A two-day Strategic Prioritisation Retreat (SPR) aiming to finalise the design of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2024-2028), opened, today, at the Westin Turtle Bay Hotel in Balaclava. The Secretary for Foreign Affairs (SFA) of the Ministry ofForeign Affairs, Regional Integration and Economic Planning, Mr Joyker Nayeck, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms Lisa Simrique Singh and other personalities were also present.

The United Nations Country Team and the Government of Mauritius are currently collaborating to design the UNSDCF 2024-2028, which will be co-owned and co-signed by both parties aligned to the National Development Plans and priorities. The SPR bringing together the participation of partners and stakeholders from Governmental bodies, private sector, civil society, academia, and UN agencies is being held in line with the UNSDCF formulation.

Speaking on the occasion, SFA Nayeck highlighted that the retreat will provide ideas and solutions to draw and design the Cooperation Framework for 2024-2028 and will help to set priorities as well as reflect on past achievements. He dwelt on challenges posed by climate change on Small Island Developing States including sea level rise and coastal erosion. To this end, he extended gratitude to the UN for supporting Mauritius through effective and timely assistance in accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The need for responsive partnership to adapt to rapidly evolving circumstances was also highlighted by Mr Nayeck.

Referring to SDGs, SFA Nayeck reiterated Government’s commitment to leave no one behind in the social and economic programmes. “Mauritius looks forth to accelerating SDG actions to deliver a new paradigm that will continue to build greater resilience in the Mauritian economy in post-pandemic era”, he added.

As for the UN Resident Coordinator, she indicated that the retreat is the culmination of the last few months of intense consultations co-organised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the last six months towards the finalisation the new UN Cooperation Framework for Mauritius. She seized the opportunity to commend Mauritius, despite multiple challenges, for its development trajectory in the last few decades with current top ranking globally and in Africa in terms of economic prosperity which has improved economic opportunities for a significant share of its labour force.

“I am confident we will finalise the design of a high-quality and innovative UN Cooperation Framework, to accompany meaningfully the transformative actions of Mauritius’ Government for improving socio-economic opportunities and building systemic resilience”, Ms Singh said.