Guterres calls for ‘renewed approach to multilateralism’ January 27, 2021
Women farmers in Sierra Leone are being encouraged to take on leadership roles in peacebuilding. courtesy FAO/Momodu Deen Swarray
NEW YORK Against the backdrop of a COVID-19 crisis that has exacerbated pre-pandemic challenges and a global ceasefire appeal to combat it, the UN chief called for new peacebuilding funds on Tuesday, promising a “renewed approach to multilateralism and international cooperation”.
“An approach that goes beyond crisis response and boosts long-term investments in prevention and peacebuilding, hand-in-hand with our efforts to deliver the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs),” Secretary-General António Guterres told the High-level Replenishment Conference for the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), which requires $1.5 billion for 2020-2024.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for renewed approach to multilateralism and international cooperation through a new peacebuilding appeal.
He underscored the need for increased support to women and young people “as agents for peace and stewards of inclusive development”, maintaining that without their participation, “neither peace nor prosperity can be sustainable”.
‘The right support’
When aligned with both the UN’s and individual national priorities, the PBF and Peacebuilding Commission engagement, “can be invaluable”, according to the Secretary-General.
He gave a first-hand account of how the PBF had helped to stabilize Bambari in the Central African Republic (CAR), including through a combination of cash-for-work, rehabilitation, socio-economic revitalization and support to local peace committees.
In fragile contexts, peacebuilding requires “political courage and leadership” at national and local levels, and “the right support at the right time” from the international community, the UN chief attested.
The new African chapter of the SDG Book Club will curate books in Kiswahili, Arabic, French, and English.
On back streets in the Medina at Marrakech. Image – iStockphoto: Glen Pearson
Nominations for African Books Are Open Now
Begun in September 2018, the SDG Book Club is a collaboration of the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals program (SDG), a project created “to encourage children ages 6 to 12 to interact with the principles of the UN’s ambitions 17-goal project.
Today (January 25), the IPA has announced a new multilingual initiative that will bring together book-related organizations from many parts of Africa in a commitment to bolstering the representation of African literature in SDG Book Club with a collection of titles for children in Kiswahili, Arabic, French, and English.