations with a sense of urgency, solidarity, and resolve.
We must address this unfinished business from the reforms as we head towards the SDG summit in September.
Creative new approaches have not worked.
A new funding model, with a greater share of assessed contributions through the Regular Budget, is the only sustainable, predictable, and realistic option.
Excellencies,
Together, the United Nations and countries around the world are working towards a generational shift in global development – a shift towards fairness and justice in development financing, and a dynamic in-country support system that is aligned with the needs and priorities of Member States.
The SDG Summit in September must be a moment of unity to provide a renewed impetus and accelerated action for achieving the SDGs.
It must deliver concrete progress on the means of implementation and a clear commitment to overhaul the current international financial architecture.
The next weeks and months are an important opportunity to prepare the ground.
This will be the most important initiative of the 2023 calendar.
We have made significant progress, but we still have a way to go.
Member States are our partners on this journey. We count on your continued engagement and leadership at the highest levels.
A robust resolution from the ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment would be an important first step in this direction.
Together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all people, everywhere.
Thank you.
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Publication
23 May 2023
2023 Report of the Chair of the UNSDG on the Development Coordination Office
Midway through the path to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), rising inequalities, surging conflicts, lingering socio-economic impacts of the COVID pandemic, spillovers of the war in Ukraine, and the widespread effects of the climate emergency constitute tremendous challenges for sustainable development. Strong, integrated and expert UN leadership is now more essential than ever.
The investments agreed by Member States to strengthen the leadership, impartiality, accountability and effectiveness of the UN Resident Coordinator System are yielding clear returns in enhancing the UN development system (UNDS) support to national governments to advance the SDGs.
This report details the results of development coordination in 2022, which helped foster more coherent support for tailored SDG solutions aligned to countries’ priorities.
Read the interactive version of the report here.
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Speech
25 May 2023
Deputy Secretary-General’s presentation of the UNSDG Chair Report on DCO/RC system
Vice-President of ECOSOC,
Excellencies,
Together, we have transformed the UN development system.
We are no longer in the start-up phase - our efforts are bearing fruit.
Our results are no longer measured in terms of reconfigured structures or mechanisms and frameworks to incentivize coordination and coherence, nor in revised tools or hiring of staff.
We are now working at full speed and our results are measured in impacts on the ground.
Our Resident Coordinator system has navigated cascading crises to rally UN country teams around effective responses to COVID19.
We have seen a shift in how we operate on the ground – this has been recognized by many of you earlier today in the session with the Secretary-General.
The new development coordination system we have established at the heart of the Secretariat, is critical to all of these results.
Resident Coordinators are fostering more coherent, accountable and effective UN support for countries.
They are leveraging their impartiality and new capacities to channel skillsets and expertise housed across the UN system.
They have access to goldmines of expertise – often hosted in smaller, highly specialized entities across the Atlantic – which are absolutely critical to the SDGs. This has allowed us to make inroads in our support in areas ranging from trade, to financing, to food system transformations, to disaster risk reduction.
Resident Coordinators are now our backbone to translate global commitments into effective action on the ground.
Before these reforms, this link simply did not exist and there was a gap between intergovernmental outcomes and action by UN Country Teams.
This is no longer the case.
Resident Coordinators are no longer simply ‘coordinators’.
They are increasingly leveraging their convening power – and their legitimacy as representatives of the Secretary-General – to support governments to mobilize partnerships, financing and other means of implementation for the SDGs.
Resident Coordinators are key to ensuring that the UN support in country is fully aligned and tailored to national priorities and needs.
Finally, Resident Coordinators are effectively “first responders” in emergencies. They ensure a development focus from Day 1 when a crisis hits; and facilitating a smooth transition from crises into long-term sustainable development and resilience.
Excellencies,
My report on the Development Coordination Office (DCO) presents innumerable examples of how Resident Coordinators and RC Offices have made a positive difference in countries.
Independent evaluations; surveys of host governments and donors; independent assessments commissioned by agencies such as UNFPA - all demonstrate overwhelmingly positive feedback on the impact of the changes implemented.
These results reaffirm the value and effectiveness of our investments in strengthening development coordination through the RC system.
It is a testament to what we, together, have achieved.
Today, I would like to highlight five key achievements outlined in the report that are essential to our efforts.
First, strengthened Resident Coordination leadership.
With the effective support of DCO, we have carefully matched RC profiles with country needs and requirements and ensured the deployment of the right person in the right place at the right time.
This is giving us strong leadership in the field, as well as unprecedented levels of geographical diversity and gender parity.
85 per cent of host governments noted that Resident Coordinators provided strengthened leadership compared to before the reform. And 90 per cent acknowledge that Resident Coordinators have the necessary profiles and skillsets.
87 per cent agree that Resident Coordinators serve as a strengthened entry point to the UN offer. This represents a 35 per cent increase since the beginning of the reforms in 2019.
Second, strengthened RC office capacities – strategic planning, economic analysis, partnerships, data analytics, and results reporting –have provided critical support to UN country teams.
92 per cent of host Governments agreed that the UN adequately provides evidence-based policy advice, compared to 88 per cent in 2021.
92 per cent also say that Resident Coordinators are contributing to the creation of effective partnerships in support of national efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda and achieve the SDGs. This is up from 85 per cent in 2020.
88 per cent confirmed Resident Coordinators effectively lead the delivery of strategic support for national plans and priorities
DCO regional support also enhanced the capacity of Resident Coordinators to fulfil their leadership and coordination roles – this is an important conclusion of a 2022 evaluation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).
Third, the RC system is playing a crucial role in leading the emergence of a new generation of UN country teams.
The RC system has increased the ability of host governments to easily access UN expertise across relevant UN entities, regardless of location – fostering a more flexible, coherent, responsive and effective UN offer.
Cooperation Frameworks – while a work in progress – are already helping improve our response to national priorities. This is what we heard from 94 per cent of host governments.
91 per cent of Member States say UN country teams have the right mix of capacities to support national development efforts.
This was a central promise of these reforms.
Fourth, the report finds that the RC system has been instrumental in enhancing transparency and accountability of the UN development system’s activities.
All UN Country Teams now produce an annual UN country results report, a notable increase from 64 per cent in 2019.
The creation and improvement of new dashboards in UN INFO have enhanced transparency and saved approximately $2.4 million in services previously rendered by external vendors.
The revised multi-annual RC system results framework – the first of its kind – will allow us to track coordination results by specific objectives, outcomes and outputs.
We are grateful for the constructive and active engagement by Member States as we developed the Framework.
We will continue to review the framework to ensure it remains relevant and in line with every QCPR cycle.
Fifth, data confirms that the RC system has help drive efficiencies across entities of the system and generated substantial savings.
Close to 80 per cent of governments reported that the RC system helped minimize duplication of efforts while advancing the efficient use of resources.
Investments in specialized capacities to advance system-wide efficiencies through Business Operations Strategies, Common Back Offices and Common Premises are also paying off.
Taking into account all efforts, estimated efficiencies of around $405 million have been generated – an increase of 47 per cent from 2021.
We have come a long way to get to that point, as some of you will recall.
From establishing common methodologies to measure and track efficiencies; to achieving agreement across all entities of the UNSDG; to deploying innovative approaches at country level --- we have a strong foundation on which to build.
None of these results would have been possible without the leadership of my colleagues in the UNSDG and every single member of UN country teams around the world.
The UNSDG has paid its full share of the RC funding model – many in advance.
Entities have stepped up to adapt to the new working modalities of the repositioned UN development system.
I am grateful for their dedication.
Excellencies,
While celebrating these achievements, we must also address the pressing issue of funding.
The Secretary-General's message to ECOSOC earlier today was clear.
The RC system is chronically under-funded, despite all efforts by Member States, UN entities and the Secretary-General to implement the hybrid funding model mandated by the General Assembly.
At this point of the reforms, we urgently need to bridge the $85 million funding gap to ensure the continued delivery of results on the ground.
This gap has delayed critical investments in surge capacity – essential at a time of uncertainty and shocks, and resulted in cuts in investments in training, leadership and support at the regional and global levels.
It has also led to a significant reduction in the RC coordination fund – vital for convening country teams and external partners around countries’ priorities.
And every passing day brings further stress to our operations.
Existing posts – especially at country level – will have to be cut.
Our ability to follow up on expectations of Member States will diminish. And so will the impact of our reforms.
In the end, it comes down to this: without adequate and predictable funding, we will jeopardize hard-won gains in the reforms and our ability to support the countries to deliver on the SDGs.
This is why the Secretary-General is calling on Member States to reconsider his recommendation for a hybrid 2.0 funding model for the UN development system.
At present, we rely on complex and highly innovative funding components, and we remain vulnerable to fluctuations in voluntary funding. We need to stabilise the system.
The current situation requires a sense of urgency. Following the ECOSOC Segment, we will take stock of your perspectives before we launch an inclusive and transparent consultative process on the next steps. A dedicated report by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly will follow before the end of the year. Excellencies,
This is not an ordinary year.
As we prepare for the SDG Summit in September 2023, we must build on the progress made and maintain our commitment and high ambitions.
And this is no ordinary ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment.
It is a milestone in our reform efforts and a critical bus-stop on our way to September.
I look forward to hearing your views and perspectives on my report and our work to deliver on the high expectations you place on the UN development system.
Thank you
Together, we have transformed the UN development system.
We are no longer in the start-up phase - our efforts are bearing fruit.
Our results are no longer measured in terms of reconfigured structures or mechanisms and frameworks to incentivize coordination and coherence, nor in revised tools or hiring of staff.
We are now working at full speed and our results are measured in impacts on the ground.
Our Resident Coordinator system has navigated cascading crises to rally UN country teams around effective responses to COVID19.
We have seen a shift in how we operate on the ground – this has been recognized by many of you earlier today in the session with the Secretary-General.
The new development coordination system we have established at the heart of the Secretariat, is critical to all of these results.
Resident Coordinators are fostering more coherent, accountable and effective UN support for countries.
They are leveraging their impartiality and new capacities to channel skillsets and expertise housed across the UN system.
They have access to goldmines of expertise – often hosted in smaller, highly specialized entities across the Atlantic – which are absolutely critical to the SDGs. This has allowed us to make inroads in our support in areas ranging from trade, to financing, to food system transformations, to disaster risk reduction.
Resident Coordinators are now our backbone to translate global commitments into effective action on the ground.
Before these reforms, this link simply did not exist and there was a gap between intergovernmental outcomes and action by UN Country Teams.
This is no longer the case.
Resident Coordinators are no longer simply ‘coordinators’.
They are increasingly leveraging their convening power – and their legitimacy as representatives of the Secretary-General – to support governments to mobilize partnerships, financing and other means of implementation for the SDGs.
Resident Coordinators are key to ensuring that the UN support in country is fully aligned and tailored to national priorities and needs.
Finally, Resident Coordinators are effectively “first responders” in emergencies. They ensure a development focus from Day 1 when a crisis hits; and facilitating a smooth transition from crises into long-term sustainable development and resilience.
Excellencies,
My report on the Development Coordination Office (DCO) presents innumerable examples of how Resident Coordinators and RC Offices have made a positive difference in countries.
Independent evaluations; surveys of host governments and donors; independent assessments commissioned by agencies such as UNFPA - all demonstrate overwhelmingly positive feedback on the impact of the changes implemented.
These results reaffirm the value and effectiveness of our investments in strengthening development coordination through the RC system.
It is a testament to what we, together, have achieved.
Today, I would like to highlight five key achievements outlined in the report that are essential to our efforts.
First, strengthened Resident Coordination leadership.
With the effective support of DCO, we have carefully matched RC profiles with country needs and requirements and ensured the deployment of the right person in the right place at the right time.
This is giving us strong leadership in the field, as well as unprecedented levels of geographical diversity and gender parity.
85 per cent of host governments noted that Resident Coordinators provided strengthened leadership compared to before the reform. And 90 per cent acknowledge that Resident Coordinators have the necessary profiles and skillsets.
87 per cent agree that Resident Coordinators serve as a strengthened entry point to the UN offer. This represents a 35 per cent increase since the beginning of the reforms in 2019.
Second, strengthened RC office capacities – strategic planning, economic analysis, partnerships, data analytics, and results reporting –have provided critical support to UN country teams.
92 per cent of host Governments agreed that the UN adequately provides evidence-based policy advice, compared to 88 per cent in 2021.
92 per cent also say that Resident Coordinators are contributing to the creation of effective partnerships in support of national efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda and achieve the SDGs. This is up from 85 per cent in 2020.
88 per cent confirmed Resident Coordinators effectively lead the delivery of strategic support for national plans and priorities
DCO regional support also enhanced the capacity of Resident Coordinators to fulfil their leadership and coordination roles – this is an important conclusion of a 2022 evaluation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).
Third, the RC system is playing a crucial role in leading the emergence of a new generation of UN country teams.
The RC system has increased the ability of host governments to easily access UN expertise across relevant UN entities, regardless of location – fostering a more flexible, coherent, responsive and effective UN offer.
Cooperation Frameworks – while a work in progress – are already helping improve our response to national priorities. This is what we heard from 94 per cent of host governments.
91 per cent of Member States say UN country teams have the right mix of capacities to support national development efforts.
This was a central promise of these reforms.
Fourth, the report finds that the RC system has been instrumental in enhancing transparency and accountability of the UN development system’s activities.
All UN Country Teams now produce an annual UN country results report, a notable increase from 64 per cent in 2019.
The creation and improvement of new dashboards in UN INFO have enhanced transparency and saved approximately $2.4 million in services previously rendered by external vendors.
The revised multi-annual RC system results framework – the first of its kind – will allow us to track coordination results by specific objectives, outcomes and outputs.
We are grateful for the constructive and active engagement by Member States as we developed the Framework.
We will continue to review the framework to ensure it remains relevant and in line with every QCPR cycle.
Fifth, data confirms that the RC system has help drive efficiencies across entities of the system and generated substantial savings.
Close to 80 per cent of governments reported that the RC system helped minimize duplication of efforts while advancing the efficient use of resources.
Investments in specialized capacities to advance system-wide efficiencies through Business Operations Strategies, Common Back Offices and Common Premises are also paying off.
Taking into account all efforts, estimated efficiencies of around $405 million have been generated – an increase of 47 per cent from 2021.
We have come a long way to get to that point, as some of you will recall.
From establishing common methodologies to measure and track efficiencies; to achieving agreement across all entities of the UNSDG; to deploying innovative approaches at country level --- we have a strong foundation on which to build.
None of these results would have been possible without the leadership of my colleagues in the UNSDG and every single member of UN country teams around the world.
The UNSDG has paid its full share of the RC funding model – many in advance.
Entities have stepped up to adapt to the new working modalities of the repositioned UN development system.
I am grateful for their dedication.
Excellencies,
While celebrating these achievements, we must also address the pressing issue of funding.
The Secretary-General's message to ECOSOC earlier today was clear.
The RC system is chronically under-funded, despite all efforts by Member States, UN entities and the Secretary-General to implement the hybrid funding model mandated by the General Assembly.
At this point of the reforms, we urgently need to bridge the $85 million funding gap to ensure the continued delivery of results on the ground.
This gap has delayed critical investments in surge capacity – essential at a time of uncertainty and shocks, and resulted in cuts in investments in training, leadership and support at the regional and global levels.
It has also led to a significant reduction in the RC coordination fund – vital for convening country teams and external partners around countries’ priorities.
And every passing day brings further stress to our operations.
Existing posts – especially at country level – will have to be cut.
Our ability to follow up on expectations of Member States will diminish. And so will the impact of our reforms.
In the end, it comes down to this: without adequate and predictable funding, we will jeopardize hard-won gains in the reforms and our ability to support the countries to deliver on the SDGs.
This is why the Secretary-General is calling on Member States to reconsider his recommendation for a hybrid 2.0 funding model for the UN development system.
At present, we rely on complex and highly innovative funding components, and we remain vulnerable to fluctuations in voluntary funding. We need to stabilise the system.
The current situation requires a sense of urgency. Following the ECOSOC Segment, we will take stock of your perspectives before we launch an inclusive and transparent consultative process on the next steps. A dedicated report by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly will follow before the end of the year. Excellencies,
This is not an ordinary year.
As we prepare for the SDG Summit in September 2023, we must build on the progress made and maintain our commitment and high ambitions.
And this is no ordinary ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment.
It is a milestone in our reform efforts and a critical bus-stop on our way to September.
I look forward to hearing your views and perspectives on my report and our work to deliver on the high expectations you place on the UN development system.
Thank you
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Story
05 June 2023
UNIC Manama delivers a lecture on SDGs to Police Staffers
The United Nations Information Centre for the Gulf Countries (UNIC Manama) on 4 May delivered an introductory lecture on Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development.
Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, the lecture was held at the Royal Police Academy in Jaw, and delivered by Ali Saleh, Public Information Officer at UNIC Manama.
“The Ministry works with different United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Bahrain to receive advisory and programmatic support in many fields, including sustainable development, in line with the Ministry's work and goals”, said Brigadier General Adel Abdullah Amin, Assistant Undersecretary for Human Resources at the Ministry of Interior.
“We aim to improve security work and provide the best security services to citizens and residents. We will continue to strengthen cooperation and coordination with the UN entities in Bahrain to fulfill our national obligations towards achieving our vision and role in maintaining security and stability while safeguarding human rights”, he added.
“SDGs are at the core of the United Nations’ action in Bahrain and worldwide”, said Ahmed Ben Lassoued, UNIC Manama Director.
“The lecture was a unique opportunity to introduce the SDGs to Police staffers and discuss how they can be integrated into their work and the services they provide to the population”.
“UNIC Manama will continue engaging with national stakeholders, including government entities, the private sector, media and academia, to promote public understanding and support for the aims and activities of the United Nations. “
Senior officials of the Ministry of Interior attended the lecture, which was covered by Bahrain TV, local newspapers, and social media.
The United Nations Information Center for the Gulf Countries in Manama was established in 1977. It serves the Kingdom of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and the State of Qatar.
The Centre works closely with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in the Kingdom of Bahrain and is the country's principal source of information on the United Nations.
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Story
24 May 2023
UN ‘determined’ to end backsliding on development goals, Guterres tells ECOSOC
António Guterres was addressing the first high stakes meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) Operational Activities for Development Segment at UN Headquarters in New York, which he described as “an important first step” towards providing accelerated action for reaching the 17 ambitious SDGs, by the 2030 deadline.
‘Weak and insufficient’
He said among the “fundamental goals” heading in the wrong direction, was that of reducing poverty and hunger. “Progress on another 50 per cent is weak and insufficient”, he added.
He outlined a raft of UN initiatives – from the emergency SDG Stimulus measure to scale-up financing for countries in need, to the Black Sea Initiative to aid countries suffering the effects of the Ukraine war – which he said were all serving the wider aim of getting the SDGs back on track.
Mr. Guterres praised the effectiveness of UN Country Teams worldwide, which were leading the Organization’s efforts for sustainable, inclusive development.
“Nobody could have foreseen, when the development reforms were put in place, that Country Teams would face such a challenging global environment.
“Despite that, four years on, the reforms have succeeded…Resident Coordinators are bringing United Nations entities together in support of countries’ priorities for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda”, he said.
‘Financing abyss’ for poorer nations
But when it comes to funding the Agenda, he said investment has fallen short.
“Many developing countries simply cannot afford to invest in the SDGs because they face a financing abyss”, he said.
The funding gap stood at $2.5 trillion before the COVID pandemic, but now stands at $4.2 trillion, according to the OECD.
Impressing on Member States the need for an SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion a year, the UN chief also noted that the UN’s own Resident Coordinator system was “still chronically underfunded.”
Arms vs development
Given that the relatively “tiny investment” of $85 billion would underpin the stability of the UN development system, he contrasted this, with the more than $2 trillion per year spent on military budgets.
“It is simply not credible to pledge support for peace, if they are not prepared to invest a tiny fraction of this amount in sustainable development – the greatest prevention tool we have”, said the UN chief.
In conclusion, he said September’s SDG Summit “must be a moment of unity to provide a renewed impetus and accelerated action for achieving the SDGs”, that delivers concrete progress, and “a clear commitment to overhaul the current international financial architecture.”
That call was echoed by the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, who said this was "no ordinary year" for the battle to meet the SDGs.
"And this is no ordinary ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment. It is a milestone in our reform efforts and a critical bus-stop on our way to September", she added.
Rescuing SDGs, ‘more important than ever’
The Vice President of ECOSOC with responsibility for development issues, Albert Chimbindi, told the meeting that the key Development Segment was taking place “during one of the most challenging times in history”, with COVID-19 “still being felt worldwide”, amid new conflicts such as the Ukraine war, which continues to disrupt energy markets, stoking food insecurity and malnutrition.
“At the same time, the climate crisis, and natural disasters continue to impose massive economic damages, generating humanitarian crises in many countries”, he added.
Only collective action that addresses the interconnected crises, will be effective, he warned, in the form of integrated and well-designed policies “with multiplier effects within and across countries.”
“In a world in crisis, rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals is more important than ever”, he continued, adding that for now, most of the 17 goals were moving backwards.
Rescuing and turbocharging them, “must be our highest common priority”, and the driver for the whole UN Development System’s progress during the ECOSOC meetings in the weeks ahead.
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Story
23 May 2023
Today’s generation of UN teams on the ground, a key investment for a sustainable future
t the halfway mark to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world is at an inflection point. Lingering socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing poverty, persisting inequalities, conflicts, rising costs of living, and the widespread effects of the climate emergency are threatening to slow down and undo hard-won sustainable development gains. Five years after sweeping reforms to reposition the UN to serve countries better, UN teams on the ground are rising to these challenges under revamped leadership and pushing for more concerted efforts to support governments and communities across the world.
The 2023 Report of the Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group on the Development Coordination Office (DCO) and the Resident Coordinator (RC) system dives deep into the real and tangible impacts of investing strategically in development coordination across country, regional and global levels. It is a testament to how far we can go when we work together as one UN.
Here are six ways in which the reinvigorated RC system and fit-for-purpose UN teams on the ground are advancing progress toward the SDGs:
1.Resident Coordinators’ enhanced leadership has enabled UN teams to respond more effectively to the diverse needs and priorities of countries. Resident Coordinators have leveraged their new-found neutral positions to build trust, forge coalitions, incentivize joint approaches and deliver SDG policy and financing solutions, tailored to the different needs and national development priorities of Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, Small Islands Developing States and Middle-Income countries.
90 per cent of host Governments continue to agree that RCs have the needed profile and skillsets to deliver effectively;
92 per cent say that the UN adequately provides evidence-based policy advice (an increase from 88 per cent in 2021);
88 per cent confirmed that RCs effectively lead the delivery of strategic support for national plans and priorities, as in 2021.
2. The RC system continued to lead the charge to eradicate poverty and leave no one behind in countries. For example, Resident Coordinators in 69 countries led UN teams to develop new joint programmes on food security and nutrition. They continued to champion gender equality and women’s empowerment; lead a steady improvement in meaningful engagement of youth in joint planning processes; guide UN teams in supporting national partners in advancing human rights for sustainable development; mobilize assets and expertise from across humanitarian, development and peacebuilding action to advance the 2030 Agenda; and serve as the first responders to sudden emergencies, as those that hit Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga and Vanuatu. Nearly 90 per cent (87 per cent) of host Governments note that today the RC serves as a one-stop shop for the collective UN offer, consolidating the UN’s support to the country – a 35 per cent increase since the reforms in 2019.
3. Resident Coordinators are also forging partnerships with donors, private sector, financing institutions and civil society, to galvanize collective action to advance national development priorities. Whether it was attracting private investments to scale up public health clinics and insurance in Kenya, championing business sustainability in Uzbekistan or working with local academia on water quality assessments in Samoa, the RCs have brought UN expertise together with partners to deliver integrated solutions to a broad range of development challenges. 92 per cent of host Governments say that RCs contributed to leveraging partnerships in support of national efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda and achieve the SDGs (compared to 85 per cent in 2020). 4. Resident Coordinators and their teams have played a critical role in unlocking funding for UN teams and boosting access to SDG Financing for national Governments to advance the 2030 Agenda. They established country-level SDG pooled funds to incentivize UN teams’ joint programming and implementation of the jointly agreed roadmaps to advance the SDGs, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, and led UN teams’ submissions to the global Joint SDG Fund. The Fund, hosted by DCO, has made US $260 million in financial commitments to 119 UN teams since 2019, reaching 188 million people with social protection, building resilience in 42 Small Islands Developing States and supporting the implementation of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) in 69 countries. The RCs also play a systematic role in unlocking resources from other global pooled funds, including the Spotlight Initiative, the Central Emergency Response Fund and the Peacebuilding Fund in countries like Haiti, Burkina Faso, Vanuatu and others. 5. The RC system has been instrumental for the UN to communicate with one voice and be more accountable for development results. Development coordination has been particularly effective to articulate the urgent sustainable development priorities in countries, and to help tackle hate speech, misinformation and disinformation in several countries. From raising awareness and establishing a National Plan of Action and a National Observatory against hate speech in Costa Rica, to facilitating a consortium to track and monitor hate speech in real-time during elections in Kenya, RCs are pooling together joint efforts within the UN family and leveraging innovative tools to promote fact-based narratives on pertinent issues. And in 2022, all UN teams produced their annual report on results achieved in country, making both successes and challenges fully visible to Governments and the public. 6. A big part of UN efficiencies achieved have also been steered by the new RC system. The RC system transition of operational services from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to the UN Secretariat has saved $10 million since 2020 - $3.4 million in 2022 alone. The DCO investments in support of system-wide efforts to advance more joined up operations, cost savings and cost avoidance across the UN development system have led to efficiencies by the system and single UN entities estimated at around $405 million – an increase of 47 per cent from $275 million in 2021. In addition, RCs are leading on implementing high-impact common services such as renewable energy use, gender-responsive procurement, and disability inclusion and accessibility. 80 per cent of host Governments’ agree that the RC helps to minimize duplication of efforts among UN agencies, ensuring the efficient use of resources, a 24 per cent increase since the reforms in 2019.
The returns of investments in development coordination through the Resident Coordinator system are clear. But for these impacts to be sustained, the RC system needs to have adequate, predictable and sustainable funding. The agreed budget of $281 million for the RC system is a critical minimum investment for effective development coordination. Despite significant commitments by Member States, voluntary contributions have increasingly fallen short. In 2022, the RC system faced the largest funding gap to date. This jeopardizes the ability of the RC system to continue to deliver the support that national Governments need. In these times of crises, demands placed upon the RC system are growing. Ambitions for 2030 need to be met with equal support. Member states need to renew the steadfast commitment that has marked the UN reforms thus far. For people and planet, paving the way for a sustainable tomorrow.
Read the interactive version of the 2023 report here.
2. The RC system continued to lead the charge to eradicate poverty and leave no one behind in countries. For example, Resident Coordinators in 69 countries led UN teams to develop new joint programmes on food security and nutrition. They continued to champion gender equality and women’s empowerment; lead a steady improvement in meaningful engagement of youth in joint planning processes; guide UN teams in supporting national partners in advancing human rights for sustainable development; mobilize assets and expertise from across humanitarian, development and peacebuilding action to advance the 2030 Agenda; and serve as the first responders to sudden emergencies, as those that hit Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga and Vanuatu. Nearly 90 per cent (87 per cent) of host Governments note that today the RC serves as a one-stop shop for the collective UN offer, consolidating the UN’s support to the country – a 35 per cent increase since the reforms in 2019.
3. Resident Coordinators are also forging partnerships with donors, private sector, financing institutions and civil society, to galvanize collective action to advance national development priorities. Whether it was attracting private investments to scale up public health clinics and insurance in Kenya, championing business sustainability in Uzbekistan or working with local academia on water quality assessments in Samoa, the RCs have brought UN expertise together with partners to deliver integrated solutions to a broad range of development challenges. 92 per cent of host Governments say that RCs contributed to leveraging partnerships in support of national efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda and achieve the SDGs (compared to 85 per cent in 2020). 4. Resident Coordinators and their teams have played a critical role in unlocking funding for UN teams and boosting access to SDG Financing for national Governments to advance the 2030 Agenda. They established country-level SDG pooled funds to incentivize UN teams’ joint programming and implementation of the jointly agreed roadmaps to advance the SDGs, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, and led UN teams’ submissions to the global Joint SDG Fund. The Fund, hosted by DCO, has made US $260 million in financial commitments to 119 UN teams since 2019, reaching 188 million people with social protection, building resilience in 42 Small Islands Developing States and supporting the implementation of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) in 69 countries. The RCs also play a systematic role in unlocking resources from other global pooled funds, including the Spotlight Initiative, the Central Emergency Response Fund and the Peacebuilding Fund in countries like Haiti, Burkina Faso, Vanuatu and others. 5. The RC system has been instrumental for the UN to communicate with one voice and be more accountable for development results. Development coordination has been particularly effective to articulate the urgent sustainable development priorities in countries, and to help tackle hate speech, misinformation and disinformation in several countries. From raising awareness and establishing a National Plan of Action and a National Observatory against hate speech in Costa Rica, to facilitating a consortium to track and monitor hate speech in real-time during elections in Kenya, RCs are pooling together joint efforts within the UN family and leveraging innovative tools to promote fact-based narratives on pertinent issues. And in 2022, all UN teams produced their annual report on results achieved in country, making both successes and challenges fully visible to Governments and the public. 6. A big part of UN efficiencies achieved have also been steered by the new RC system. The RC system transition of operational services from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to the UN Secretariat has saved $10 million since 2020 - $3.4 million in 2022 alone. The DCO investments in support of system-wide efforts to advance more joined up operations, cost savings and cost avoidance across the UN development system have led to efficiencies by the system and single UN entities estimated at around $405 million – an increase of 47 per cent from $275 million in 2021. In addition, RCs are leading on implementing high-impact common services such as renewable energy use, gender-responsive procurement, and disability inclusion and accessibility. 80 per cent of host Governments’ agree that the RC helps to minimize duplication of efforts among UN agencies, ensuring the efficient use of resources, a 24 per cent increase since the reforms in 2019.
The returns of investments in development coordination through the Resident Coordinator system are clear. But for these impacts to be sustained, the RC system needs to have adequate, predictable and sustainable funding. The agreed budget of $281 million for the RC system is a critical minimum investment for effective development coordination. Despite significant commitments by Member States, voluntary contributions have increasingly fallen short. In 2022, the RC system faced the largest funding gap to date. This jeopardizes the ability of the RC system to continue to deliver the support that national Governments need. In these times of crises, demands placed upon the RC system are growing. Ambitions for 2030 need to be met with equal support. Member states need to renew the steadfast commitment that has marked the UN reforms thus far. For people and planet, paving the way for a sustainable tomorrow.
Read the interactive version of the 2023 report here.
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Story
30 October 2022
UNCT Training on mainstreaming Gender Equality and LNOB in strategic planning
On 4 and 5 October, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Bahrain participated in a skills-based training exercise to strengthen its capacity to advance the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle in its country programming in Bahrain.
The UNCT examined how increasing focus on the universal standards of gender equality, human rights, sustaining peace, disability inclusion, and youth empowerment can optimize the impact of SCF investments.
The training was a joint initiative of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bahrain, the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States, and the Regional Office of the Development Coordination Office, with support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This was the first time that a UNCT participated in this integrated training, which included practical exercises to mainstream the LNOB principles in UN programming in support of Vision 2030.
“To ensure that Bahrain’s investments in its national development achieve their objectives, it is important that national programming is inclusive and fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda. This workshop is a great example of innovation for increased programmatic impact” said participant Hassan Alrayes, UNFPA’s Partnerships & Liaison Officer in Bahrain.
With the signing of the Strategic and Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SCF) in 2021, the UNCT is committed to advancing the national development priorities of the Kingdom of Bahrain in alignment with the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The four outcomes of the SCF address 1) environment, energy, and food; 2) quality, and comprehensive social services; 3) economic diversification, public administration, and resilience; and 4) Bahrain among nations.
The SCF is implemented through a set of reinforcing programmatic approaches, including supporting a culture of measurement, monitoring, evaluation, and learning to advance the implementation of country priorities and related SDGs; use of disaggregated data and statistics to measure results; and the advancement of Bahrain’s commitments on gender equality and human rights.
The training supported the UNCT to implement these approaches by introducing them to the UN planning tools to apply and measure these standards. The discussion in the room also stimulated conversations around opportunities for further collaboration by the UN system in Bahrain to support greater efficiency and coordination for results.
The experience of the Bahrain UNCT will be used to inform further workshops for UNCTs taking place in the region shortly.
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Story
15 October 2022
IOM and Government of Bahrain Train Immigration Officials on Identification and Response for Potential Victims of Trafficking
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) conducted a three-day training for immigration officials in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior in Bahrain. This event marked the first training on counter-trafficking organized by IOM and the Ministry of Interior, to capacitate immigration officials to identify and respond to potential situations of human trafficking. The participants included research officers, port specialists and police specialists.
The training was completed in the framework of IOM’s partnership with the Government of Bahrain, under which IOM has been supporting counter-trafficking initiatives in the Kingdom. IOM has been collaborating in recent years with the Kingdom of Bahrain, through curriculum development on human trafficking, under the auspices of the Regional Centre of Excellence and Capacity Building for Combatting Trafficking in Persons.
“The Government of Bahrain remains a key strategic partner for IOM in the Gulf region, demonstrating commitment to the protection of people within its borders, including potential victims of trafficking. Much progress has been made on the UN Strategic and Sustainable Development Framework in Bahrain, and IOM looks forward to even further collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, through mechanisms such as the Global Compact for Migration and the IOM Gulf Strategy,” said Mohamed El Zarkani, IOM Chief of Mission in Bahrain.
His Excellency Interior Ministry Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa praises the existing cooperation with IOM and stresses the importance of these specialized courses that contribute to the Kingdom of Bahrain remaining among the best countries in combating trafficking in persons.
The participants of this training were equipped with the knowledge and skills to recognize key indicators of vulnerability and exploitation, confirm initial suspicions of trafficking and report them to relevant competent authorities (through the National Referral Mechanism). They were also taught how to apply trauma-informed and victim-centred approaches to care, to protect victims from further harm.
IOM first opened an office in Bahrain in 2018 and remains committed to working with the Government of Bahrain to further prevent and respond to trafficking and lead on innovative counter-trafficking approaches in the region and beyond.
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Story
15 October 2022
IOM and Government of Bahrain Complete Training of Trainers for Frontline Workers to Assist Potential Victims of Trafficking
The international Organization for Migration (IOM) carried out a three-day workshop for frontline workers in collaboration with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in Bahrain. This workshop marked the continuation of a training completed in July 2022, to capacitate frontline workers from various work sectors to identify and respond to potential situations of human trafficking. Participants represented airport security, labour inspectors, LMRA staff, medical personnel and shelter staff.
The LMRA launched the Regional Centre of Excellence and Capacity Building for Combatting Trafficking in Persons (RCoE) in 2021.
“We congratulate the participants of this workshop and encourage them to pass on the newly acquired knowledge to fellow staff members.” said Mohamed El Zarkani, IOM Chief of Mission in Bahrain. “It is essential for all frontline workers, in all sectors, to be trauma-informed and to protect potential victims from further harm,”
“This workshop concludes the third in a series of events conducted under the auspices of the RCoE.” said H.E. Nouf Jamsheer, Chief Executive Officer of the LMRA, “The LMRA aims to engage with various staff to enhance the identification and referral of potential victims of trafficking, as part of Bahrain’s broader strategy to combat trafficking in persons. We look forward to further cooperation with IOM to expand the RCoE’s activities.”
The workshop, held from 2-4 October 2022, was completed in the framework of IOM’s partnership with the LMRA, under which IOM has been supporting the RCoE, through the development of training resources and Standard Operating Procedures to enhance identification and referral protocols, with the overall aim of supporting the Government’s efforts to combat human trafficking.
The participants of this workshop were equipped with the knowledge and skills to become trainers on trauma-informed approaches to assisting potential victims of trafficking. They explored the impact of psychological trauma on victims and practical approaches to adapting their interactions with potential victims, including through the application of Psychological First Aid (PFA).
IOM first opened an office in Bahrain in 2018 and has since maintained a close working relationship with the Government of Bahrain, through the LMRA, and remains committed to working to further prevent and respond to trafficking in the Kingdom and lead on innovative counter-trafficking approaches in the region and beyond.
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Press Release
27 May 2023
Secretary-General Appoints Ahmed Ben Lassoued of Tunisia Director, United Nations Information Centre in Manama
Mr. Ben Lassoued has over 15 years of experience in communications and journalism. Since 18 January 2022, he has served as the Acting Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Manama. He joined the Department of Global Communications from the United Nations Development Coordination Office, where he provided communication support to United Nations country teams worldwide, including in Africa and the Arab region.
Previously, he worked with the United Nations in various development and humanitarian settings as well as for the Government of Tunisia and the media. Mr. Ben Lassoued has developed and implemented multimedia information campaigns and communications strategies, including crisis communications, and has built strong partnerships with United Nations agencies, governmental institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
Mr. Ben Lassoued is a former student of contemporary philosophy (Magistère) at the Ecole Normale Supérieue. He also holds a research master’s degree in history of philosophy from the Paris-Sorbonne University.
He is fluent in English, French and Arabic.
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Press Release
14 May 2023
Statement by the UN Resident Coordinator in Bahrain on the removal of Article 353 of Bahrain's 1976 Penal Code
The United Nations in Bahrain congratulates the Kingdom of Bahrain after its House of Representatives voted, on 9 May, to remove Article 353 from the 1976 Penal Code, which had exempted rapists from prosecution if they married their victim.
This landmark legislative reform will increase the protection of the fundamental rights of women and girls in Bahrain. It represents another significant step towards achieving Bahrain’s global commitments for the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The reform is also a highly positive achievement in the implementation the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
In July, Bahrain will present its second Voluntary National Report on progress in the national implementation of Agenda 2030 to the High-Level Political Forum in New York. Last week’s legislative milestone highlights the kingdom’s leadership on gender-inclusive sustainable national development.
The United Nations in Bahrain also congratulates the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), whose coordination of the National Strategy for Bahraini Women under the leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and SCW President, has driven momentum for sustainable development that recognizes and benefits from the full participation of women.
The United Nations remains committed to continue supporting the Kingdom of Bahrain in achieving Agenda 2030, including SDG 5.
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Press Release
25 May 2023
UN General Assembly President to make official visit to Bahrain
The President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, will make an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain starting on 29 April 2023.
During the visit to the Kingdom, which will mark the beginning of his visit to the Middle East region as President of the General Assembly, Mr. Kőrösi is expected to call on His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The President is also expected to be received by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister,
He will also meet with Dr. Abullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at whose invitation the President is visiting the Kingdom.
The President is visiting Bahrain and other countries in the Gulf to seek further support for the transformational changes needed to end global crises, and to assess the interlinkage of sustainability with peace and stability in the region.
While in Manama, President Kőrösi will tour the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, which highlights the Kingdom’s rich diversity. The President’s visit comes shortly after an interfaith moment of prayer for peace at the United Nations, which was held on the last Friday of Ramadan, as Christians celebrated Easter, Jews marked the end of Passover, and Sikhs enjoyed the festival of Vaisakhi.
The President will be meeting with young people during the visit. He will provide a lecture to the Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Academy for Diplomatic Studies, and interact with students, staff and other invited guests. He is expected to highlight the motto of his presidency, which is the need for solutions to global challenges rooted in solidarity, sustainability, and science and encourage the young attendants to engage in multilateral affairs and make their voices heard.
In line with these priorities, the President will have discussions with Ms. Noor Ali Al Khulaif, the Minister of Sustainable Development. The topics of their conversations will include the recent UN Water Conference and the pledges related to Bahrain in the context of the Water Action Agenda.
The visit will also be an opportunity for the President to meet with Ms. Hala Al Ansari, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Women, and to discuss the advancements related to women’s rights and their empowerment in the Arab nation.
The President will be accompanied by a delegation of three staff members including the Chef de Cabinet, Mr. Laszlo Szoke, and the Office’s Political Team Leader, Ms. Janina Hasse-Mohsine.
The team will depart Bahrain on 1 May 2023.
Costs are covered by the Government and the OPGA Trust Fund.
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Press Release
19 September 2022
Op-Ed: Transforming Education Summit – the global moment of truth
As parents, teachers and students got ready for a return to school this autumn, few were thinking of the fact that across the world, education is in deep crisis. This is a slow and often unseen crisis, but its impacts affect us all. At the upcoming UN Summit on Transforming Education, world leaders have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to take decisive action. The United Nations and the European Union now call on all member states to deliver much-needed commitments to ensure that all girls and boys can access, enjoy and benefit from a meaningful, modern, high-quality education. Their rights and our collective futures depend on it.
Education is the most powerful and transformative tool we have to empower girls and boys with hope, skills and opportunity for their future. It also paves the way for solving many of today’s global challenges. However, in many parts, poverty and inequality still have a major influence over school attendance and learning achievement. And right across the world, education systems are struggling to equip learners with the values, skills and knowledge needed to thrive in our rapidly changing world.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a pre-existing crisis and the global funding gap for education has increased significantly. Even before the pandemic, governments were spending less than half of the needed sum on education. Since then, two in three governments have cut their education budgets while some international donors have announced their intention to reduce aid to education.
Collective action on future-oriented learning and education financing is urgent, if we want to recover pandemic-related learning losses and ensure that children and young people everywhere are able to access their right to education as enshrined in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Investing in education has a transformative impact across the Sustainable Development Goals. It advances gender equality: educated girls are more likely to participate in the decisions that most affect them, to live longer, healthier lives, and to earn higher incomes. It makes a major contribution to national development: every euro spent on education can generate 10–15 euros in economic growth. And by nurturing informed, empowered citizens, it can help countries to tackle major challenges such as climate change, social breakdown, conflict, gender-based violence and more.
The European Union is significantly increasing its investment in education in partner countries. The EU will dedicate more than 10% of its international partnerships budget, representing over 6 billion euros, towards global education.
Now we need others to do likewise. The UN Secretary-General is calling on all government leaders and all actors, including private sector and civil society, as part of a global mobilisation, to make concrete commitments to increase funding for education, from all sources.
At the Transforming Education Summit, the representatives of all countries and partners face a moment of truth: now is the time to collectively fill the investment gap to tackle the global education crisis. Now is the time to invest in learning recovering and help put the SDGs back on track, thereby sowing the seeds for transformation of our education systems, so that education better prepares learners to contribute to a more inclusive, peaceful, sustainable and just future, leaving no one behind.
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Press Release
10 August 2022
The Secretary-General's Message for International Youth Day - 12 August
Today, we celebrate International Youth Day, and the power of partnerships across generations.
This year’s theme — “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages” — reminds us of a basic truth: we need people of all ages, young and old alike, to join forces to build a better world for all.
Too often, ageism, bias and discrimination prevent this essential collaboration. When young people are shut out of the decisions being made about their lives, or when older people are denied a chance to be heard, we all lose.
Solidarity and collaboration are more essential than ever, as our world faces a series of challenges that threaten our collective future.
From COVID-19 to climate change, to conflicts, poverty, inequality and discrimination, we need all hands on deck to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build the better, more peaceful future we all seek.
We need to support young people with massive investments in education and skills-building — including through next month’s Transforming Education Summit.
We also need to support gender equality and expanded opportunities for young people to participate in civic and political life.
It’s not enough to listen to young people — we need to integrate them into decision-making mechanisms at the local, national and international levels.
This is at the heart of our proposal to establish a new Youth Office at the United Nations.
And we need to ensure that older generations have access to social protection and opportunities to give back to their communities and share the decades of lived experience they have accumulated.
On this important day, let’s join hands across generations to break down barriers, and work as one to achieve a more equitable, just and inclusive world for all people.
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22 March 2021
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