Nepal
NBPAL
Statement by Mr. Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of
Nepal to the United Nations in New York and the Head of Nepalese Delegation to the highlevel
segment of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), convened under the auspices of
the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC)
(New York, 20 July 2016)
Please check asainst delivery
Mr. President,
I commend your leadership in the meticulous preparation for, and convening of, the High
Level Political Forum (HLPF) this year, under the auspices of the United Nations Economic
and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) leading to the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration
this afternoon.
As a land-locked, mountainous and least developed country emerging from conflict, and
from the devastating earthquakes of last year, Nepal pins great hope and confidence on this
Forum. Its theme of 'ensuring that no one is left behind' hits the right chord in addressing our
fears in the race to realize the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Therefore, while aligning my statement with those of the Groups of 77, LDCs and LLDCs, I
wish to underline some aspects from my national perspective.
Mr. President,
We created this Forum for review and follow-up of the SDGs at the global level. Its
credibility will be defined by its ability to provide political leadership, guidance and
recommendations to implement the universal and transformative 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development effectively. For this, HLPF must seek to ensure that the UN has
system-wide coherence in sustainable development programmes and policies globally so that
it can 'deliver as one' on the ground.
At the national and local levels, achieving SDGs is a huge challenge, particularly for
countries like Nepal. Nepal is beset with impediments and immense structural constraints.
Among these are our landlocked status; climate change and alpine vulnerability; natural
disasters; weak governance, peace and stability; shortfall in capacities; unemployment; weak
means-of-implementation and resource mobilization; lack of enough technology as well as
quality and disaggregated data.
The current level of global efforts and business-as-usual cooperation falls far too short. A
revitalized support system and enhanced global partnership are required to ensure timely and
effective implementation of the Agenda. Ensuring that no one is left behind requires that all
partners and stakeholders be driven by a spirit of global solidarity to support and complement
the efforts of the poorest and most vulnerable. Al l means of implementation for
development, including ODA, trade, technology and capacity building need to be employed
for these countries and peoples. While increasing the productive capacity and sustainable and
resilient infrastructure in LDCs and quality transit transport facilities in case of LLDCs, the
graduation of LDCs must also be smooth and sustainable.
Mr. President,
We heard this week and last that implementing SDGs requires a rights-based approach. The
Constitution of Nepal adopted last September indeed provides a rights-based, inclusive and
forward-looking foundation and framework in this regard.
Accordingly, building on the good progress in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),
Nepal has articulated its vision for socio-economic transformation, and has done its utmost to
integrate the SDGs into its new development plan, July 2016 to June 2019. Nepal has already
prepared a report of assessment of the national context with respect to each SDG, identifying
relevant targets, and taking stock of existing policies and institutional environment. The new
plan also puts in perspective the post-earthquake reconstruction to build back better and
smarter for greater resilience.
While Nepal is committed to doing all it can, including in forging partnerships among public,
private and cooperative sectors at home, it looks forward to increased cooperation and
partnerships with all our international partners for necessary resources, technology and other
policy supports as agreed in the 2030 Agenda, Addis Ababa Action Agenda, Istanbul
Programme of Action, Vienna Programme of Action, Sendai Framework of disaster Risk
Reduction, among others. We believe quality education and genuine empowerment of
women would be game changers for sustainable development.
Mr. President,
I wish to conclude with two points. First, this Forum should not allow any time to be lost for
LDCs and LLDCs. We also do not want the loss of several years again like in implementing
MDGs and Istanbul Program of Action. This concern is not unfounded. Countries like Nepal
have almost lost one year talking about the full implementation of SDGs from the U of
January 2016. The UN development system's ability to support means a lot to my country.
To truly ensure no one is left behind, we must match our words with our action.
And 15 years is not so long a time. The Forum should work well in advance to bring into
perspective a longer-term sustainable development vision that goes well beyond 2030.
Transitioning seamlessly from the current period of SDGs to the next phase requires
pragmatic sequencing and spacing of monitoring and evaluation exercises and the
development of the next cycle, which was missing in the run up to the 2030 Agenda.
I thank you, Mr. President!
Statement by Mr. Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of
Nepal to the United Nations in New York and the Head of Nepalese Delegation to the highlevel
segment of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), convened under the auspices of
the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC)
(New York, 20 July 2016)
Please check asainst delivery
Mr. President,
I commend your leadership in the meticulous preparation for, and convening of, the High
Level Political Forum (HLPF) this year, under the auspices of the United Nations Economic
and Social Council (UN-ECOSOC) leading to the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration
this afternoon.
As a land-locked, mountainous and least developed country emerging from conflict, and
from the devastating earthquakes of last year, Nepal pins great hope and confidence on this
Forum. Its theme of 'ensuring that no one is left behind' hits the right chord in addressing our
fears in the race to realize the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Therefore, while aligning my statement with those of the Groups of 77, LDCs and LLDCs, I
wish to underline some aspects from my national perspective.
Mr. President,
We created this Forum for review and follow-up of the SDGs at the global level. Its
credibility will be defined by its ability to provide political leadership, guidance and
recommendations to implement the universal and transformative 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development effectively. For this, HLPF must seek to ensure that the UN has
system-wide coherence in sustainable development programmes and policies globally so that
it can 'deliver as one' on the ground.
At the national and local levels, achieving SDGs is a huge challenge, particularly for
countries like Nepal. Nepal is beset with impediments and immense structural constraints.
Among these are our landlocked status; climate change and alpine vulnerability; natural
disasters; weak governance, peace and stability; shortfall in capacities; unemployment; weak
means-of-implementation and resource mobilization; lack of enough technology as well as
quality and disaggregated data.
The current level of global efforts and business-as-usual cooperation falls far too short. A
revitalized support system and enhanced global partnership are required to ensure timely and
effective implementation of the Agenda. Ensuring that no one is left behind requires that all
partners and stakeholders be driven by a spirit of global solidarity to support and complement
the efforts of the poorest and most vulnerable. Al l means of implementation for
development, including ODA, trade, technology and capacity building need to be employed
for these countries and peoples. While increasing the productive capacity and sustainable and
resilient infrastructure in LDCs and quality transit transport facilities in case of LLDCs, the
graduation of LDCs must also be smooth and sustainable.
Mr. President,
We heard this week and last that implementing SDGs requires a rights-based approach. The
Constitution of Nepal adopted last September indeed provides a rights-based, inclusive and
forward-looking foundation and framework in this regard.
Accordingly, building on the good progress in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),
Nepal has articulated its vision for socio-economic transformation, and has done its utmost to
integrate the SDGs into its new development plan, July 2016 to June 2019. Nepal has already
prepared a report of assessment of the national context with respect to each SDG, identifying
relevant targets, and taking stock of existing policies and institutional environment. The new
plan also puts in perspective the post-earthquake reconstruction to build back better and
smarter for greater resilience.
While Nepal is committed to doing all it can, including in forging partnerships among public,
private and cooperative sectors at home, it looks forward to increased cooperation and
partnerships with all our international partners for necessary resources, technology and other
policy supports as agreed in the 2030 Agenda, Addis Ababa Action Agenda, Istanbul
Programme of Action, Vienna Programme of Action, Sendai Framework of disaster Risk
Reduction, among others. We believe quality education and genuine empowerment of
women would be game changers for sustainable development.
Mr. President,
I wish to conclude with two points. First, this Forum should not allow any time to be lost for
LDCs and LLDCs. We also do not want the loss of several years again like in implementing
MDGs and Istanbul Program of Action. This concern is not unfounded. Countries like Nepal
have almost lost one year talking about the full implementation of SDGs from the U of
January 2016. The UN development system's ability to support means a lot to my country.
To truly ensure no one is left behind, we must match our words with our action.
And 15 years is not so long a time. The Forum should work well in advance to bring into
perspective a longer-term sustainable development vision that goes well beyond 2030.
Transitioning seamlessly from the current period of SDGs to the next phase requires
pragmatic sequencing and spacing of monitoring and evaluation exercises and the
development of the next cycle, which was missing in the run up to the 2030 Agenda.
I thank you, Mr. President!
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