The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022 – 2026 has been signed.

During the signing ceremony where the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Abdulla Shahid was in attendance, the UNSDC Framework was signed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel on behalf of the Maldivian government, with UN Resident Coordinator Catherine Haswell signing on behalf of the United Nations.

Formulation of the blueprint for the UN Development System’s support extended to address national priorities and challenges in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, has been in the works since January this year. As such, the government has been collaborating with the UN to formulate the framework in consultation with several stakeholders and partners.

Three main strategic priorities were identified revolving around social, environmental and economic sustainability in response to the development opportunities and challenges faced by the Maldives. It also stemmed from extensive consultations.

The United Nations Development System will focus its support on the four outcome results, formulated under the strategic priorities, between 2022 – 2026.

As highlighted in the 2019-2023 Strategic Action Plan and the National Resilience and Recovery (NRR) plan, the framework signed on Wednesday is designed to contribute to the development priorities and agenda of the Maldivian government, according to PGA Shahid.

Also speaking at the event, UN Resident Coordinator Haswell expressed gratitude to all the partners for their active engagement in designing an “effective” and “impactful” framework for UN support to Maldives for the next five years

In addition, she expressed hope that the joint commitment of the UN and Maldivian government will lead to Maldives achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and build a future that leaves no one behind.

Co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN Resident Coordinator, a High-Level Joint Steering Committee will coordinate to implement the framework. The committee also includes state institutions, UN Agencies and Funds and Programmes with operational activities in the Maldives.

The committee will be reviewing progress of the implementation on a yearly-basis and will also be forwarding recommendations and strategic changes to enhance success in achieving the targets set forth in the framework.

The government of Maldives and United Nations remain hopeful to achieve significant progress in the country’s journey to an “inclusive, resilient, healthy, caring, tolerant and skilled society” where all people meaningfully participate in, contribute to, and benefit equitably from sustainable cultural, economic, and social development and environmental protection, by 2026.