Remarks by H.E. Annalena Baerbock

President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

at an informal meeting of the General Assembly to hear a briefing on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ80 Initiative

29 April 2026

ECOSOC Chamber

[As Delivered by Vice President: H.E. Ambassador Dionisio Babo Soares, Permanent Representative of Timor Leste]

Excellencies,

Thank you for joining this briefing on the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ80 Initiative.

 

Today¡¯s session will focus on three work packages under Workstream 3:

 

The Regional Reset, which seeks to reorganize regional capacities of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ development system by better aligning global mandates, regional strategies, and country-level implementation, while positioning Regional Commissions as physical hubs.

 

Joint Knowledge Hubs, which aim to address the current fragmentation of expertise by consolidating knowledge and making it more accessible to Member States through integrated data and thematic platforms.

 

And the Shared Platform Initiative, designed to strengthen collaboration between humanitarian and development functions, while simplifying the work of Resident Coordinators and Humanitarian Coordinators.

 

Excellencies,

 

More than one year into this process, both the scope and ambition of these reforms are coming into sharper focus, with tangible benchmarks now being met across all three workstreams.

 

This progress is reflected in the recently adopted resolution on mandate creation, implementation and review.

 

To sustain this momentum, we must now ensure continuity in implementation. In this regard, I have appointed Ambassador Brian Wallace, Permanent Representative of Jamaica, and Ambassador Merete Fjeld Brattested, Permanent Representative of Norway, to lead the Ad Hoc Working Group on Mandate Implementation Review.

 

It is also evident in the release, last week, of the final consolidated report on the Strategic Merger Assessment of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵFPA and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Women, which provides a basis for advancing discussions going forward.

 

Likewise, the Comprehensive Guide on Progress and Next Steps for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ80 Initiative, circulated earlier this week, promises to be a valuable tool for delegates and responds directly to Member States¡¯ requests for greater clarity on process and decision-making.

 

Looking ahead, the Secretary-General¡¯s forthcoming consolidated report on the full breadth of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ80 Initiative will further support our efforts, serving as a practical guide, outlining decision-making pathways, timelines, and key intergovernmental milestones.

 

Colleagues,

 

These regular briefings are designed not only to keep Member States informed, but to maintain the momentum required to advance all workstreams in tandem.

 

They also serve a broader purpose: to ensure accountability and transparency, and to reinforce clear lines of communication between Member States and the Secretariat.

 

Ultimately, success will not be measured by the number of initiatives we launch, but by the improvements we deliver on the ground.

 

So let us build on our shared commitment and ensure that this process translates into meaningful and lasting impact for the people we serve.

 

I thank you.

 

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