Excellencies,Distinguished delegates,Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the United Nations Secretariat, allow me first to thank our hosts, Mexico, its partners Germany and Switzerland, and the co-hosts Armenia, Bangladesh, Cabo Verde, Chile, Czech Republic, Ethiopia and Indonesia, for convening this fourth retreat of the Group of Friends of Monterrey. I would like to thank Laura, Martha, Uta and Semya for their opening remarks inaugurating this retreat. I also thank the speakers.
This retreat has become a fixture in the annual financing for development calendar, and I am delighted to join you again this year.
Our discussions this year are more important than ever before. 2019 is a special year, as we are at the end of the first four-year review cycle for implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Agenda. You will discuss progress in implementation, not only at the ECOSOC FfD Forum in April, but your Heads of State and Governments will turn their attention to sustainable development and its financing in September ¨C at the HLPF Summit and the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development - under the auspices of the General Assembly.
This raises the bar for the FfD Forum in April. We need a strong and substantive outcome that paves the way for a successful High-level Dialogue in September. I trust that this retreat of the Group of Friends will help us to get there.
Excellencies,
In my remarks today, I will focus on our substantive contributions, and specifically on the 2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report of the Inter-agency Task Force.
As you know, the advance unedited version of the report was published on 1 March. My department has organized a series of briefings to help you familiarize yourselves with the report¡¯s key messages and recommendations. The report will be formally launched in April.
Building on these briefings, I want to highlight some of the key overarching findings of the report. Members of my team and of contributing agencies of the Task Force are also here to answer any follow-up questions today and tomorrow. They will guide your discussions in the parallel sessions on each of the action areas of the Addis Ababa Agenda later today and tomorrow.
This is also an opportunity for me to thank them for their contributions to our joint work. As you know, the IATF is coordinated by DESA¡¯s Financing for Sustainable Development Office and brings together expertise from throughout the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system and beyond, over 60 agencies. The major institutional stakeholders ¨C the IMF and the World Bank, WTO, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCTAD and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDP ¨C all play a key role in the process and have contributed their data and analysis throughout the report.
Let me take this opportunity to thank them for their contributions.
Excellencies,
Six key messages emerge from this year¡¯s analysis.
First, while global growth is steady, it has peaked. Debt risks are rising. Climate change continues apace. These global challenges put our aspirations at risk and raise the urgency of action.
Second, in this difficulty we see opportunity. The multilateral system is under strain, but as we revisit existing arrangements in trade, debt, tax cooperation and other areas, we open the door to making them fit for purpose for sustainable development.
Third, and in response, we call on the international community to recommit to the Addis Ababa Agenda. Rather than retreating from multilateralism, we must strengthen collective action to address global challenges.
Fourth, global approaches need to be complemented by national actions. We have put forward building blocks for countries to operationalize integrated national financing frameworks to support national development strategies. National financing frameworks were introduced in the Addis Ababa Agenda, and we think it is time to start using them to implement Addis on the ground.
Fifth, achieving sustainable development requires a long-term perspective. Public and private incentives need to be aligned with sustainable development so that all financing decisions incorporate sustainability as a central concern.
And sixth, we must harness the potential of innovation to strengthen development finance. Yet such innovations do not eliminate financial and sustainability risks, which policy makers and regulators need to manage carefully.
Allow me to note also that the Report puts special emphasis on the five SDGs under in-depth review at the 2019 High-level Political Forum. They are quality education, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, climate action and peace, justice and strong institutions.
Excellencies,
Let me close by thanking you for the comments and positive feedback on the report that we have already received from you so far. We welcome additional reflections and will do our best to incorporate your suggestions in the 2020 work cycle.
Let me also reiterate that my department and I stand ready to support you in the preparations for the FfD Forum and the High-level Dialogue. We will work with you to facilitate a successful process in all aspects of the preparations.
Thank you.
On behalf of the United Nations Secretariat, allow me first to thank our hosts, Mexico, its partners Germany and Switzerland, and the co-hosts Armenia, Bangladesh, Cabo Verde, Chile, Czech Republic, Ethiopia and Indonesia, for convening this fourth retreat of the Group of Friends of Monterrey. I would like to thank Laura, Martha, Uta and Semya for their opening remarks inaugurating this retreat. I also thank the speakers.
This retreat has become a fixture in the annual financing for development calendar, and I am delighted to join you again this year.
Our discussions this year are more important than ever before. 2019 is a special year, as we are at the end of the first four-year review cycle for implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Agenda. You will discuss progress in implementation, not only at the ECOSOC FfD Forum in April, but your Heads of State and Governments will turn their attention to sustainable development and its financing in September ¨C at the HLPF Summit and the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development - under the auspices of the General Assembly.
This raises the bar for the FfD Forum in April. We need a strong and substantive outcome that paves the way for a successful High-level Dialogue in September. I trust that this retreat of the Group of Friends will help us to get there.
Excellencies,
In my remarks today, I will focus on our substantive contributions, and specifically on the 2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report of the Inter-agency Task Force.
As you know, the advance unedited version of the report was published on 1 March. My department has organized a series of briefings to help you familiarize yourselves with the report¡¯s key messages and recommendations. The report will be formally launched in April.
Building on these briefings, I want to highlight some of the key overarching findings of the report. Members of my team and of contributing agencies of the Task Force are also here to answer any follow-up questions today and tomorrow. They will guide your discussions in the parallel sessions on each of the action areas of the Addis Ababa Agenda later today and tomorrow.
This is also an opportunity for me to thank them for their contributions to our joint work. As you know, the IATF is coordinated by DESA¡¯s Financing for Sustainable Development Office and brings together expertise from throughout the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system and beyond, over 60 agencies. The major institutional stakeholders ¨C the IMF and the World Bank, WTO, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCTAD and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDP ¨C all play a key role in the process and have contributed their data and analysis throughout the report.
Let me take this opportunity to thank them for their contributions.
Excellencies,
Six key messages emerge from this year¡¯s analysis.
First, while global growth is steady, it has peaked. Debt risks are rising. Climate change continues apace. These global challenges put our aspirations at risk and raise the urgency of action.
Second, in this difficulty we see opportunity. The multilateral system is under strain, but as we revisit existing arrangements in trade, debt, tax cooperation and other areas, we open the door to making them fit for purpose for sustainable development.
Third, and in response, we call on the international community to recommit to the Addis Ababa Agenda. Rather than retreating from multilateralism, we must strengthen collective action to address global challenges.
Fourth, global approaches need to be complemented by national actions. We have put forward building blocks for countries to operationalize integrated national financing frameworks to support national development strategies. National financing frameworks were introduced in the Addis Ababa Agenda, and we think it is time to start using them to implement Addis on the ground.
Fifth, achieving sustainable development requires a long-term perspective. Public and private incentives need to be aligned with sustainable development so that all financing decisions incorporate sustainability as a central concern.
And sixth, we must harness the potential of innovation to strengthen development finance. Yet such innovations do not eliminate financial and sustainability risks, which policy makers and regulators need to manage carefully.
Allow me to note also that the Report puts special emphasis on the five SDGs under in-depth review at the 2019 High-level Political Forum. They are quality education, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, climate action and peace, justice and strong institutions.
Excellencies,
Let me close by thanking you for the comments and positive feedback on the report that we have already received from you so far. We welcome additional reflections and will do our best to incorporate your suggestions in the 2020 work cycle.
Let me also reiterate that my department and I stand ready to support you in the preparations for the FfD Forum and the High-level Dialogue. We will work with you to facilitate a successful process in all aspects of the preparations.
Thank you.
File date:
Sunday, Mars 17, 2019