Local action is powering global progress on decent work, as UN Resident Coordinators lead Country Teams in driving transformative initiatives worldwide.
Global life expectancy increased by an astonishing five years between 2000 and 2019. And then since the COVID-19 pandemic, it slid backwards by almost two. More than 110 million children have entered school since 2015 – but by 2023, 272 million children still had no access to the classroom.
UN Country Teams, led by their Resident Coordinators in diverse settings like Nepal, Niger, Panama, and Saudi Arabia, are demonstrating how to translate pledges made at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) into tangible impact.
By pioneering innovative financing mechanisms and fostering partnerships, the UN is helping Jamaica unlock new capital, drive inclusive growth, and lead the way for other Small Island Developing States.
Across Jordan, a quiet yet powerful transformation is underway. Communities, young leaders and women are using the power of climate action to lead the way for a greener, more equitable and resilient Jordan. From schoolyards to rooftops, communities across the country are restoring ecosystems, creating jobs and cultivating hope for the future.
As a key institution of governance, the PNTL has been instrumental to Timor-Leste’s pride in being a model of democracy, good governance and human rights in Southeast Asia. Over the years, PNTL has been collaborating and adopting coordinated approaches with UN agencies in Timor-Leste, to strengthen its ability in crime prevention, investigations, and digital forensics to ensure that officers are prepared to handle the needs of modern policing.
When I arrived in Libreville in mid-2021 to lead the work of the United Nations in Gabon as the Resident Coordinator, I could not have imagined the intensity, complexity and richness the assignment would bring. Leading the UN Country Team as the most senior UN official in the country and representative of the UN Secretary-General on development, during such a pivotal moment in the nation’s history, I have strived to ensure that we, as the UN, effectively support Gabon’s aspirations to deliver durable peace and sustainable prosperity for its people.
