In Guyana, this day holds particular significance as the United Nations System reflects on the partnerships and progress achieved through its active engagement with the government of Guyana and all stakeholders. This year’s observance highlighted the collaborative efforts in areas such as sustainable development, human rights, climate resilience, and peacebuilding—issues that are integral to Guyana's national development agenda.A Day of Reflection and Renewal of CommitmentUN Day was observed with a reception that brought together all stakeholders - government officials, UN staff, civil society organisations, development partners, private sector, academia, media, among others. During her remarks, Jean Kamau, UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana, reflected on global crises like conflicts, climate change, and inequality, emphasising the importance of collective action and quicker institutional responses to tackle these challenges effectively. She highlighted that the recent Summit of the Future in New York yielded three critical international agreements—the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations, which aim to build a fairer financial system, prioritize peace, and protect future generations.  
Kamau offered praise for the country’s leadership on many of the commitments that were made in the Pact for the Future. “With respect to youth, already Guyana is a Co-Facilitator for the establishment of the UN’s Youth Office, which puts young people closer to the heart of the multilateral system. As it relates to global security, as we know, Guyana is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council until 2026. In this role Guyana is contributing to discussions and decisions on international peace and security contributing to Key resolutions, sanctions and peacekeeping mandates,” highlighted Kamau. In his address, the Honourable Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Acting President and Prime Minister of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana reaffirmed Guyana’s unwavering commitment to the principles of the United Nations. “Guyana remains dedicated to contributing to the important work of the Organisation across its major pillars: international peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, and international law,” he said. He added that the government will persist in creating an environment that supports sustainable development, eradicates poverty, and combats climate change, while also leveraging technology and innovation, including AI, for the greater good of humanity.The Acting President and Prime Minister also underscored Guyana's role as a member of the UN Security Council, with a focus on key global priorities such as climate change, food insecurity, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, conflict prevention, women’s peace and security, protection of children in armed conflict, and youth engagement in peace and security.United Nations-Guyana CollaborationDuring her remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator outlined the UN Country Team’s collaborative efforts in Guyana across key areas, including job creation, health, education, environmental protection, and support for vulnerable communities. She highlighted the UN System’s investment of $17 million in projects in 2023 aimed at making development inclusive and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She also acknowledged the work of several UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes that are helping to expand Guyana’s non-oil economy, enhance healthcare, support Forcibly Displaced People and vulnerable populations, and protect human rights.  Kamau said, “We bring transparent, trusted, and technically robust support to this country, at the invitation of national authorities. We leverage global networks to help ensure that the country's development remains rights-based, inclusive, resilient, and aligned with the SDGs. We remain fully committed to supporting national authorities, and to our deep, long-standing partnerships with civil society, the private sector, and international development actors.”Moving Forward: Building a Resilient and Inclusive Guyana
UN Day in Guyana served as a reminder of the power of global cooperation in addressing challenges that no single nation can solve alone. It highlighted the need for continued collaboration with all stakeholders to create resilient societies that prioritize the well-being of their people. As Guyana and the UN work together, the promise of the UN Charter continues to inspire a shared commitment to peace, progress, and the global good.
 

 

New York, 22 October 2024 – UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened Resident Coordinators (RCs) from across the globe in New York last week, underscoring their pivotal role in leveraging the transformative vision of the Pact for the Future into tangible progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "The Pact for the Future that was adopted includes breakthroughs and reforms to revitalize the multilateral system to meet this challenging moment," Mr. Guterres emphasized. "As Resident Coordinators, you and your teams have a critical role to play in leveraging the Pact to help countries accelerate progress towards the SDGs." Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, Amina J. Mohammed, echoed this call to action. She noted, “The Pact of the Future is a recommitment to the goals we have set, and it also encompasses the new era of technology, meaningful youth engagement and future generations, things that weren’t on the table when the 2030 Agenda was adopted in 2015.” With this clarion call, RCs delved into how to effectively bridge global commitments and local action, turning the Pact's ambitious aspirations into concrete achievements for the advancement of the 2030 Agenda on the ground.  Driving the SDGs: Financing, Climate and New Technologies RCs are playing a critical role in working with their UN Country teams to advance key areas highlighted in the Pact for the Future, with a focus on assisting governments in closing the SDG financing gap, stepping up climate ambitions, and navigating new technologies to meet the deadline of the 2030 Agenda. The SDG financing gap represents the shortfall in funding needed to achieve the SDGs. To close this gap, RCs are supporting government to strengthen their capacity, building on overseas development assistance, to access and manage different forms of financing including private and concessional financing, as well as improving their ability to mobilize domestic resources through effective budgeting practices and addressing tax evasion. On climate change, RCs are supporting countries to strengthen their commitments under the Paris Agreement and accelerate action on the ground. This includes helping governments create ambitious national climate plans that align with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5⁰C, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and the whole economy. RCs are also helping countries identify promising climate strategies and investment-ready projects, and connecting them with climate financing from various sources, including multilateral development banks and international financial institutions. Recognizing the transformative potential of technology, RCs are working to help governments harness its benefits while supporting dialogues on mitigating potential risks. Discussions ranged from supporting the development of policies, laws, and safeguards around technology to ensuring participation from all segments of society in shaping the technological landscape. RCs also stressed the importance of securing funding to ensure that countries can fully leverage opportunities and challenges presented by technologies like artificial intelligence.   The importance of solidifying the reform of the UN development system, with a reinvigorated Resident Coordinator system at its core, was a recurring theme throughout the week-long conversations on what it takes to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda. In an exchange with RCs and Member States, many Member States reiterated their commitment to supporting the Resident Coordinator system to ensure its long-term sustainability and effectiveness. Many delegates noted that as the world navigates a complex and challenging landscape, Resident Coordinators, with the UN country teams, are essential partners in driving SDG implementation.   Championing Inclusion and Communicating Impact Resident Coordinators were recognized for their efforts to champion diversity and inclusion with their UN country teams. This commitment was celebrated through a series of awards recognizing outstanding achievements in advancing gender equality and disability inclusion.  The annual RC Global Meeting also provided an opportunity to celebrate excellence in demonstrating the impact and results of the UN country team’s work and alignment with the priorities by national governments. These awards, tied to the culture of accountability, recognize a range of approaches giving full visibility and transparency on the UN work and results in country, from compelling storytelling and data-driven analysis to innovative design, while also acknowledging the resilience and resourcefulness demonstrated by UN teams operating in challenging environments. The following 28 reports were celebrated for their exemplary work in portraying the work of the UN in country: In Africa:  Best report in the region – Gabon Best report for storytelling – Guinea Bissau and Eswatini Best report for creativity and design – The Gambia Best report for the use of UN INFO – Cabo Verde Best report for outreach and communications – Egypt and Zambia, e-Report Best report in a challenging setting – Mali and SudanIn Asia and the Pacific: Best report in the region – Lao PDR Best report for storytelling – Philippines Best report for creativity and design – The Pacific In Latin America and the Caribbean: Best report in the region – Mexico Best report for the use of UN INFO – Bolivia, e-Report Best report for outreach and communications – Brazil Best report for creativity and design – Dominican Republic Best report for storytelling – El Salvador Best report in a challenging setting – Cuba In Europe and Central Asia:  Best report in the region – Turkmenistan Best report for creativity and design – Montenegro  Best report for the use of UN INFO – Albania, e-Report  Best report for storytelling – Georgia Best report for outreach and communications – Kosovo Best report in a challenging setting – Armenia  In the Arab States: Best report in the region – IraqBest report for creativity and design – United Arab Emirates Best report in a challenging setting – Lebanon, e-Report Best report for storytelling – Yemen   This article was first published on the United Nations Development Coordination Office website.

The review, held in Georgetown from 30 September to 4 October 2024, highlighted the benefits of the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) as a vital enabling tool for governments to design stronger national climate policies over time, track implementation of the Paris Agreement commitments and unlock provision of support.

A key outcome of the review is the refinement of Guyana’s climate indicators, which will help strengthen the country’s upcoming national climate plans (nationally determined contributions or NDCs), currently in development.

Recognizing the key role of the forestry and energy sectors in the country’s development, these enhanced indicators are now better aligned with national priorities, making Guyana’s future BTRs more relevant to its NDC and more consistent with ETF guidelines. In addition to the BTR review, the process included a technical analysis of Guyana’s efforts towards Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD+).

“This review allowed us to refine our NDC indicators, making them more quantitative and directly applicable to our national circumstances,” said Pradeepa Bholanath Goberdhan, Senior Director for Climate and REDD+ at the Ministry of Natural Resources of Guyana. “This was a valuable learning experience that will enable us to produce impactful reporting that aligns directly with the implementation of our climate programme in the future.”

Guyana’s experience underscores how the in-country review process can provide tangible benefits for countries looking to strengthen their climate action. The process also helped identify areas for capacity-building, allowing Guyana to build on past efforts, such as the Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL) and REDD+ initiatives.

This review is more than a technical exercise—it serves as a platform for continuous learning and mutual support. It is part of a broader effort to ensure transparency and trust in global climate reporting, making it easier for countries to track progress, address gaps, and ensure that their climate actions are aligned with international commitments.

Guyana, with the second-highest forest cover in the world, has been working with Norway on REDD+ since 2009 to protect its rainforest. In recent years, the country has been exploring renewable and clean energy opportunities, supporting global efforts towards sustainable development.

Guyana’s experience will be showcased at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, during a side event on 18 November titled “Technical Expert Reviews: Unpacking the Guyana Experience.” The event will allow other countries to learn from Guyana’s experience and see how the in-country review process can improve their systems for collecting and assessing climate data, leading to more complete and transparent BTR submissions that support the development of NDCs.

More information on the Enhanced Transparency Framework
 This story was first published by UN Climate Change.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Guyana and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the provision of emergency support for forcibly displaced persons and host communities in Guyana. This agreement represents a pivotal milestone in the joint efforts to enhance humanitarian assistance and ensure the safety and dignity of those in need.The MoU establishes a formal framework and procedures that enhance preparedness and response plans for natural disasters and other risks, including Region 1, where many forcibly displaced persons reside. Through this understanding, UNCHR and the CDC aim to leverage the strengths of both organizations to deliver effective support to vulnerable communities and their populations, improving the reach of their services.Over the years, UNHCR has donated to the CDC core relief items such as food hampers, mattresses, hygiene kits, sleeping mats, tarpaulins, solar lamps, office safes, a generator, and outboard engines, boosting the Commission's capacity to respond effectively to emergencies.Deputy Director General of the CDC, Lt. Col. Mark Thomas, expressed sincere gratitude for the donation by the UNHCR. He indicated that the long-standing relationship between both entities has aided many vulnerable communities, especially forcibly displaced people, who have sought relief in Guyana. Lt. Col. Thomas also stated that the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by both agencies strengthens the bond that allows the operational work of assisting forcibly displaced people and the host communities to significantly continue. “Developing contingency plans to respond to disasters is paramount to ensure the protection of displaced persons and host communities. UNHCR is committed to continue working with the CDC to address the urgent protection and humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable populations,” shared Adriana Negry, UNHCR’s Head of Office in Guyana.The MoU strengthens the foundation for continuous joint activities and sustainable solutions for forcibly displaced people and fostering positive relationships within host communities.