The beauty of the province of Manabi is renowned throughout Ecuador. Stunning beaches, impressive rocky coastlines and breathtaking sunsets make the fourth largest and third most populous province in the country a popular vacation destination. The UN Resident Coordinator in Ecuador Lena Savelli visited the province to experience first-hand the rich culture and traditions for sustainability as well as see how UN entities are working together to protect nature, ensure food security, forge livelihoods and build resilience for communities.
Coupled with other extreme weather events, the ongoing drought caused widespread hunger and pushed thousands into near famine-like conditions. In the south of the country, where the land is arid and households more dependent on rain-fed agriculture, the issue of malnutrition is particularly acute. Crops are not only suffering from a lack of water, but have also been damaged by high winds and tiomena – sandstorms - which blow away the fertile topsoil. In these conditions, communities are struggling to grow key staples, including corn.
It is crucial to address the structural causes of displacement in the countries of origin, promoting human rights, peace, peaceful coexistence, and fostering sustainable development and social justice in the region. No country can face these challenges alone. Leaders must take serious steps to respond to this challenge and reach firm agreements which comply with international commitments. In this sense, multilateral cooperation is a transformative agent of change in tackling the challenges of human mobility.
Reforming the global financial system, moving beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of economic progress, and addressing technology challenges are crucial to achieving a more just and equitable future for all, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said this week.
Our UN teams are on the ground in 162 countries and territories, coordinating joint programmes and tackling a range of priorities and initiatives — from climate action and food security to gender equality and safety of civilians.
Aside from recurrent drought and climate induced emergencies, Somalia is facing other deep-rooted yet interlinked challenges, including violent conflict, corruption, poverty and rising numbers of internal displacement. For the Resident Coordinator and the UN country team, breaking these chronic cycles of crises and tackling the root causes of displacement, insecurity and climate induced emergencies and support Somalia’s development ambitions been a key overarching priority.
“We need support and we need it now”: A new report by FAO and WFP expect conditions to worsen for a further 18 countries, bringing the total pushed to the brink by conflict, climate change and economic shocks to 22.
In a session like no other, against a background of urgent global crises and at the mid-point towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN leaders and Member State representatives gathered in New York at the ECOSOC Segment on Operational Activities for Development to take stock of the UN development system’s progress and challenges ahead from 23-25 May 2023.
The UN Development System stocktaking moment that happened last week in New York was marked by the strong support of the Member States with the concrete results achieved by the Resident Coordinator System and the UN development system at large.
