Development

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in Geneva today:

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks to the ECOWAS @49: High-Level Event on “Regionalism, Democracy and Development in West Africa: Building Blocks to Strengthening Multilateralism”, today:

As the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States concluded today, world leaders adopted the “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS: A Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity” — named after the Caribbean island nation that hosted them — and pledged to help such States achieve their priorities over the next 10 years.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the closing plenary of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), in Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, today:

As the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States entered its third day, speakers from international organizations and entities reaffirmed support for those countries and exchanged ideas on how to assist them in building sustainable, climate-resilient economies and societies.

In Bangladesh, prior to the anticipated landfall of a cyclone in the southern parts of the country, the World Food Programme (WFP) swiftly dispatched cash assistance to 30,000 families — about 150,000 people — most at risk, as part of WFP’s flagship programme “Anticipatory Action” for climate shocks.

Small island developing States face a diversion of expenditure from sustainable development to recovery from the impacts of climate-change-induced disasters, speakers told the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in Antigua and Barbuda today, to highlight the critical importance of financial support and access to finance.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the opening of the High-level Meeting on Mobilization of Resources for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in Antigua and Barbuda today:

As the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States opened in Antigua and Barbuda today, speakers highlighted its theme — “Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity” — and detailed, over the course of a day-long debate, the unique challenges that such countries face, the distinctive perspectives they hold and the tailored support they require to unlock their transformative potential.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ opening remarks to the Fourth Summit on Small Island Developing States, in Antigua and Barbuda today: