UNRC Remarks at the Partner Roundtable: Working Together for a Disaster and Climate Resilient Pacific

On behalf of the United Nations, I am pleased to welcome you all to this Donor Roundtable on Resilience, co-hosted by the Australian High Commission in Fiji and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).  

Acknowledge the special occasion for the meeting which is the visit and presence of SR-SG for DRR Ms. Mami Mizutori, and the presence of the Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Ms. Claire McNamara  

I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our distinguished guests and participants. 

The theme is this roundtable is “working together”. This means sharing ideas, joint planning, and coordinated implementation. Building resilience requires collaboration and a commitment to supporting countries in a streamlined way.  

Fiji, like many other Pacific Island nations, faces unique and complex challenges related to disaster risk, climate change, and sustainable development.  

The challenges are interconnected and complex and require integrated solutions to address them, rather than sectoral solutions.    

These challenges not only affect our communities but also have far-reaching implications for the achievement of the SDGs, and our regional goals on disaster risk reduction. 

The United Nations values the strong partnerships with our donors and development partners. Your unwavering support is pivotal in enhancing our collective efforts to build resilience, reduce vulnerability, and create a more sustainable and secure future for the people of Fiji and the Pacific as a whole. 

Today's discussions are an opportunity to strengthen the collaboration between the United Nations and our donors and partners.  

We are guided by important frameworks, such as the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP), which was endorsed by Pacific Leaders in 2016. The Boe Declaration adopted by Pacific Leaders in 2018 expanded the regional security agenda to consider climate change and disaster risk, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to address these challenges.  

And the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy adopted by Pacific Leaders in 2022 is a comprehensive framework that seeks to pursue innovative measures to address the impacts of climate change and disaster risk while promoting the sustainable development of the Blue Pacific.  

We are privileged to have with us the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Disaster Risk Reduction, who brings a wealth of expertise and insights. I have no doubt that her contributions to our deliberations will be invaluable in shaping a more resilient and disaster-resilient Pacific. 

I extend my deepest gratitude to each one of you for your commitment, engagement, and the shared vision we hold for a safer, more resilient Pacific.  

I wish you all a productive and fruitful roundtable discussion. 

Thank you/ Vinaka