New York – 9 April 2015
Excellencies,
Distinguished panellists and participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to deliver this Statement on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency, Sam Kutesa.
This is the second of two Informal Interactive Hearings with the Civil Society and the Business Sector. We look forward to getting important contributions out of these hearings for consideration in the preparatory process of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD).
As we formulate an inclusive and transformative post-2015 development agenda, we must bear in mind that its successful implementation will depend on mobilization of adequate financial resources.
We have to match the ambition contained in the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a strengthened financing for development framework and scaled-up resources.
The proposed 17 SDGs are ambitious. They have the potential to transform our societies and preserve our planet. They cover important priorities including ending poverty in all its forms everywhere; ending hunger; promoting sustainable agriculture; ensuring quality education and healthy lives for all.
Other priorities include achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls; access to water and sanitation; affordable modern energy; promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth; full and productive employment and decent work.
The expectations for the FfD Conference to be held in July in Addis Ababa are high, and rightly so. It is essential that we work towards concrete deliverables and a new global partnership for sustainable development that will support the implementation of the new universal development agenda.
As I said yesterday, the resources that we will require to implement the new agenda are substantial. For example, estimates of additional financing needed to eradicate extreme poverty are in the range US $ 66 billion every year, while investments that will be required in critical infrastructure including transport, energy, water and sanitation are projected to cost US $ 5 to 7 trillion annually.
The unmet credit needs for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are estimated at US$ 3.5 trillion globally. We also need to find ways of addressing the significant challenges that many developing countries face in accessing environmentally sound technologies.
It is evident that in order to achieve our goals, we need to harness vast resources, skills, knowledge and innovative ideas from all segments of society. Civil society has an important role and it should play its part in this endeavour.
Distinguished participants,
In January, I hosted an interactive dialogue with civil society on the post-2015 development agenda, including actions needed to scale up mobilization of the means of implementation.
Civil society has been further engaged in the substantive sessions and the first drafting session of the preparatory process of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.
This hearing is taking place at an opportune moment following the issuance by the Co-Facilitators of the Zero Draft of the outcome document for the Addis Ababa Conference. The draft took into account proposals by Member States and stakeholders, including the civil society.
Today provides another unique opportunity for civil society representatives to give their input and views on the Zero Draft for the Addis Outcome Document.
Distinguished participants,
On the road to Addis Ababa, we must continue to build on the collaborative spirit fostered around the Financing for Development process.
Let us continue working together for a comprehensive financing framework for sustainable development in order to deliver on the aspirations of our countries, people, and communities worldwide.
Thank you for your attention.
