With less than a decade left until 2030, the COVID-19 pandemic is posing severe risks to the SDGs, according to Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).
“The climate crisis is already wreaking havoc across the globe. Widening inequalities, exacerbated by the pandemic, pose a moral question for our collective conscience and a growing threat to social cohesion and mutual trust,” she added.
“Despite these challenges, the 2030 Agenda remains our globally agreed blueprint for action,” she assured.
Her remarks came in a video message to the first edition of the Egypt International Cooperation Forum (Egypt-ICF), organized under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
Mohammed said that SDGs are the world`s best hope to emerge from the pandemic and accelerate the transition to an equitable, sustainable, inclusive and resilient future, with human rights and human dignity for all.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General said that strong and effective international cooperation and multilateralism are necessary to accelerate progress towards SDGs. This can drive innovation, supported by sustainable financing at scale.
She mentioned the recent success in developing COVID-19 vaccines at record speed was the result of effective cooperation across a range of stakeholders, supported by innovative financing.
“International cooperation and multilateralism can deliver timely solutions to the most pressing challenges. But much more needs to be done,” Mohammed stressed.
She also said that achieving the SDGs will require transferring and sharing knowledge and experiences between countries and across borders.
Mohammed said that Egypt-ICF is an important platform to explore the potential of all development stakeholders in addressing development challenges and sharing catalytic solutions, especially in the African context.
“Our United Nations country teams around the world stand ready to support you in adapting these solutions and engaging with all relevant stakeholders,” she said.
