Deputy Secretary-General, at High-Level Event, calls for Greater Efforts in Generating Trillions of Dollars Needed to Finance 2030 Agenda

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the high-level event titled “Financing the 2030 Agenda:  the role of the United Nations”, in New York today:

Financing the 2030 Agenda [for Sustainable Development] is fundamental to its successful implementation.  The Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development provides a road map for shifting capital away from “business as usual” towards investment in increased prosperity, social inclusion and environmental regeneration.

We know this has to be done; the challenge, of course, is to do it, at scale, now.  Progress is being made by many of you here in the room but much, much more is needed.  Trillions of dollars a year need to be mobilized, that is, the savings of citizens around the world, and channelled to countries, communities and local economies — through official development assistance, domestic financing and the world’s financial system.

The United Nations has always been engaged in this financing agenda, with its partners, allies and of course Member States.  Our question is whether we are doing enough, and the answer, in short, is no.

So, as a core element of our support to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, we have identified a number of ways in which we can strengthen and amplify our impact, internationally, with Member States, and by championing global financing initiatives.

This event is therefore timely as it explores the nexus between the financing agenda and the United Nations, highlighting progress and opportunities from parts of the UN’s leadership team, key partners such as the World Bank, private sector actors and Member States.

I invite now the Secretary-General to share with us his vision on how to accelerate the working of the United Nations in the mobilization of financing for the 2030 Agenda.