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Scoop
a day ago
- Health
- Scoop
Effective Partnerships Can Stop The Next Pandemic
21 July 2025 Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar, a professor of infectious diseases at University College London, issued this warning at a recent meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York. It is not a question of if but when, and Dr. Abubakar believes the answer is sooner than anyone wants in part because the global healthcare system remains drastically siloed. This is a problem because, intrinsically, a pandemic cannot be stopped by one country alone. 'Infectious diseases will not respect borders. Therefore, health systems to ensure equity, dignity and universal access must also be agile to implement policies across borders,' Dr. Abubakar said. Rather, stopping pandemics — and promoting broader global development — requires robust partnerships and consistent investment in multilateral systems as a practice, not just an ideal. 'If we are to meet the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda, we must reimagine cooperation, not as a transactional action but as a dynamic, inclusive and future-ready partnership,' said Lok Bahadur Thapa, vice president of ECOSOC. A goal to unite all goals The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development is convening at UN Headquarters in New York to discuss progress – or lack thereof – towards the globally agreed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first 16 SDGs deal with specific aspects of development — such as poverty, gender equality and climate change — but the 17th puts forward a path to achieve the others. And this path lies in embracing global partnerships between State governments, civil society organizations, communities and the private sector. However, with an annual financing gap for the SDGs which exceeds $4 trillion, the partnerships of today are not sufficient to realize the goals for tomorrow. 'We must forge truly transformative partnerships that break traditional silos: governments, civil society, the private sector and multilateral institutions all have roles to play in an inclusive coalition for sustainable development,' Dima Al-Khatib, director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) said at an HLPF event. Prioritize prevention, not reaction Right now, the current health system, which includes pandemic preparedness, is oriented towards halting health emergencies once they emerge as opposed to proactively preventing them, according to Dr. Abubakar. Member States recently adopted a pandemic prevention treaty which endeavours to do just this — limit the likelihood of future pandemics. But for many, this emphasis on prevention extends beyond pandemics to issues like rehabilitation services and primary care, both of which experts say are critical investments not only in human well-being but also in peace and security. Moreover, these types of preventative medicine are cheaper than reactive medicine, according to Mandeep Dhaliwal, the Director of Health at the UN Development Programme (UNDP). 'It's important to invest in prevention as much as it is in treatment, and it is more cost-effective because … you're turning off the tap,' Ms. Dhaliwal said. However, convincing investors to support preventive care can be difficult because, when done correctly, tangible results are not necessarily visible. Health is in every system Nevertheless, investing in preventive medicine like primary care and the socioeconomic determinants of health — such as climate and nutrition — can help ensure that health systems are holistically supporting people before a crisis begins. 'Health is not a silo… the factors that influence health are often outside the health sector,' Ms. Dhaliwal said, citing the example of air pollution which is a climate problem that inherently influences health. This sort of holistic investment requires robust partnerships which work to ensure that every initiative — no matter how seemingly distanced — considers health implications. 'We have too often treated [health] as a downstream issue, something that improves only if other systems are working. But we now understand that health and well-being is not simply the result of good developments. It's the starting point,' said Tony Ott, a professor of agricultural sciences at the Pennsylvania State University. The weak link in the health system Migrants and displaced people tend to be among those least likely to have access to preventive medicine and often those most impacted by the social determinants of health. 'Migration and displacement, whether it's driven by conflict, climate change or economic factors, are defining factors in terms of our health,' he said. By the end of 2024, 123.2 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, a decade-high number which proves that in the 10 years since the SDGs were adopted, the world has regressed in relation to displacements. For Dr. Abubakar, these displaced people — and the millions more voluntary migrants — embody why the health system simply cannot continue to silo itself and must instead embrace cross-border partnerships. 'Health systems must ensure access to essential services regardless of immigration status … Any community without access is that weak link that may mean we are all not protected,' Dr. Abubakar said, referring to the next pandemic. Communities at the centre The idea of partnerships as foundational to achieving the SDGs is logical for many people. After all, the goals are universal in nature and demand global collaboration. But this collaboration, especially for health, must do more than just engage experts — it must engage the people who seek out healthcare. Dr. Abubakar said that all health policies must be culturally appropriate to local contexts, something which can only happen if communities are placed at the centre of healthcare. 'The new future that I see would embrace global partnership, including countries irrespective of income level, public and private sector, academic and civil society. And within this framework, communities must be at the centre… not just as recipients but as co-creators of solutions.'
Scoop
13-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
UN Forum To Spotlight Health, Gender Equality, And Oceans In 2025 Push For Sustainable Development
13 July 2025 The 2025 High-Level Political Forum, or HLPF, follows two recent successful UN conferences focused on vital development issues: one in June in Nice, France, dedicated to ocean protection, and another held in Sevilla, Spain, centred on boosting financing for sustainable initiatives. The Sevilla meeting ended with a strong call to action: to urgently address the massive $4 trillion annual shortfall in financing needed to achieve the SDGs. It also highlighted the pressing need for greater investment and deep reform of the global financial system. Held under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forum will take place from 14 to 23 July at UN Headquarters in New York. Here are five key things to know about this year's forum: 1. It's all about accelerating action The HLPF is the United Nations' main platform for tracking global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. It meets each year to review countries' efforts, share solutions, and push for faster action to meet the 2030 targets The 2025 forum is convening under the theme: Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals leaving no one behind. This reflects a growing sense of urgency. With the 2030 deadline fast approaching, the forum will emphasise practical, data-driven strategies to close implementation gaps– particularly in the face of intersecting global crisis including climate change, inequality, and economic instability. 2. Five SDGs in the spotlight Each year, the HLPF conducts in-depth reviews of selected Goals. In 2025, the focus will be on: SDG 3: Good health and well-being SDG 5: Gender equality SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth SDG 14: Life below water SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals These Goals span a wide range of issues – from public health and gender equity to economic resilience and marine conservation. SDG 17, which is reviewed annually, highlights the importance of revitalising global partnerships and enhancing means of implementation – including financing, which nations committed to just last month in Sevilla. 3. Countries will share their progress, voluntarily A hallmark of the HLPF is the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) – self-assessments by Member States on their progress toward the SDGs. In 2025, dozens of countries are expected to present their VNRs, offering insights into both achievements and persistent challenges. These reviews foster transparency, peer learning, and accountability. They also provide a platform for civil society and other stakeholders to engage directly with governments on development priorities. VNR Labs – interactive sessions focused on national reviews – create space for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration 4. It's not just governments While the HLPF is a UN intergovernmental platform, it brings together a diverse range of voices, including youth groups, local authorities, indigenous peoples, NGOs, academics, the private sector, and UN system agencies. A rich programme of side events, exhibitions, and roundtable-discussions. This inclusive approach reflects the spirit of the 2030 Agenda, which recognises sustainable development is a universal, shared endeavour. 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 The Final Countdown With only five years left to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, the 2025 HLPF marks a critical inflection point. It is more than a yearly check-in. This year's session comes at a time when science, solidarity, and urgent action must converge. It will help set the tone for the next Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2027, where world leaders will take stock of collective progress and determine the final push toward 2030. What happens now – at this two-thirds deadline moment – will shape whether the SDGs will realise a global promise or become a missed opportunity.
Daily News Egypt
30-06-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Madbouly represents Egypt at 4th UN Conference on Financing for Development in Seville
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly represented President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the opening session of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Seville, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025. The conference brought together King Felipe VI of Spain, over 70 heads of state and government, leaders of international financial institutions, civil society organisations, philanthropic foundations, and private sector representatives—particularly from the energy, food systems, and digital sectors. In his opening remarks, King Felipe VI underscored the urgency of honouring development financing commitments, enhancing multilateral cooperation, and enacting effective policies to support future generations. Speaking at the launch of the Seville Action Platform, Prime Minister Madbouly welcomed the initiative as a timely effort to mobilise governments, development partners, financial institutions, and the private sector to collectively assess challenges, exchange experiences, and promote innovative solutions to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Madbouly highlighted Egypt's leadership within the platform and its recognition as a successful development model, particularly through its implementation of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF)—a tool aligning reforms, investment flows, and the Egypt Vision 2030 strategy. He also pointed to the NWFE (Nexus of Water, Food and Energy) platform as a mechanism for channelling investment into bankable projects within those critical sectors. He noted that Egypt's INFF framework prioritises investment in key areas including education, healthcare, social protection, sanitation, and transport, while also addressing cross-cutting themes such as environmental sustainability and gender equality. He spotlighted Egypt's flagship social programmes—the 'Takaful and Karama' cash transfer scheme and the Decent Life initiative—serving over 60 million people across more than 4,500 villages. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who also serves as President of the Conference, called for substantive reforms to international financial institutions to make them more equitable and representative. He emphasised the importance of inclusive global dialogue to tackle pressing development financing challenges. UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the disruptive effects of geopolitical tensions on development, stressing the need for innovative financing mechanisms and reforms to enhance transparency and inclusivity within global financial systems. UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang echoed these concerns, highlighting the urgency of achieving the 2030 SDGs, alleviating debt burdens on developing countries, and providing accessible financing tools. Representatives from the UN Economic and Social Council, World Bank, IMF, and WTO also called for coordinated action and strengthened support for low-income nations. On the sidelines of the conference, Prime Minister Madbouly met with Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). Madbouly reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to supporting NEPAD's development agenda and pledged to maximise the impact of Egypt's remaining tenure as AUDA-NEPAD chair. Bekele-Thomas outlined recent efforts to mobilise resources, including the creation of a dedicated development fund and the launch of a Centre of Excellence for Climate Resilience. Egypt pledged its support for the centre and reaffirmed its intent to enhance cooperation through its Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Madbouly also held talks with Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of Palestine, where he reaffirmed Egypt's steadfast support for Palestinian rights and President El-Sisi's ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and facilitate Gaza's reconstruction. He stressed the importance of convening a comprehensive reconstruction conference once hostilities cease and confirmed continued coordination with Palestinian authorities. Madbouly expressed his deep gratitude for Egypt's historic and ongoing support, particularly in humanitarian aid and reconstruction. He noted efforts underway to organise an international peace conference in New York and praised Egypt's leadership in advocating for a just solution, including the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Prime Minister Madbouly's participation and high-level meetings reflect Egypt's active diplomatic engagement in shaping global and regional development agendas, and its continued efforts to contribute to international dialogue on sustainable financing.
The Star
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Global leaders tackle poverty and climate goals at Spain summit
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Secretary General of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development Li Junhua and President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Bob Rae attend the first plenary session of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, in Seville, Spain, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Greco SEVILLE (Reuters) -A once-in-a-decade summit kicked off in Seville on Monday as global leaders face mounting pressure to accelerate progress on poverty reduction, climate change and sustainable development goals that are increasingly at risk of falling short. The U.N. chief, Antonio Guterres, said the event aimed "to repair and rev up" a system of cooperation where "trust is fraying and multilateralism is strained." While more than 50 world leaders were due to attend, a notable absentee was U.S. President Donald Trump, after the world's biggest economy pulled out of the event and refused to back a plan of action hammered out over the last year. "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — our global promise to transform our world for a better, fairer future — is in danger," Guterres told the opening conference session, as the region sweltered under a heat wave. "The Sevilla Commitment document is a global promise to fix how the world supports countries as they climb the development ladder," he said, even as many richer nations make deep cuts to development aid. With two-thirds of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals lagging, more than $4 trillion a year in funding was needed, and the world's financial system needed to be retooled even more quickly to make it happen. As well as helping countries raise more tax to spend on development, Guterres said reform of world development banks needed to be stepped up so they could lend more and draw in private capital. Tied to that was a need to reform the world's credit rating system to be fairer to developing countries as they attempt to invest in projects that will improve their risk ratings over time. "Countries need — and deserve — a system that lowers borrowing costs, enables fair and timely debt restructuring, and prevents debt crises in the first place," Guterres said, citing a plan to create a single debt registry for transparency, and efforts to lower the cost of capital through debt swaps. (Reporting by Simon Jessop; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Saudi Gazette
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia affirms its unwavering commitment to support global humanitarian issues
Saudi Gazette report GENEVA — Saudi Arabia affirmed its unwavering commitment to support global humanitarian issues and its contributions to alleviating the suffering of those affected by wars and disasters. Addressing the UN Economic and Social Council in Geneva, Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila said that Saudi Arabia, despite global economic challenges, continues its generous approach as one of the largest donor countries in the humanitarian and development fields. The ambassador said that humanitarian crises have become exacerbated by the increase in armed conflicts and the decline in adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasizing that addressing the root causes of crises is crucial to alleviating human suffering. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia's participation in the global initiative to renew its commitment to international humanitarian law, launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and its hosting of several peace talks between parties to conflicts results from its belief in the importance of dialogue to achieve lasting peace. Regarding the Palestinian issue, Bin Khothaila explained that Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the serious violations and war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people. He emphasized that preventing humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip and using it as a tool of war constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, reiterating Saudi Arabia's call for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire. The ambassador noted that a peace conference, co-chaired with France, was scheduled to be held in June, 2025 as part of Saudi Arabia's efforts within the Global Coalition to implement the two-state solution. However, recent developments in the region led to its postponement. He emphasized the importance of integrating relief and development in addressing crises, pointing to Saudi Arabia's integrated model through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).
