Remarks: Launch of Joint SDG Fund Joint Programme - The Bahamas

June 21, 2022
Joint SDG Fund Launch Bahamas

Participating in The Bahamas launch of the Joint SDG Fund are (from left): UN Resident Coordinator Dr Garry Connille, Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development Hon Lisa T Rahming; Representative, UN Women Multi Country Office - Caribbean, Tonni Ann Brodber; and UNDP Resident Representative, Denise E Antonio

Photo: UN Women Caribbean
UNDP will support the strengthening of the technical capacities of the government and the private sector in developing and providing access to gender responsive financial instruments.
Denise E Antonio, UNDP Resident Representative

REMARKS
Launch of The Joint SDG Fund Joint Programme on Building Back Equal Through 
Innovative Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
REMARKS FOR THE RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE
The Balmoral Club, 30 May 2022 at 10 a.m.

Salutations
•    Hon. Lisa Rahming- Minister of State, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development
•    Her Excellency Sarah Dixon- High Commissioner of Britain and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
•    Her Excellency Dai Qingli- Ambassador of China
•    Ms. Phyllis Baron- Country Representative, Organisation of American States
•    Ms. Cora Bain-Colebrook- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs
•    Amb. Rhoda Jackson- Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service
•    Dr. Garry Connille- Resident Coordinator – United Nations
•    Mr Heewoong Kim, Head of Reporting, United Nations Joint SDG Fund
•    Member of the Diplomatic Corp
•    Heads of UN Partner Agencies
•    Representatives of the Government of The Bahamas
•    Other distinguished guests

Good Morning.

UNDP is delighted to participate as one of implementing UN Agencies of this Joint Programme on Building Back Equal Through Innovative Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.   

In the words of our former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women”.  Therefore, with females including young women accounting for an estimated 51.4% of the population and 63.23% of the labor force in 2020, their economic empowerment is without a doubt a catalyst and prerequisite for Bahamas sustainable development.  

Tourism serves as the primary source of revenue and employment for women in The Bahamas and, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, they have been disproportionately impacted by the economic downtown experienced.  

Therefore, this investment in women and youth economic development couldn’t be more timely as it will boost the government’s economic recovery and contribute to social development and contribute to reducing poverty levels. UNDP therefore commends the Government of The Bahamas for signaling the importance of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic through its endorsement of this joint programme.

The programme is fully aligned to UNDP’s new Strategic Plan and our recently approved Country Programme Document. Both documents are focused on ensuring the most vulnerable populations such as women and youth are not left behind in the development agenda and that the opportunities of innovative financing are leveraged to support small island developing states such as The Bahamas with achieving their development priorities and ultimately the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Through our global network of specialists, UNDP will leverage its comparative advantage to ensure the objectives of each component of the programme is fully achieved in collaboration with the other participating UN Agencies. Specifically, we will support the strengthening of the technical capacities of the government and the private sector in developing and providing access to gender responsive financial instruments.  We will also support the development of a suitable innovative financing mechanism to expand the funding base for youth- led initiatives and develop a platform to support increased access to markets for MSMEs in agri-business, Sustainable Tourism and Creative and Cultural Industries.   

UNDP reiterates its commitment to forging partnerships with governmental, non-governmental and civil society organisations to identify and implement solutions to increase the full potential of women and youth entrepreneurs in The Bahamas.  We will work collaboratively with the other UN Agencies to ensure the lives and sustainable livelihood of women and youth in The Bahamas are enhanced.  

Lastly, I can’t end my remarks without emphasizing the imperative of working in close partnership with the private sector.  Only together, using our combined intellectual and other resource can we achieve more to make this joint programme and Bahamas national development priorities a reality.  

Thank you.

UNDP will also support the development of a suitable innovative financing mechanism to expand the funding base for youth- led initiatives and develop a platform to support increased access to markets for MSMEs in agri-business, Sustainable Tourism and Creative and Cultural Industries.
Denise E Antonio, UNDP Resident Representative