Seychelles and UNCT meet to align their five-year strategic plan |07 March 2023
Minister Hassan addressing the gathering
Members of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and the government of Seychelles are currently meeting, in the form of a strategic prioritisation retreat, to discuss on the country’s development priorities for the finalisation of the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (CF 2024-2028).
The strategic prioritisation retreat is taking place at the Savoy Resort and Spa, Beau Vallon and it is for the participants to gain a collective understanding of the development vision and the development priorities for the country, including the plan for the achievements of the agenda for the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Apart from representatives of the various agencies and regional directors from the United Nations (UN), headed by resident coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, Lisa Singh, the country is being represented at the two-day consultative workshop by a diversity of partners across the development spectrum headed by the Minister for Finance, National Planning & Trade, Naadir Hassan.
The creation of a modern public service, the transformative economy agenda, a healthy nation, promotion of law and order, a modern education system aligned with future needs and the environment sustainability and climate change resilience are the six national priorities being discussed for UN assistance to fall within the new five-year UN strategic plan 2024-2028 being worked on.
In his keynote address, Minister Hassan expressed the government’s gratitude to all the UN agencies for their commitment and assistance extended to Seychelles so far, their contribution to the country’s efforts to advance the development agenda, particularly in the context of small island developing states (Sids) and the added global challenges.
“It is the government’s wish that the UN family build on the existing engagements, such as the SDG Investor Map implementation, in terms of strengthening the country’s socio-economic transformation agenda through building agility of the public sector and fostering private sector development and driving economic change,” Minister Hassan said.
He noted it is exciting to observe that there are abundant opportunities for the country to benefit from global solutions and partnerships such as; enhancing the channeling of additional and diversified financial resources for the implementation of the SDGs; supporting the development of SDG-aligned solutions such as SDG-aligned investments and impact investments to address the SDG financing gaps, and creating the necessary platform to connect potential local and international public and private sector counterparts and investors with Seychellois businesses for substantial impact.
Minister Hassan added that while the medium-term outlook for the country remains positive, as such, we foresee significant investment opportunities to drive the implementation of the transformative economic agenda. But nonetheless, as a high-income country, we continue to experience a challenging landscape when it comes to financing and resource mobilisation as a whole in order to support its development agenda.
“As a result, the country remains committed to seeking new innovative ways to raise funds as well as strengthen its relationship with local and international partners in support of our agenda,” he stated.
In her opening remarks, Ms Singh, who acknowledged our country’s outstanding achievements on several SDGs mostly related to access to services; social protection, health, education, gender equality, water, sanitation and clean energy, despite multiple global crisis characterised during last decade and which continues to unfold, said that the national consultative workshop is non-other than to help our country to accelerate towards the final year of the SDGs.
She noted that while the country continues to be a front runner in the protection of the environment and its natural resources in the daunting task of climate change adaptation further to its high GDP per capita and high human development ranking in the African continent which highlights the impressive socio-economic transmission gained from bold decisions taken by government amid the effect of post Covid-19, the last few years have demonstrated that increasing global inter-connectedness comes at a price.
Ms Singh noted that despite our high income status, highly dependent on tourism and fisheries, we are at the forefront of climate change emergency and there is much to be done to help us stay resilient against the impact of every acceleration of climate change which poses new significant SGD risks.
She added that despite our high income status, there is much to be done in terms of accelerated innovations, strengthening digital eco systems, financing and knowledge networking to strengthen economic diversification, re-enforcing human capital with critical focus on readying the youth on jobs of the future, strengthening inclusive green and ocean solutions including benefits from regional collaborations such as on maritime security and trade among others.
“Addressing theme base issues such as food security have potential to catalyze results across a number of SGDs. In this regard, UN joint programmes, for instance, should be a default modality for delivering as one, along with strategic partnership that taps into regional joint programme opportunities which allow for access in financing,” Ms Singh said.
She also took the opportunity to announce that the UN secretary general, António Guterres, has launched a new SDG stimulus initiative that aims to unlock US $500 billion of addition financing to support debt distressed small island states while the organisation is looking to be more sharp and focus on the way it delivers.
Speaking to the press, the principal secretary for National Planning, Elizabeth Agathine, said while the UN is working to design its strategy for the next five years, it was important that they learned of and understand the areas of priorities for the country so that they will align their plan with ours for fast and effective interventions.
She noted that the six priorities presented are those seen beneficial for the country’s development and growth in the coming five years.
Patrick Joubert
Photos by Louis Toussaint
