The United Nations development system and the BVI Government has agreed to extend the UN-VI Country Implementation Plan throughout 2023 with revised priorities.
This was confirmed by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley who made the announcement during a recent session of the House of Assembly.
The Country Implementation Plan is the official agreement that guides the UN’s cooperation with the Virgin Islands, and following the 77th UN General Assembly on December 12th 2022, the new resolutions were agreed upon.
“The seven priorities agreed include: Create a business environment and investment climate that is more conducive to the success of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and to attracting private investment; Accelerate transition to a more diversified, tourism-led, investment driven, low carbon economy that supports inclusive and resilient economic growth; Increase the use of relevant data and information by government to help guide and inform the design and adoption of laws and policies aimed at eliminating discrimination, structural inequalities and ensuring the advancement of persons at risk of being left behind,” Premier Wheatley stated.
He added, “Improve the ability of persons to equitably access and utilize universal, quality and shock-responsive, social protection, education, health and care services; Expand and strengthen the adaptive capacity of national institutions for inclusive, gender-responsive climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; Strengthen national laws, policies, systems and institutions to improve governance, security and social cohesion; [and] Incorporate sustainable development framework into national planning to drive implementation.”
Premier Wheatley also noted some of the many benefits that the BVI has experienced through its relationship with the UN.
These he said include the UN Joint Programme, UN FUT-Tourism Programme, UN COVID-19 Response for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and the UN Joint Programme.
Dr. Wheatley also spoke on some of the many other relationships between the BVI and the UN.
He said, “The government also remains engaged with the UN within the framework of the UN’s Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) 2022-2026. We are a member of the MSDCF Joint Steering Committee and recently made representation on interests at the inaugural meeting held last month that is coordinated by UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Mr. Didier Trebucq.”
“It is also important to note that we have relationships with several UN agencies including the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), UNDP, ECLAC, UN Women, World Food Programme, International Labour Organisation, UNICEF, UNESCO and PAHO. Each are doing work of some kind with our various Ministries and departments,” he added.
The premier said the Sustainable Development National Coordinating Committee (SDGNCC) which is Chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Mrs. Carolyn Stoutt-Igwe, was created to coordinate the BVI’s engagement with the mentioned UN agencies and the UN development system.
He said his government anticipates receiving more assistance from the UN in the future, particularly for the implementation of the BVI’s National Sustainable Development Plan, which was officially approved recently.