Qatar emphasizes international solidarity to achieve social development goals

Qatar stressed the need to strengthen international solidarity, multilateral cooperation and partnerships among stakeholders to achieve social development goals, especially in light of the challenges posed by the global health crisis.

This emerged from a speech delivered by HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad, during the Ministerial Forum of the 60th session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development, which started Wednesday by videoconference.
The Minister said that the persistent negative effects of the global health crisis have led to a decline in gains in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular the first and second goals related to the eradication of poverty and hunger, which requires international efforts. Cooperation.
HE al-Misnad noted that Qatar plays an active role in the global partnership for development and stressed that the government’s initiatives in international cooperation in the humanitarian and development fields are one of the pillars of foreign policy. country, which focuses on achieving economic and social development in low-income countries and those suffering from conflict and natural disasters.
She expressed pride in the achievements of the Qatar Fund for Development through numerous partnerships, including through international organizations, which aim to provide hope and promote peace and justice through sustainable and global development.
HE the Minister of Social Development and Family highlighted some of Qatar’s achievements in terms of international cooperation to support countries affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and those affected by conflicts and natural disasters, and noted that these efforts were aimed at ensuring prosperity and dignity for all, and contributing to the achievement of the goals of eradicating poverty and hunger and achieving food security.
The minister said that Qatar has launched an initiative to establish the Global Drylands Alliance, which is one of the international mechanisms to address climate change and ensure food security.
HE al-Misnad noted that the alliance agreement was concluded in Doha in 2017 and entered into force after ratification by the state parties in accordance with the provisions of the convention.
The Alliance has been granted “observer” status at the United Nations General Assembly, in recognition of the important role it can play at the global level.
HE the Minister of Social Development and Family also spoke about the role of the Qatar Fund for Development in supporting countries affected by climate change or those suffering from conflicts and disasters.
She said that the Qatar Fund for Development signed an agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at the end of 2021 to help Somalia improve its resilience to climate change.
This agreement aims to strengthen the agricultural and livestock production of smallholders, through the development of proactive strategies capable of adapting to the effects of climate change and anticipating crises.
The Minister added that the Qatar Fund for Development also signed in June 2021 a contribution agreement with the Adaptation Fund established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with the aim of financing adaptation in most countries exposed to climate change, including the least developed. developing countries and small island states.
HE al-Misnad also noted Qatar’s contribution to providing emergency humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, including launching an airlift from Doha to Kabul, through which nearly 70 tons of food and medical supplies have been transported.
She added that Qatar recently signed, through the Qatar Fund for Development, an agreement with the World Food Program (WFP) to provide $90 million to help meet urgent food security needs in Yemen, which is threatened with famine and economic decline due to the conflict, in addition to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the current health crisis, HE the Minister of Social Development and Family stressed that Qatar, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, has not hesitated to provide support, bilaterally and through the through international organizations, to countries that lack resources. provide vaccines and medical supplies.
She referred to the country’s recent partnership with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), under which $10 million was provided to support the Covax facility to help purchase 1.3 billion doses of a safe and effective vaccine by the end of 2021, with the aim of ensuring fair and equitable access to vaccines in 92 low-income countries.
The Minister also referred to the $10 million agreement signed between Qatar and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021 to support the organization’s Thirteenth General Program of Work (GPW 13) and the accelerator access to Covid-19 tools (ACT-A).
HE al-Misnad also referred to Qatar’s partnership with the United Nations, which is part of strengthening Qatar’s role in multilateral international cooperation to address global challenges.
This partnership has resulted in the establishment of the United Nations House, which will soon be opened in Doha to include a number of United Nations offices and agencies working in the field of social and economic development and the realization of peace. and international security.
Concluding her speech, HE the Minister of Social Development and Family underlined Qatar’s firm belief that multilateral cooperation is the only way to address global challenges, and expressed Qatar’s aspiration to increase the partnerships that would help ensure a prosperous development future for all. .
The 60th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development is being held this year under the theme *Inclusive and Resilient Recovery from Covid-19 for Sustainable Livelihoods, Wellbeing and Dignity for All.