Government of Maldives & UN in Maldives Convenes UNSDCF 2022-2026 Joint Steering Committee Meeting

On Tuesday, the Government of Maldives and the United Nations in Maldives together convened the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026 Joint Steering Committee (JSC) Meeting. The UNSDCF functions as a blueprint for the UN development system’s support of the national priorities of the Maldives as it strives to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The JSC is, therefore, the governing body of the UNSDCF and is co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives and the United Nations Resident Coordinator. Other representatives featured in the committee include various Government Ministries and the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes with operational activities in the Maldives. The JSC meets per annum to review the progress made in the following year, determine the challenges faced and provide strategic direction and advice for the implementation of the UNSDCF for the years ahead.

On May 2^nd 2023, the first meeting of the JSC was held to discuss the scope of implementation achieved in 2022 and review the plans for 2023. It was observed that in the preceding year, 15 UN entities partnered with Government, local government bodies and other parties (CSOs, private sector, international community etc.) to achieve the UNSDCF’s results. This included goals such as shared prosperity and inclusive human development for all, sustainable and climate resilient environment, gender-responsive, rights-based and accountable governance and justice.

Speaking at the JSC Meeting, Secretary, Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Maldives Co-chair for the JSC, Dr. Hussain Niyaz noted that the Cooperation Framework provides the opportunity to meet the exigencies of the Government while also allowing to revisit and revitalize the different contours of partnerships between the UN and the Maldives to fulfill the national development priorities envisioned in the current Strategic Action Plan (SAP 2019-2023).

The UN Resident Coordinator and the UN’s co-chair for the JSC, Ms. Catherine Haswell thanked the Government and the stakeholders for their active engagement in implementing the first year of the UNSDCF. Recognising that 2023 marks the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with only 7 years remaining to achieve the SDGs, she encouraged all partners to work together and expedite progress so that no Maldivians are left behind.

She further highlighted the opportunity of the Global SDG Summit to be held in September 2023 in New York as a critical opportunity for the Maldives to reiterate its commitment to achieving the SDGs for the benefit of all Maldivians.