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31 October 2024
UN Secretary-General Message for World Cities Day
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10 October 2024
UN Secretary-General Message for World Mental Health Day
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Press Release
08 October 2024
United Nations in Ethiopia congratulates Ethiopia’s new President H.E. Taye Atske-Selassie
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Ethiopia
The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
These are the goals the UN is working on in Ethiopia:
Story
23 September 2024
Retaining the focus on human rights and development to protect normative values
As the designated representative of the United Nations Secretary General at the country level, the role of a United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UN RC/ HC) is challenging at best, carrying broad responsibilities and facing high expectations from many quarters. Upon carrying out their functions, the RC/HC is expected to consistently uphold normative frameworks, including the principles of the UN Charter. Upon reflecting on the issue of normative erosion and the way its trajectory affects multilateralism and its credibility to work with today’s global and urgent challenges, three factors come to my mind. Foremost we are currently witnessing a paralysis in global decision-making and a challenge of inclusion. The lack of consensus and subsequent decision-making paralysis in the UN Security Council (UNSC) on a range of geopolitical issues, such as the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, makes a pressing case for reform of the UNSC.Inclusion in global decision-making saw a big win for the Global South in 2023 with the adoption of the African Union (AU) into the Group of Twenty (G20), but the AU still lacks a permanent seat in the UNSC. In this context it is often argued that a ‘stronger multipolar world’ with many players implies ‘weaker multilateralism’, and that existing multilateral structures merely reflect prevailing power configurations and do not cater to the needs of emerging powers.While the time for reform of global governance structures, such as the UNSC, in my view is long overdue, I do not agree that a stronger multipolar world undermines multilateralism. On the contrary, new realities give multilateralism a chance to be even stronger, especially if we maintain an impartial and normative based stance and play the role of principled and honest broker in all forms of multilateral affairs. Secondly, politicians, think-tanks and the general public increasingly perceive that UN Member States and institutions apply ‘double standards’ towards human rights and norms in order to suit their interests. Major media sources such as Euro News and Al Jazeera cover such reports regularly, and the sentiment is only augmented by social media, especially as there is no end in the sight to the on-going conflict in the Middle East.In this context, liberal democracy values are on the decline. Some portray liberalism as a pathway for neocolonialism while others question moral grounds and intent of the Members States playing a traditional role as the guardians of international norms.Equally, questions are raised about impartiality, politicisation, and instrumentation of international institutions by global powers.In response to the arguments dominating today’s public and social media, I maintain that it is not acceptable neither from a factual, normative, nor moral perspective to portray the UN and humanitarian relief efforts assisting populations in conflict zones as an enforcement of any party to a conflict. Further, funding of aid programs focusing on humanitarian aid and provision of social services and goods must be free of any excessive conditionality beyond basic principles of accountability and transparency.Lastly, results of global efforts to create better socioeconomic conditions and a more prosperous life for millions around the globe have fallen short of expectations.The disenchantment of ordinary citizens caused by lack of economic and social progress is seen as a larger failure of liberal democracy and is a driving force of normative erosion.It is further fuelled by climate change, conflicts, growing poverty, hunger, inequalities, and the weakest economic growth observed in decades. Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is stalling, and urgent action is required to rescue the goals and to restore faith in the multilateral system. The role of UN leadership in resisting the normative erosion One way for the UN to resist and counter the current erosion of previously agreed norms is for the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UN RC/HC) and the Designated Official for Security (DO) to exercise autonomous norm-based and self-applied leadership.In this context I want to share an example from my own experience when making a personal choice as UN RC/ HC and DO in Afghanistan during the evacuation in August 2021, to remain in the country to lead the relief operation and crisis response. This included ensuring that colleagues who stayed in Afghanistan considered this a personal and a voluntary choice just as much as the call of duty, factoring in critical safety and security risks.Staying and delivering in this high security risk environment was a conscious choice made by every staffmember who remained in the country. In this specific context, we collectively delivered one of the world’s largest relief operations reaching over 20 million people and our presence in the country enabled the continuation of work on monitoring human rights.The UN Secretary-General has shown the importance of maintaining a principled position about the unacceptable human and humanitarian costs of war, for example in Gaza and Ukraine, and the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities. At the country level the UN RC/HC leads communication and action based on principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence enabling access to affected communities. Here in Ethiopia, the leadership of the UN RC/HC is critical to making sure that as the aid reaches the people of Tigray, it is equally accessible to the most vulnerable communities in all regions.Strong complementarity of principled action between the country and global level is a must to ensure access to the people in need with no accusation of a political bias. But advocating and speaking up is not enough in terms of leadership. The link between peace, humanitarian, and development work must be recognised and political, financial, and technical resources must be mobilised. To be able to lead in these contexts, leadership must always recognise and work for this holistic approach across sectors and pillars. Transformative leadership based on evidence and knowledge Development failures increase the humanitarian caseload as much as failures of maintaining peace. Support for the exercise of fundamental human rights to attain development must be freed from excessive political conditionality and be linked to strong evidence and knowledge leading to the benefit of ordinary citizens.United Nations RC/HCs must defend the fundamental right to development and build inclusive frameworks to ringfence social services such as health, education, and livelihoods to protect the individual’s right to development, preserve gains threatened by political and security changes, and avoid repeating and deepening humanitarian cycles of crisis.The World Bank notes that least developed countries often require considerably larger investments in socioeconomic development than in the past, and institutional transformation to modern systems of values requires sustained efforts. UN leaders must make sure that our planning strategies of partnership with these countries contain a realistic reflection of the path to peace and development through well-defined theories of change with correct estimates of funding and timing underpinning political decision making. The inability of leadership to withstand political pressure and take decisions that are not based on evidence may result in the need to undertake repeated efforts, as is illustrated by the 2023 UNSC decision to re-deploy a UN security mission to Haiti, a country where I served for four years following the devastating earthquake on 20 January 2010. To sustain funding and create impact the UN must seek broad collaboration and partnerships with, for example, academic institutions. In addition, sound economic models are required.One example I can share in this regard is work undertaken in 2019, as Head of Policy and Strategy for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in leading the organisation’s costing exercise for the strategic plan presented at the ICPD@25 Nairobi Summit, the 25th International Conference of Population and Development.This study underpinned that broad partnership with Member States and civil society have proven essential to scaling up and safeguarding support for the reproductive health and population programs at the time of push-back on women’s rights. In conclusion, the UN operates in an increasingly multipolar world and attempts to influence the institution are not uncommon. Our ability to protect directly depends on the independent stance by the foundational principles of the UN. It equally depends on our ability to expose root causes of erosion through evidence, to build coalitions for action, and to raise resources to address drivers of erosion. This means protecting all aspects of human rights, including the right of every person to development, regardless of adversity and political change. In doing so we may still be the last best hope humanity has.This article was originally published by Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, The Art of Leadership in the United Nations: Our duty to find new forms, (Uppsala: Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, 2024).
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Story
14 September 2024
World Leaders Must Re-boot Global Cooperation for Today and Tomorrow
Final negotiations are underway in New York for this month’s Summit of the Future, where Heads of State will agree on reforms to the building blocks of global cooperation. The United Nations has convened this unique Summit because of a stark fact: global problems are moving faster than the institutions designed to solve them. We see this all around us. Ferocious conflicts and violence are inflicting terrible suffering; geopolitical divisions are rife; inequality and injustice are everywhere, corroding trust, compounding grievances, and feeding populism and extremism. The age-old challenges of poverty, hunger, discrimination, misogyny and racism are taking on new forms. Meanwhile, we face new and existential threats, from runaway climate chaos and environmental degradation to technologies like Artificial Intelligence developing in an ethical and legal vacuum. The Summit of the Future recognizes that the solutions to all these challenges are in our hands. But we need a systems update that only global leaders can deliver. International decision-making is stuck in a time warp. Many global institutions and tools are a product of the 1940s – an era before globalization, before decolonization, before widespread recognition of universal human rights and gender equality, before humanity travelled into space – never mind cyberspace. The victors of World War II still have pre-eminence in the UN Security Council while the entire continent of Africa lacks a permanent seat. The global financial architecture is heavily weighted against developing countries and fails to provide a safety net when they face difficulties, leaving them drowning in debt, which drains money away from investments in their people. And global institutions offer limited space for many of the major players in today’s world – from civil society to the private sector. Young people who will inherit the future are almost invisible, while the interests of future generations go unrepresented. The message is clear: we cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built for our grandparents. The Summit of the Future will be an opportunity to re-boot multilateral collaboration fit for the 21st century. The solutions we have proposed include a New Agenda for Peace focused on updating international institutions and tools to prevent and end conflicts, including the UN Security Council. The New Agenda for Peace calls for a renewed push to rid our world of nuclear arms and other Weapons of Mass Destruction; and for broadening the definition of security to encompass gender-based violence and gang violence. It takes future security threats into account, recognizing the changing nature of warfare and the risks of weaponizing new technologies. For example, we need a global agreement to outlaw so-called Lethal Autonomous Weapons that can take life-or-death decisions without human input. Global financial institutions must reflect today’s world and be equipped to lead a more powerful response to today’s challenges – debt, sustainable development, climate action. That means concrete steps to tackle debt distress, increase the lending capacity of multilateral development banks, and change their business model so that developing countries have far more access to private finance at affordable rates. Without that finance, developing countries will not be able to tackle our greatest future threat: the climate crisis. They urgently need resources to transition from planet-wrecking fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. And as leaders highlighted last year, reforming the global financial architecture is also key to jump-starting desperately needed progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. The Summit will also focus on new technologies with a global impact, seeking ways to close the digital divide and establish shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all. Artificial Intelligence is a revolutionary technology with applications and risks we are only beginning to understand. We have put forward specific proposals for governments, together with tech companies, academia and civil society, to work on risk management frameworks for AI and on monitoring and mitigating its harms, as well as sharing its benefits. The governance of AI cannot be left to the rich; it requires that all countries participate, and the UN is ready to provide a platform to bring people together.Human rights and gender equality are a common thread linking all these proposals. Global decision-making cannot be reformed without respect for all human rights and for cultural diversity, ensuring the full participation and leadership of women and girls. We are demanding renewed efforts to remove the historic barriers – legal, social and economic – that exclude women from power. The peacebuilders of the 1940s created institutions that helped prevent World War III and ushered many countries from colonization to independence. But they would not recognize today’s global landscape. The Summit of the Future is a chance to build more effective and inclusive institutions and tools for global cooperation, tuned to the 21st century and our multipolar world. I urge leaders to seize it.
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Story
25 August 2024
UN Women, Partners deliver training on Gender-Responsive Reintegration Service to Migrant Women Returnees
In response to the challenges faced by migrant women returnees in Ethiopia, UN Women has been diligently providing support to safe and dignified reintegration services. UN Women Ethiopia in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs organized a capacity-building training from 29 to 31 May 2024 in Bishoftu Town, Oromia Region. The training aimed to enhance the capacity of service providers and government stakeholders in gender-responsive reintegration assistance and services for migrant women returnees. The training brought together policymakers, government stakeholders, civil society organizations, members of the Victims Protection and Reintegration Working Group, and the media.Mr. Tilahun Kassahun, Senior Expert in Monitoring and Support of Returning Citizens at the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, highlighted the increasing challenges of migration in Ethiopia. A significant portion of migration is irregular, leaving many migrants vulnerable to various forms of violence. “It is very notable that migrants lack awareness about the migration process and its challenges, which compounds the issue. Additionally, there is a big gap during mass deportations regarding how to process the cases of each returnee, as they often carry trauma from their migration experiences, making reintegration even more challenging.”“To address these challenges, an integrated approach is essential. Inclusive and sustainable reintegration services must be prioritized to better support migrant women. While advocating for safe migration, it’s important to recognize that not all migration should be halted; instead, legal migration pathways should be encouraged for the safety and well-being of citizens,” Mr. Tilahun reiterates. Additionally, he stressed the need for collaborative efforts across organizations to ensure safe migration practices based on the training insights. Ms. Woubrest Ashenafi, Senior Prosecutor and Migration Expert at the Ministry of Justice, National Partnership Coalition Secretariat on migration. “The participation of experienced and diverse trainees made the sessions engaging and thought-provoking. The interactive nature of the training left an unforgettable experience for all,” she said.“Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of gender principles. It became evident that our planning as a ministry should consider the impact on women from the planning stage. As a coalition that collaborates with partners to organize capacity-building trainings, we need to assess whether our activities truly empower women and lead to a meaningful change in their lives," said Ms. Woubrest.UN Women Ethiopia, with generous support from the government of Germany, is implementing the three-year project “Making Migration Safe for Women” project to ensure migration is safe for women migrating from, into, through and back to Ethiopia, and that international norms and standards for protecting and promoting migrant women’s rights are strengthened
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Story
25 August 2024
UN Women supports introduction of Gender Audit Manual
Through the support of UN Women in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian government has taken various steps to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment as part of its commitments to realize its gender focused targets aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and its Ten-Year Perspective Plan (2021-2030). The first-ever Gender Audit manual developed with the support of UN Women and its implementation by the Office of the Federal Auditor General (OFAG) is among the tangible results. The gender manual, targeting audit experts at the Office of the Federal Audit General, aims to enable an effective performance audit of gender equality at ministries and other government agencies. Through the support of UN Women, the audit experts at the institution were also capacitated through various trainings on gender equality auditing including on proper application of the manual. On the improvement of the institutions’ performance after the manual got introduced, Mr. Tesfaye Alemu, the Performance Audit Manager at OFAG explained, “Before we started using the manual, there were a few general criteria that we used to apply for gender audit. It wasn’t as detailed as the one in the new gender audit manual to the extent that the findings were not even visible. When we used the manual, which is comprehensive, critical findings were identified.”Mr. Tesfaye also cited the findings from a pilot performance audit at the Ministry of Health, which looked into selected hospitals. “We found the cost of gender gaps in the health sector, including unsafe child delivery, improper family planning, and lack of focus on specific diseases that women are exposed to. These issues resulted because of lack of gender awareness, negligence, and weak or absence of policies for accountability. Based on our recommendations channeled through the parliament, the Ministry has prepared an action plan to accordingly address these issues,” said Tesfaye. Ms. Tsige Tilahun, Women, Youth and Children Directorate Directress at OFAG, described the manual as a groundbreaking one not just for OFAG but also for the country. “Application of the audit manual is part of our annual strategic plan. Each department at OFAG implements and periodically reports with recommendations on the findings. It is assisting us to advance gender equality. Now, we realize more than ever that without proper gender audit, auditing is not complete in our institution.” On the benefits of the manual at country level, Ms. Tsige added, “Before this manual, there wasn’t a systemized gender audit standard at country level and now its availability benefits every sector involved. The outcomes of the pilot gender auditing on ministries are also benefiting more institutions at country level. For instance, at the Ministry of Health, where health services are provided throughout the country, the audit was done involving well-known hospitals in Addis Ababa and other regions. The findings enhanced awareness at various levels, from federal to community. The report on the findings to the parliament is also channeled through public media. This is alerting those audited to take actions as well as to create awareness to those not involved, for preventing similar findings by properly considering gender issues in their planning and implementations.”UN Women Ethiopia Country Office under its National Planning Program has been partnering with Office of the Federal Audit General (OFAG) since 2021 to assist them advance gender equality through their audit report and recommendations. The development of a Gender Audit Manual and capacity enhancement are among the key areas of support provided by UN Women. Using the manual, a pilot gender auditing was conducted in the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture, and findings and recommendations for actions were presented to parliament as part of the 2023 annual report of OFAG. The partnership work with the Federal Audit General is financially being supported by Sweden, Government of Norway, and Netherlands.
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Story
25 August 2024
Holistic support to communities in Tigray to improve their livelihoods
Despite the challenging environment, the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project Phase II (DRDIP-II) has actively been working to support the region's adaptation and resilience efforts. The project has helped to improve accessibility of essential social and economic services, expanded livelihood opportunities, and a strengthened focus on environmental management. This concerted effort has not only addressed immediate needs but also fostered long-term sustainability for both host communities and refugees in the targeted areas.In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, UNOPS managed and implemented a 1.2 million USD World Bank financed DRDIP-II project in Tigray Region. UNOPS together with the regional government achieved the intended objectives and contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals.A total of 6,540 community members were engaged in the restoration of degraded watershed activities, of which 43% were women. The restoration management activities were done on 299 ha of land, including construction of different soil and water management practices, and protecting the intervention area from human and livestock interference.Accordingly, community members were paid for their involvement in the soil and water conservation works. Half of the labor involved in the physical works were youth, which significantly contributed to their income generation and stronger involvement in the community. The youths were also engaged in different common interest groups so that they would benefit from the rehabilitated lands.“UNOPS started implementation of the project, while the people were in a difficult situation due to the conflict. Implementation of the project by UNOPS helps the community to recover from the trauma and think about development. Within the DRDIP, UNOPS constructed the physical soil and water conservation structures and handed over to the regular regional DRDIP to run the activities afterwards. Therefore, in the future we will strengthen the already constructed soil and water conservation structure with biological plantation and benefit the communities by engaging them in woodlot plantation, apiculture or other community livelihoods. Landless youths will benefit from this activity and lift the community out of poverty. We hope this is one of the mechanisms to solve poverty,” the Regional DRDIP Natural Resource Management Expert Abreha Gebreyohannes said.While the large-scale demonstration of agricultural technologies was conducted on 840 Ha of farming plots, the participants benefited from yield they harvested. For this implementation, 1,720 Qt fertilizer (i.e. 840 Qt of Urea and NPS each), 132 Qt of Sorghum, and 58 Qt Tef seed were supplied. This brought benefits to 1,427 farmers, of which 30.4% were female. Assuming a minimal yield harvest of five quintal each, the project contributed to the production of 71.35 tons of grains, which helped to reduce food insecurity.“The women's participation was good. It created job opportunity, and, at the same time helped develop our land that creates income to fulfill some household needs, such as sugar and spices. I hope the project will also help us benefit from apiculture, dairy farms and other activities in the future. This will reduce migration,” Alganesh Birhane, one of the project beneficiaries from Miebale Kebelle, Tsimbla, said. In order to reduce deforestation, 395 energy saving cooking stoves were also procured and distributed to 395 selected female headed households. Furthermore, the capacity building training on alternative energy and ways of reducing environmental degradation was provided to 46 regional and woreda level experts. Another training on applications of GPS, GIS and Remote sensing data for integrated natural resource management practices was provided to 47 regional and woreda level experts. Furthermore, a theoretical and practical training on integrated watershed management, watershed delineation, and selecting appropriate physical soil and water conservation structure was provided to a total of 688 woreda and kebele level participants. As part of the project, woreda steering and technical committees were established in five target woredas, and prioritisation of 26 Community Investment Funds (CIF) and 3 Strategic Investment Funds (SIF) subprojects was completed. Technical assessments, design and cost estimation of these CIF and SIF (school, irrigation and road) were also finalised. Additionally, the office furniture and supplies were procured and delivered to both regional and woreda Project Coordinating Unit offices. The Environmental and Social (E&S) Screening of 1 SIF & 15 CIF sub-projects located in Asgede and Adidaero woredas was done before the sub-project design to identify key environmental and social issues and impacts, eligibility, determine appropriate environmental and social risk category and plan resulting required environmental and social instruments.
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Press Release
08 October 2024
United Nations in Ethiopia congratulates Ethiopia’s new President H.E. Taye Atske-Selassie
The United Nations and Ethiopia share a longstanding partnership, working together across various sectors to support the country’s development through locally tailored solutions.The United Nations takes this opportunity to reaffirm its strong commitment to deepening its cooperation with Ethiopia to support the country’s development priorities and advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing President, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, for her close cooperation and partnership with the United Nations. Her leadership and dedication have significantly contributed to the progress of our shared goals, and we look forward to building upon this strong foundation with the new Head of State.
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Press Release
22 September 2024
United Nations adopts ground-breaking Pact for the Future to transform global governance
This Pact is the culmination of an inclusive, years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow. The most wide-ranging international agreement in many years, covering entirely new areas as well as issues on which agreement has not been possible in decades, the Pact aims above all to ensure that international institutions can deliver in the face of a world that has changed dramatically since they were created. As the Secretary-General has said, “we cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents."Overall, the agreement of the Pact is a strong statement of countries’ commitment to the United Nations, the international system and international law. Leaders set out a clear vision of an international system that can deliver on its promises, is more representative of today’s world and draws on the energy and expertise of governments, civil society and other key partners.
“The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” said the Secretary-General during his remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future. The President of the General Assembly noted that the Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”
The Pact covers a broad range of issues including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. Key deliverables in the Pact include:
In the area of peace and securityThe most progressive and concrete commitment to Security Council reform since the 1960s, with plans to improve the effectiveness and representativeness of the Council, including by redressing the historical under-representation of Africa as a priority.The first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade, with a clear commitment to the goal of totally eliminating nuclear weapons.Agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space, including a clear commitment to prevent an arms race in outer space and the need to ensure all countries can benefit from the safe and sustainable exploration of outer space.Steps to avoid the weaponization and misuse of new technologies, such as lethal autonomous weapons, and affirmation that the laws of war should apply to many of these new technologies.
On sustainable development, climate and financing for developmentThe entire Pact is designed to turbo-charge implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.The most detailed agreement ever at the United Nations on the need for reform of the international financial architecture so that it better represents and serves developing countries, including: Giving developing countries a greater say in how decisions are taken at international financial institutions;Mobilizing more financing from multilateral development banks to help developing countries meet their development needs;Reviewing the sovereign debt architecture to ensure that developing countries can borrow sustainably to invest in their future, with the IMF, UN, G20 and other key players working together;Strengthening the global financial safety net to protect the poorest in the event of financial and economic shocks, through concrete actions by the IMF and Member States;and accelerating measures to address the challenge of climate change, including through delivering more finance to help countries adapt to climate change and invest in renewable energy. Improving how we measure human progress, going beyond GDP to capturing human and planetary wellbeing and sustainability.A commitment to consider ways to introduce a global minimum level of taxation on high-net-worth individuals.On climate change, confirmation of the need to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
On digital cooperationThe Global Digital Compact, annexed to the Pact, is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance.At the heart of the Compact is a commitment to design, use and govern technology for the benefit of all. This includes commitments by world leaders to: Connect all people, schools and hospitals to the Internet;Anchor digital cooperation in human rights and international law;Make the online space safe for all, especially children, through actions by governments, tech companies and social media;Govern Artificial Intelligence, with a roadmap that includes an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI;Make data more open and accessible, with agreements on open-source data, models, and standards;This is also the first global commitment to data governance, placing it on the UN agenda and requiring countries to take concrete actions by 2030.
Youth and future generationsThe first ever Declaration on Future Generations, with concrete steps to take account of future generations in our decision-making, including a possible envoy for future generations.A commitment to more meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that shape their lives, especially at the global level.
Human rights and genderA strengthening of our work on human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women.A clear call on the need to protect human rights defenders.Strong signals on the importance of engagement of other stakeholders in global governance, including local and regional governments, civil society, private sector and others. There are provisions across the Pact and its annexes for follow-up action, to ensure that the commitments made are implemented.
Summit Process
The Summit process and the Pact have been deeply enriched by the contributions of millions of voices and thousands of stakeholders from around the world.
The Summit brought together over 4000 individuals from Heads of State and Government, observers, IGOs, UN System, civil society and non-governmental organizations. In a broader push to increase the engagement of diverse actors, the formal Summit was preceded by the Action Days from 20-21 September, which attracted more than 7,000 individuals representing all segments of society. The Action Days featured strong commitments to action by all stakeholders, as well as pledges of USD 1.05 billion to advance digital inclusion.###
For more information: https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future
Media contacts:
Francyne Harrigan, United Nations Department of Global Communications | harriganf@un.org
Stefania Piffanelli, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations | piffanelli@un.org
Jackquelyn Kay Topacio, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations | jackquelyn.topacio@un.org
“The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” said the Secretary-General during his remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future. The President of the General Assembly noted that the Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”
The Pact covers a broad range of issues including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. Key deliverables in the Pact include:
In the area of peace and securityThe most progressive and concrete commitment to Security Council reform since the 1960s, with plans to improve the effectiveness and representativeness of the Council, including by redressing the historical under-representation of Africa as a priority.The first multilateral recommitment to nuclear disarmament in more than a decade, with a clear commitment to the goal of totally eliminating nuclear weapons.Agreement to strengthen international frameworks that govern outer space, including a clear commitment to prevent an arms race in outer space and the need to ensure all countries can benefit from the safe and sustainable exploration of outer space.Steps to avoid the weaponization and misuse of new technologies, such as lethal autonomous weapons, and affirmation that the laws of war should apply to many of these new technologies.
On sustainable development, climate and financing for developmentThe entire Pact is designed to turbo-charge implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.The most detailed agreement ever at the United Nations on the need for reform of the international financial architecture so that it better represents and serves developing countries, including: Giving developing countries a greater say in how decisions are taken at international financial institutions;Mobilizing more financing from multilateral development banks to help developing countries meet their development needs;Reviewing the sovereign debt architecture to ensure that developing countries can borrow sustainably to invest in their future, with the IMF, UN, G20 and other key players working together;Strengthening the global financial safety net to protect the poorest in the event of financial and economic shocks, through concrete actions by the IMF and Member States;and accelerating measures to address the challenge of climate change, including through delivering more finance to help countries adapt to climate change and invest in renewable energy. Improving how we measure human progress, going beyond GDP to capturing human and planetary wellbeing and sustainability.A commitment to consider ways to introduce a global minimum level of taxation on high-net-worth individuals.On climate change, confirmation of the need to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
On digital cooperationThe Global Digital Compact, annexed to the Pact, is the first comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance.At the heart of the Compact is a commitment to design, use and govern technology for the benefit of all. This includes commitments by world leaders to: Connect all people, schools and hospitals to the Internet;Anchor digital cooperation in human rights and international law;Make the online space safe for all, especially children, through actions by governments, tech companies and social media;Govern Artificial Intelligence, with a roadmap that includes an International Scientific Panel and a Global Policy Dialogue on AI;Make data more open and accessible, with agreements on open-source data, models, and standards;This is also the first global commitment to data governance, placing it on the UN agenda and requiring countries to take concrete actions by 2030.
Youth and future generationsThe first ever Declaration on Future Generations, with concrete steps to take account of future generations in our decision-making, including a possible envoy for future generations.A commitment to more meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in the decisions that shape their lives, especially at the global level.
Human rights and genderA strengthening of our work on human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women.A clear call on the need to protect human rights defenders.Strong signals on the importance of engagement of other stakeholders in global governance, including local and regional governments, civil society, private sector and others. There are provisions across the Pact and its annexes for follow-up action, to ensure that the commitments made are implemented.
Summit Process
The Summit process and the Pact have been deeply enriched by the contributions of millions of voices and thousands of stakeholders from around the world.
The Summit brought together over 4000 individuals from Heads of State and Government, observers, IGOs, UN System, civil society and non-governmental organizations. In a broader push to increase the engagement of diverse actors, the formal Summit was preceded by the Action Days from 20-21 September, which attracted more than 7,000 individuals representing all segments of society. The Action Days featured strong commitments to action by all stakeholders, as well as pledges of USD 1.05 billion to advance digital inclusion.###
For more information: https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future
Media contacts:
Francyne Harrigan, United Nations Department of Global Communications | harriganf@un.org
Stefania Piffanelli, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations | piffanelli@un.org
Jackquelyn Kay Topacio, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations | jackquelyn.topacio@un.org
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Press Release
18 September 2024
UNOPS, Ministry of Health signed a $13.5 mln project financed by the World Bank to procure, install oxygen supply systems
UNOPS and the Ministry of Health have formalized a $13.5 million partnership financed by the World Bank for the procurement and installation of oxygen plants in hospitals throughout Ethiopia. This project will enhance healthcare delivery, improve emergency preparedness, and provide economic benefits, ensuring that medical facilities can offer consistent and high-quality care to patients. The establishment of an Oxygen Plant in Ethiopian hospitals is beyond meeting the critical health care needs, but it also decreases the dependency on imports which is cost-effective. The establishment and maintenance of these plants will also lead to job creation, skills transfer, and other economic benefits at a local level. Under this agreement, UNOPS will oversee the procurement of state-of-the-art oxygen generation and supply equipment, ensuring that the system meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency. UNOPS will also manage the installation and integration of the system into health facilities, ensuring seamless and timely execution of the project. Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen, Director of the Multi-Country Office of UNOPS and Representative to the AU, said, “We are excited to partner with the Ministry of Health on this critical project. The demand for oxygen supply systems has grown, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership ensures that we are not only meeting current needs but are also preparing for future demands in healthcare and industrial sectors”. The installation will begin effective immediately and will be completed by December 2025. When fully operational, the installation will improve the capacity and reliability of oxygen delivery across all targeted facilities.For media inquiries, please contact: Petar Janjatović, Communication Officer Email: petarj@unops.orgWebsite: https://unops.org/ethiopiaFollow us on Twitter/X: @UNOPS_Ethiopia
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Press Release
12 September 2024
UNOPS, Ministry of Health Sign New Agreement to Build Capacity of Ministry Staff
This strategic partnership will focus on strengthening institutional capabilities, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and supporting the Ministry’s mission to deliver high-quality medical services.Through this agreement, UNOPS will provide comprehensive training programs and workshops, and will arrange travel for study visits aimed at enhancing grant management knowledge, skills, and competencies for the MoH staff. The project will ensure that staff members are equipped to meet the evolving needs of the public sector."Investing in the skills and capabilities of the Ministry of Health workforce is essential for driving long-term success and improving service delivery," said Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen, Director of the Multi-Country Office (Ethiopia, Sudan, South sudan and Djibouti) of UNOPS and Representative to the AU.This initiative reflects a shared commitment to building sustainable capacity in the public sector and activities will be implemented until July 2025. It will empower ministry employees to better address the challenges of today’s dynamic environment, improve operational efficiency, and enhance overall government performance.For media inquiries, please contact:Petar Janjatović, Communication OfficerE:mail: petarj@unops.org Website: https://unops.org/ethiopia Follow us on Twitter/X: @UNOPS_Ethiopi
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Press Release
23 August 2024
The Government of Italy and UNOPS sign €1.5million Project Agreement to strengthen Suhul Hospital in Tigray
The project will benefit 18,000 people per month out of which 50% are women.The Government of Italy and UNOPS announced today the signing of the project agreement "Strengthening Suhul Hospital in Shire - Tigray" aimed at enhancing the healthcare services at Suhul Hospital through the procurement of cutting-edge medical equipment that will improve the hospital’s diagnostic, therapeutic, and patient-monitoring capabilities. The project, funded by the Italian Government, will make it possible to reestablish a fully functional health facility in the area to ensure healthcare services for the population and improve the overall quality of care provided to the community. The project will also provide training on operation and maintenance to the medical personnel serving within the hospital. Ambassador Agostino Palese, Italian Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, said “The agreement signed today constitutes a further demonstration of Italy's strong commitment towards Ethiopia’s stability and prosperity, ensuring that all communities benefit from the peace dividends that stem from the Pretoria Peace Agreement. While enhancing the healthcare services at Suhul Hospital for the benefit of some of the most vulnerable communities in the country, we reaffirm our determination to contribute to the enhancement of Tigray Region health sector by increasing its resilience and strengthening its capacity”.Ms. Isabella Lucaferri, Director of the Italian Cooperation (AICS) in Ethiopia said that "this project embodies Italy's enduring commitment to supporting the health and well-being of all communities in Ethiopia, particularly in regions that have faced significant challenges. AICS, through its numerous projects across the country and in Tigray, aims to ensure that the local population has access to the deserved quality healthcare".Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen, Director of the Multi-Country Office of UNOPS in Ethiopia, said: "Today, as we sign this agreement, we are taking a step towards ensuring that Suhul Hospital is equipped with all the technology necessary to provide the highest standard of care. We are not only enhancing the hospital's ability to provide quality care but also contributing to the overall health and well-being of the community it serves in Shire, contributing to SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being, and SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities".Suhul Hospital serves as a critical healthcare provider in the Northwestern Zone of Tigray, offering a wide range of medical services to communities. This project will not only strengthen the hospital's existing services but also pave the way for future innovations in patient care.Press contact details:Meron Aberra, Communication Officer UNOPS, Tel:+251911221060, Email: merons@unops.or
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