Excellencies, distinguished guests, Ministers, colleagues, partners and friends, good morning.  

Deputy Secretary-General Mary Beth Goodman, thank you for your insightful remarks and steadfast partnership. Your reflections capture the spirit and strength of our shared journey. It is a true honor to join you today in marking ten years of impact through TIWB.  

At UNDP we know that the SDGs demand more than ambition; they demand financing – and the most resilient source is domestic. Mobilizing domestic public resources is the cornerstone of sustainable development. It is also where we see one of the most enduring solutions to poverty, inequality and fragile governance.  

Taxation is not only a revenue tool; it anchors good governance, rebuilds public trust, and renews the social contract. When grounded in equity and trust, it empowers countries to take charge of their development agendas, reduce dependency, and build resilient, inclusive economies.  

TIWB shows what practical, results-driven, country-led cooperation can achieve – it is a powerful example. By embedding expert support directly within tax administrations, TIWB has delivered real-time capacity building, institutional strengthening, and measurable results.  

TIWB is more than technical assistance – it is co-creation with national tax administrations who have the leadership and ownership of their own tax reform processes.  

The impact is very real. Over the past decade, TIWB has helped developing countries collect over USD 2.4 billion in additional tax revenues. Beyond this headline number, its true value lies in stronger local confidence, healthier taxpayer relations, and lasting capabilities.  

When we look at where TIWB came from, we cannot overlook the political and global agenda that enabled its launch. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda agreed a decade ago, recognized the urgent need to scale up domestic resource mobilization as the primary means of financing the SDGs. It was in this spirit that TIWB was born.   

Now, a decade later and in this critical moment in Seville, we are bringing this ambition to the next level under the Seville Platform for Action. TIWB 2.0 sets a clear strategic direction for the future. It reflects our shared ambition to scale up engagement, tailor support more closely to countries’ evolving needs, and generate stronger political momentum for tax cooperation at both national and global levels.  

TIWB 2.0 will: strengthen peer learning and expand into frontier areas such as digital trade, the implementation of global minimum tax rules, and sector-specific audits. Most importantly, it will elevate South–South and triangular cooperation – making sure that expertise flows from – and to - the Global South.  

With this next phase, we will also leverage strengthened partnerships and political momentum. It is impossible to speak about TIWB without acknowledging the strong commitment of our key partners.   

Let me take this opportunity to recognize the unwavering support of Finland and Norway for supporting this work. Their support enabled UNDP and OECD to scale this proven model further, reaching more countries and sustaining progress over time.  

Equally significant is the strengthened partnership between UNDP and OECD. This month we conclude an MoU to renew our joint commitment for TIWB, and to enhance the effectiveness of our collaboration. Multilateral action and shared expertise will remain at the core of tax capacity-building for years to come.  

We also recognize the invaluable contributions of regional champions like the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF).

Partnerships power this success.   

TIWB cannot be seen in isolation. Our broader Public Finance for the SDGs work completes the picture. By integrating equity-focused fiscal policies, we help governments align budgets with national priorities and – through TIWB – embed tax reforms inside wider public-finance transformations. Through our country offices and regional presence, we ensure that TIWB engagements reinforce efforts to make tax systems more inclusive, accountable, and development oriented over time.   

Looking ahead, the initiative matters more than ever. SDG financing gaps widen; tax challenges grow more complex. Stronger cooperation, not fragmentation, is our way forward.  

So today, I urge all of us: governments, donors, and partners, to recommit, invest, innovate and act for a more inclusive, transparent and equitable global tax system – one that delivers for people and planet alike. Let us keep investing in this proven model. Let us keep adapting it to new realities. And let us keep pushing for a better future.  

Thank you.