UN boss calls for expansion of avenues for world’s poorest countries to fight poverty

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has asked all countries attending the Rio+20 conference in Brazil, to expand avenues for least developed countries (LDCs) to fight poverty, boost efficiency and provide new opportunities for the marginalised.

Making remarks at a high-level side event on LDCs in Rio de Janeiro, June 21, 2012, he said “We must work together to enhance resilience through support, knowledge sharing and economic diversification. We need to make a special effort for fragile and conflict-affected areas, which are home to more than 1.5 billion people.”

Revealing that the UN is working on a new deal for engagement in fragile states that focuses on peace-building and state-building, he stated, “And, more broadly, we need to expand avenues for LDCs to fight poverty, boost efficiency and provide new opportunities for the marginalised.”

Mr. Ban Ki-moon pointed out the three crucial areas that need tackling as, sustainable energy, food and nutrition security and gender equality.

Touching on sustainable energy, he said most LDCs have low and unreliable access to energy, as well as high energy costs, coupled with low investment.

“We have made significant progress in Rio to advance sustainable energy for
all, an approach that links development, social inclusion and environmental
protection. We must sustain this momentum so that LDCs enjoy modern sources of energy
to fuel their development,” he urged.

On food and nutrition security, the UN Secretary General stated; “My ‘Zero Hunger Challenge’ envisions a world where everyone has access to enough nutritious food all year round, where we end malnutrition in pregnancy and early childhood. A world with sustainable food systems everywhere, reduced losses of food after production, and greater
opportunity for smallholder farmers, especially women, who produce most of the world’s food.”

Speaking on the last critical area - gender equality, he stressed that any serious shift towards sustainable development requires the empowerment and full participation of the world’s women.

He revealed that the Istanbul Programme of Action stresses equal access to education, basic
services, health care, economic opportunities and decision making at all levels, which will make a big contribution to sustainable development in LDCs.

Emphasising on the importance of the Rio conference, Mr. Ban Ki-moon stated  “We have come to Rio to forge the future we want. The time is right. The world is facing continued economic turbulence …growing inequality … environmental decline. We need a 21st-century rethink of our approach to development.”

“In a word, the world needs inclusive growth – growth that integrates the economic, social and environmental pillars instead of creating false choices between them, he said, adding, “The needs and concerns of Least Developed Countries are front and centre in
Rio. That is how it should be. LDCs must remain the focus of our attention.”

He explained that this is because LDCs are among the most vulnerable countries and are disproportionately affected by environmental challenges and natural disasters; poverty and
hunger; gender issues and youth unemployment although they represent enormous reservoirs of untapped potential.

“Rio is not the end of the road, it is a beginning. A beginning of a process to define sustainable development goals that build on the Millennium Development Goals, to safeguard people and our planet, to create the future we want,” the UN boss said.

He expressed the hope that since discussions have highlighted the specific challenges and needs of LDCs, it will give a much needed push to the implementation of the Istanbul
Programme of Action.