Development

Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message to the eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, in Dakar today:

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), non-performing loans in Afghanistan’s credit market have increased from around 30 per cent at the end of 2020 to 57 per cent in September 2021.  As the massive withdrawal of savings continues, UNDP projects that the deposits’ base could shrink by as much as 40 per cent by year-end.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Toilet Day, observed on 19 November:

UNICEF released a report today showing there are nearly 240 million children with disabilities around the world, a new global approximation higher than previous estimates which considers symptoms of anxiety and depression, among other difficulties across several domains of functioning.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a new crisis response initiative in Afghanistan, known as ABADEI, as part of efforts to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.  Among other things, it provides grants to small businesses, cash-for-work projects and support to marginalized individuals.

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the Insurance Development Forum and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) leadership virtual round table on “Better reflecting risk management and insurance in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, in New York, 19 October:

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the “China and UN:  Building Peace through Development” virtual event in Beijing today:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed on 17 October:

The United Nations and partners are launching a new flagship financing instrument — known as the Complex Risk Analytics Fund (CRAF’d) — to provide data in support of all stakeholders in crisis anticipation, prevention and response.

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed’s video message to a round table on small island developing States’ access to finance for a resilient post-COVID-19 recovery, on 7 October: