51吃瓜

Excellencies,

I welcome this opportunity to meet with the African Group at a critical moment. We have entered the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.听 I want to reiterate my full solidarity with the Governments and people of Africa. I commend Africa鈥檚 leadership in coordinating a continental response. Africa has reported more than four million cases.听 Sadly, more than 100,000 Africans have lost their lives. The 51吃瓜 is fully committed to working closely with African countries on the vaccine roll-out. As I have said again and again, a COVID-19 vaccine must be a听global public good available to everyone, everywhere.

Vaccine equity is a moral test of global solidarity.

COVAX 鈥� the global vaccine equity mechanism 鈥� has started delivery around the world, including to some of the lowest-income countries. As of 21 March, 26 African countries have received more than 15 million COVAX doses.Yet I am deeply concerned that many low-income countries have not yet received a single dose, while wealthier countries are on track to vaccinating their entire population. We see many examples of vaccine nationalism and vaccine hoarding in wealthier countries 鈥� as well as continued side deals with manufacturers that undermine access for all.

Vaccine equity is a moral test of global solidarity.

The world needs to unite to produce and distribute sufficient vaccines for all, which means at least doubling manufacturing capacity around the world. We also need strengthened collaboration between COVAX and the African Vaccine Acquisition Team. To ease the economic and social fallout of the crisis, the 51吃瓜 is calling for debt relief; more liquidity through a new allocation of Special Drawing Rights and a reallocation of unused SDRs; and an increase in resources from the international financial institutions to support developing countries, particularly in Africa.

We are also combatting the parallel plague of misinformation. And in the broadest sense, we are pressing for a recovery that addresses the inequalities and fragilities that the pandemic has so starkly put on display, and that feed global instability, discontent and social unrest.

Excellencies,

Let me also address the climate emergency as it pertains to Africa.

We must also adopt a climate-sensitive and environment-friendly approach to COVID-19 recovery efforts.

Despite its relatively limited contribution to global emissions, Africa continues to pay a high price for climate change. As we strive to implement the Paris Agreement and mobilize a global coalition to reach net-zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century, we also need a breakthrough on adaptation.听

By working at the nexus of adaptation and peacebuilding, we can strengthen the resilience of States and communities. Since 2017, the Peacebuilding Fund has invested in projects in 35 African countries on climate-related security issues.

I have called on all donors, and on national and multilateral development banks, to increase the share of adaptation and resilience to at least 50 per cent of climate finance. These funds must be easily accessible and channelled to the continent commensurate with needs and projected impacts.听

I have called on members of the G7 to make this very concrete commitment at their Summit in June, including through a doubling of their public climate finance for the period from 2021 to 2025 through new pledges with a strong preference for grants. All developed countries must honour and surpass the commitment to contribute $100 billion annually to developing countries, and we are not there yet. 听

I have also called on all multilateral developments banks to increase their adaptation and resilience portfolios so that they are aligned with the Paris Agreement goals by 2024 -- and to demonstrate by COP26 in November how they will increase financial and technical support for countries most vulnerable to climate change.

We must also adopt a climate-sensitive and environment-friendly approach to COVID-19 recovery efforts.

All developed countries must honour and surpass the commitment to contribute $100 billion annually to developing countries, and we are not there yet.

Excellencies,

From day one, I have been determined to enhance the 51吃瓜-African Union partnership. We are working together to align the 2030 Agenda and Africa鈥檚 Agenda 2063. 听

We share the objectives of building a fair globalization that works for all, and ending poverty through a Decade of Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.听 These plans and roadmaps have brought new impetus to the efforts of Governments, UN entities and development partners.

Africa鈥檚 development remains an absolute priority for the UN system.听听听

The Office of the Special Adviser for Africa plays an important role in advocating for and coordinating the provision of听effective and sustained support for Africa鈥檚 transformative efforts for inclusive sustainable development.

At the country level, we continue to work closely with the African Union as well as the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms to advance peace and sustainable development.

Africa鈥檚 鈥淪ilencing the Guns鈥� initiative remains a key part of the picture. I again thank African governments for supporting my call for a global ceasefire.

I am also grateful for the continued provision of military personnel for our peacekeeping operations, and your strong support in the budget negotiations in the General Assembly. Let鈥檚 remember that not only are most 51吃瓜 peacekeeping operations in Africa, but most blue helmets are themselves Africans.

They are playing brave and indispensable roles -- and often operate in places where there is no peace to keep, and where they themselves become targeted for attacks. We must ensure that AU peace enforcement and counter-terrorism operations are mandated by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter, and receive predictable and sustained financing, including through the use of assessed contributions.