Excellencies, I would like to warmly welcome Member States, civil society, and IDPS partners. 

Allow me to thank our co-Chairs, Sierra Leone and Switzerland, as well as the broader IDPS constituency, for entrusting the role of IDPS Secretariat to UNDP. Special thanks to its previous co-chair, the Government of Canada, for their leadership and generous financial support. 

I also congratulate you on the policy statement just released, which UNDP strongly endorses. 

UNDP was entrusted as IDPS Secretariat based on our proven record in building bridges: across governments, civil society, and international partners.  

For over 60 years, we’ve worked as a global connector, operating in 170 countries and promoting human development, in places where it is most needed.  

Drawing on these experiences, I’d like to propose three strategic opportunities to advance further inclusive and effective multistakeholder partnerships, like the IDPS: 

1. The Peacebuilding Architecture Review
2. Access to crisis financing 
3. South-South and Triangular cooperation. 

Firstly, on the Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR): this is a chance to reaffirm that in today’s risk-driven world, preventing conflict, building peace and sustainable development are inseparable.  

The evidence is clear: investing in peace and development reduces the risk of crises, and the humanitarian needs that they bring. Further, when crises occur, peacebuilding accelerates community recovery and the transition to sustainable development.  

UN agencies, funds and programmes, like UNDP, with extensive country presence and capacity for large programmes, are primary actors in the peacebuilding ecosystem. We’re also bridges across humanitarian, peacebuilding and development efforts. And we stand ready to strengthen development-led crisis responses, together. 

Secondly, UN agencies can support country access to financing – moving beyond ODA – and mobilise resources for long-term development, after a crisis.  

In Ukraine, UNDP has facilitated innovative financing mechanisms to support de-mining efforts with private sector investments. In Afghanistan we have supported over 90,000 medium and small enterprises directly helping more than 1,400 women entrepreneurs with higher incomes and expanded economic opportunities. Access to finance and digital solutions created thousands of jobs and improved services for over 15,000 people. 

Despite these achievements, we still see persistent financing gaps for initiatives supporting the transition from humanitarian response to sustainable development – a paradox referred to as the ‘missing middle’. 

To close the gap, UNDP and the Government of Spain just launched the Recovery and Resilience Financing Platform. Key to this Platform is the UNDP-UNCDF ReStart Fund that provides capital for revenue-generating projects. 

The African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, World Bank, AFD, G7+, and private investors have already pledged their support. And, with your help, we can expand this partnership further. 

Thirdly, South-South and Triangular cooperation should be leveraged for more effective peacebuilding. Because it enables countries to adapt proven, locally-rooted approaches, shaped by national priorities. 

The IDPS Exchange on Youth, Peace and Security co-organized by UNDP in 2024 convened 70 youth peacebuilders, Members States, CSOs, and partners from 21 countries. 

Through a PBF project implemented by UNDP, Guinea-Bissau, Brazil, and Mozambique are sharing their experiences in security sector and public administration reforms. 

Such initiatives are also vital opportunities to discuss national prevention strategies, like the one we support in Mauritania. So, it’s crucial that more platforms for peacebuilding cooperation across the global south are enabled in future. 

It’s been an honour to serve as the IDPS Secretariat for the last three years. And we look forward to continuing working with you in the years ahead.  

Thank you.