H.E Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of
Antigua & Barbuda and Co-Chair of the High-Level Panel on the Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index for SIDS
H.E. Ms. Erna Solberg, Former prime Minister of Norway and Co-Chair of the High-Level Panel on the Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index for SIDS
Distinguished Panel Members
Good morning
It is my honour and pleasure to address this in-person Meeting of the High-Level Panel on the MVI.
It is a sign of changing times and a recognition of the perseverance of SIDS, that the long-standing matter of how best to characterize and measure vulnerability is finally being addressed by the international community through the work of this Panel.
As I start my tenure as Under-Secretary-General of DESA, I am pleased to observe the tremendous work you have already accomplished and the broad support for the recommendations contained in your Interim report.
The general direction and tone of the comments received from Member States has been encouraging.
Allow me to thank both Co-Chairs for their remarkable leadership in steering the process so far and the Panel Members for your dedication and professionalism.
I have no doubt that this Panel is well positioned to deliver a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index that could truly attract global consensus and support.
It is my sincere hope that we will be able to bring this historic undertaking to fruition. A globally adopted MVI will be a landmark achievement that empowers a transformation in international development cooperation.
Small island developing States, like other vulnerable countries, will have the opportunity to access the support they need at the global level, based on their structural vulnerability and resilience.
And our development partners will readjust and realign their partnership accordingly, rather than based on indices that have little relevance to the real challenges and needs of SIDS.
But there remains a lot of work ahead of us.
I note from this Meeting¡¯s agenda that most of your time will be devoted to discussions on indicators and methodological issues.
Indeed, selection of the most appropriate methodology, and indicators, is key to getting the MVI right.
In this regard, I note also that the panel intends to request additional time to properly complete its work. This request, in my view, makes sense, given the tasks that remain to be completed.
And I wish to take this opportunity to reassure the Panel Members of DESA¡¯s dedicated support.
Distinguished Panel Members
Vulnerability remains at the core of what most developing countries face, particularly SIDS. I trust that your renewed efforts will bring us much closer to fully understanding and accounting for the inherent structural vulnerabilities facing SIDS.
I wish you all the very best in your deliberations.
Thank you very much.