United Nations in Suriname

Goedenavond.
Ik ben zeer verheugd voor de eerste maal Suriname te bezoeken.
Ik dank President Santokhi en het volk van Suriname voor uw warme welkom.
Suriname is één van de groenste landen op de planeet.
Het is één van de weinige koolstof-negatieve landen.
En het is een leider in de bescherming van de biodiversiteit.
Maar helaas, Suriname valt op omdat het zo'n uitzondering is.
Over de hele wereld zien we het falen van klimaatleiderschap en de proliferatie van rampzalige klimaatverstoring.
Onze wereld beweegt zich in de verkeerde richting.
De wetenschap is duidelijk.
Om de temperatuurstijging met 1,5°C te beperken, moeten de mondiale emissies tegen 2030 met 45% zijn gedaald.
Maar de huidige nationale klimaatbeloftes zouden resulteren in een toename van de uitstoot met 14% tegen 2030.
Met elk uur dat het klimaat treuzelt, wordt de impuls van de 1,5-gradendoelstelling zwakker en zwakker.
Grote uitstoters hebben een bijzondere verantwoordelijkheid.
Laten we niet vergeten dat de G20-landen 80% van de wereldwijde uitstoot voor hun rekening nemen.
Aan de andere kant staan de Caribische landen in de frontlinie van de klimaatcrisis en hebben zij consequent blijk gegeven van standvastig leiderschap.
Ik heb dat leiderschap vandaag tijdens mijn bezoek aan het regenwoud in actie gezien.
Ongeveer 93 procent van Suriname is bedekt met regenwoud.
U zet zich in om dat zo te houden.
Regenwouden zijn een kostbaar geschenk aan de mensheid.
Daarom wil ik vanuit hier in Suriname, een boodschap sturen naar de wereld.
Wij moeten het geschenk van de regenwouden eren en behouden.
Want dit is geen geschenk dat zal blijven geven.
Als we de schaal van vernietiging in de regenwouden van de wereld blijven zien, bijten we niet alleen in de hand die ons voedt - we verscheuren het aan stukjes.
De vergelijking is simpel:
Als we de regenwouden beschermen, beschermen zij ons.
Als wij de regenwouden vernietigen, vernietigen wij onszelf.
Wat ik hier in Suriname heb gezien, geeft mij hoop en inspiratie.
Maar wat we over de hele wereld zien is reden voor diepe schok en woede.
De ongebreidelde ontbossing en de verslechtering van de klimaateffecten doen bosbranden en droogte toenemen.
Dit is schandalig en beschamend. Het is wereldwijde zelfmoord in slow motion.
De vernietiging van regenwouden over de hele wereld moet een wereldwijde alarmbel doen rinkelen om de longen van onze planeet te redden.
Vandaag heb ik vertegenwoordigers van inheemse volkeren ontmoet die de weg wijzen.
Inheemse volkeren hebben niet bijgedragen tot de klimaatverandering, maar behoren wel tot de meest getroffen bevolkingsgroepen.
Tegelijkertijd hebben zij oplossingen waar de wereld veel van kan leren.
Zij zijn trotse hoeders van een deel van de onmisbare biologische diversiteit van de planeet, en zij hebben steun nodig om dat te kunnen doen.
Ik heb ook met eigen ogen gezien hoe Suriname werkt aan het toezicht op en het behoud van essentiële mangrove-ecosystemen, die worden bedreigd door de stijging van de zeespiegel en kusterosie.
Op de natuur gebaseerde oplossingen - zoals het behoud van mangroven, regenwouden en andere essentiële ecosystemen - zijn van vitaal belang.
De wereld heeft meer van dergelijke initiatieven nodig.
Op al deze fronten is het van cruciaal belang dat landen, en vooral de rijkste, samenwerken om de wereldwijde temperatuurstijging tot 1,5°C te beperken en om weerbaarheid op te bouwen tegen de klimaatschokken die ons te wachten staan.
Dat betekent dat eindelijk werk moet worden gemaakt van de reeds lang geleden gedane belofte om de ontwikkelingslanden 100 miljard dollar per jaar te geven voor klimaatmaatregelen.
Een rechtvaardige oplossing vinden voor de schuldencrisis die veel landen in de regio lamlegt.
Kleine insulaire ontwikkelingslanden meer en gemakkelijker toegang te geven tot concessionele financiering, met name voor het aanpassingsproces.
Een serieuze aanpak van verlies en schade.
En het aanjagen van een revolutie op het gebied van hernieuwbare energie.
Zoals ik vandaag heb gezien, beschikken we over de instrumenten en de knowhow.
Onze wereld heeft de politieke wil en solidariteit nodig om het verschil te maken dat nodig is.
Suriname en het Caribisch gebied zijn de wegbereiders.
Wij moeten dat voorbeeld volgen - voor de mensen, voor het nageslacht en voor onze planeet.
Dank U.

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Story

09 October 2020

Suriname’s climate promise, for a sustainable future

Suriname has become the second nation globally to outline updated plans to fight climate change in the hope of ensuring that any future increase in the temperature of the planet does not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The South American country describes its new national plan as a “cost-effective pathway to decarbonization of substantiable economic development.” But what does this all mean in terms of global efforts to reverse the warming of the planet? Read on for an explanation. What are these plans and why are we hearing about them now? Globally, 196 countries, plus the European Union, originally signed up to the Paris Agreement in 2015 which commits the international community to restrict global warming to “well below 2 degrees Celsius” and aim, if possible, for 1.5C. It’s hoped that these ambitious targets will be met collectively by countries by setting distinct, individual or national goals known as Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs. These NDCs are a key part of the Paris Agreement and are reviewed and updated every five years by the countries themselves. It’s now 2020, so all countries are expected to declare their amended NDCs. The Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean was the first nation to do so, Suriname is the second. Is Suriname a big emitter of the greenhouse gasses which lead to climate change? No, on the contrary Suriname stated as far back as 2014 that it had a carbon negative economy; that means that any global warming gasses it does produce, are offset by natural resources which absorb those gasses. The South American country is 93 per cent covered by forest, which acts as a massive carbon sink; in other words, all those trees capture, or suck in, harmful carbon dioxide gas removing it from the atmosphere. Less carbon dioxide means less warming. So why is Suriname’s update of its NDCs significant? It’s significant on a number of levels, firstly as a statement that this small country is committed to fighting climate change but also as a reminder to other countries that they too must update their plans if the international community is going to reach the 2 degree Celsius target it agreed on in Paris five years ago. And many of the smaller developing countries and especially island states, or those with low-lying coastal areas, are keen to push forward the new commitments because they are particularly susceptible to climate change, even though they have contributed least to the problem. Suriname has a small population of just over half a million, and thus most infrastructure and economic activity is concentrated along its easily accessible Atlantic coast. This coastal zone has already experienced extensive erosion and has suffered damage from heavy rainfall, flooding, higher temperatures during dry seasons and high winds; the types of natural phenomena (and in some cases disasters) which are expected to worsen with climate change. Do the climate action plans of the world’s poorest countries account for the need for development? Absolutely, in fact all countries, rich and poor, are aiming to develop in a sustainable way by growing their economies and the wealth and social well-being of their citizens while finding ways to reverse climate change and protect the environment. So, when Suriname talks of a “cost-effective pathway to decarbonization of substantiable economic development”, it commits to maintaining the “integrity of natural forest acting as a carbon sink” while diversifying its economy with the aim of creating the conditions for sustainable development. The significant difference between developing and developed countries is that the former, generally don’t have enough money to turn their plans into reality and that’s why richer countries and the private sector are being asked to step in and partner with the poorer countries. Suriname says its “NDC enhancement process” will cost US$696 million. So, what are Suriname’s plans? Suriname’s updated NDCs focus on four key areas; forests, electricity, agriculture and transport. It is committed to maintaining 93 per cent forest cover but says “significant international support is needed for the conservation of this valuable resource in perpetuity.” Sustainable and “clean” electricity is also a priority and in its updated NDCs, Suriname has pledged to “maintain the share of electricity from renewable sources above 35% by 2030.” Agriculture is the cause of 40 per cent of the country’s total emissions but also provides a valuable source of income. At the same time, the sector is strongly impacted by climate change, so Suriname is focusing on the development of climate-smart farming. That includes water resources management, the promotion of sustainable land management; and adopting innovative technologies, for example converting biomass into energy. Transport is another large and growing source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and plans have been announced to improve public transportation and introduce controls on vehicle emissions. What happens next? It’s hoped and expected that more countries will update their NDCs during 2020 and present them at the next major international climate conference (known as COP26) to be held in Glasgow in the UK in November. The UN Secretary-General António Guterreshas said that “in Glasgow, governments must deliver the transformational change our world needs and that people demand, with much stronger ambition – ambition on mitigation, ambition on adaptation, and ambition on finance.” Ultimately, the meeting should give a clear indication of whether the global community is on track to meet the 2 degrees Celsius target. Read more here how the UN is supporting countries to enhance their NDCs. Find a list of Nationally Determined Contributions registered by Member States. This story was originally published by UN News.

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25 October 2022

A fast-track to sustainable pineapple production for Surinamese farners

Suriname, a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America, is considered the birthplace of pineapples. Although the area of pineapple production is small, the genetic diversity is extraordinary, and the growth potential is significant. Cultivated mainly by the indigenous population living in the Savannah Belt, especially the Lokono (Arawak) and Kaliña (Caraiben) peoples, the pineapple offers great prospects for improving livelihoods – which embodies a potential that the United Nations system is working to unlock. Since 2018, in collaboration with relevant ministries, FAO and UNIDO, in partnership with ILO and UNFPA, have engaged with Surinamese farmers and other stakeholders to analyze the pineapple value chain and facilitate the development of a joint 2030 vision for the sector. There are over 15 unique pineapple varieties currently grown organically in Suriname. This holds huge potential for tapping into export markets. Nevertheless, the project also foresees securing varieties and genetic rights from a legal perspective. It also maps out a certification process to ensure indigenous peoples and other farmers in Suriname do not lose their unique varieties as they grow in popularity. In 2022, the joint programme, "Sustainable Pineapple Value Chain Development," was awarded funding by the Joint SDG Fund. The project comprises various components, such as financing (attracting and de-risking SDG-compliant investments into the pineapple value chain in order to increase productivity and income of smallholder farmers) and more hands-on methods, such as in the form of a Pineapple Innovation Hub (a local foundation will provide tailored agronomic and business support and management services to farmers). In his opening remarks at the project launch, the UN Resident Coordinator ad interim, Dennis Zulu, said: "At the United Nations, we are committed to supporting, to accompany, and to pioneering new ways of facilitating linkages between value chain actors and service providers, strengthening and institutionalizing knowledge in local institutions, and contributing to a conducive policy environment. But we need to do it together and certainly cannot do it without each other." From 'Pineapple Innovation Hub' to market One of the first concrete steps taken by the project has been developing farming training materials for indigenous peoples, building off Costa Rica’s experience in organic pineapple production. The next step has been fostering collaboration with international financial institutions to bring in the necessary finance. The last step is a scientific analysis by FAO of the varieties grown and the soils that produce them to optimize the go-to-market journey of products. The future of pineapple cultivation in the area “will surely continue to grow because I already see more young ones heading in that direction,” says Wendolien Sabajo, Captain of Matta, one of the indigenous peoples’ villages. Suriname's interior regions are underdeveloped and under-serviced, with the population suffering disproportionately from poverty and unemployment. Sustainable agriculture is considered a growth opportunity - and the aim of this project is to increase farmers' income and shift towards a permanent organic farming system. By addressing the financing constraints that have prevented Suriname from seizing the great potential of the pineapple value chain, the country is meant to become a sustainable pineapple producer for the local and international markets. The joint project brings together a wide array of stakeholders - from indigenous communities and organizations, producers, processors, traders, and other input providers to government ministries, village authorities, research and financial institutions and multiple UN entities - and is opening up wider prospects for a unique and sustainable agricultural sector in Suriname. The ultimate goal? To boost pineapple production from the current 2,000 to 3,000 tons a year to 20,000 tons by 2030. The "Sustainable Pineapple Value Chain Development" programme stems from a proposal submitted under The Accelerator for Agriculture and Agroindustry Development and Innovation Plus (3ADI+)*, and was selected from a global pool of submissions from over 100 countries. *3ADI+ has been rebranded to the Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA), which is a global program co-led by UNIDO and FAO. It assists countries with accelerating investment in food system transformation to achieve the SDGs, including through the development of value chains, market systems, business models and inclusive finance. Inputs for this piece were taken from UN Suriname, the Joint SDG Fund, UNIDO, and FAO. Compiled and edited by the UN Development Coordination Office. For more information on the work of the United Nations in Suriname, please visit: Suriname.UN.org.

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Indigenous Surinamese woman with harvested pineapple

Story

10 October 2022

PAHO aims to reduce stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health in Suriname

This campaign aims to reduce the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health conditions and to promote positive interactions that improve their health-seeking practices. In Suriname, the Ministry of Health is increasingly prioritizing mental health in its policies and supports and embraces the #DoYourShare campaign. Mental health conditions are prevalent throughout the world and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a general impact on the entire population. However, the vast majority of people with mental health illnesses do not receive treatment; with marginalized populations and people living in vulnerable conditions facing significant barriers to accessing care. Untreated poor mental health compromises the overall health and well-being of individuals and has broader health and social implications for communities and society. A conversation with Psychologist Maja Heijmans
Leading up to International Mental Health Day and PAHO's #DoYourShare campaign, PAHO Suriname had a conversation with Mrs. Maja Heijmans-Goedschalk. She is a clinical psychologist, President of the Association of Psychologists and Orthopedagogists and co-owner of CARE. Her aim is that mental health services should be accessible to anyone in Suriname who needs them, regardless of income or place of residence. Why is there Stigma around Mental Health in Suriname?
Mrs. Heijmans-Goedschalk: Worldwide, there is stigma surrounding the subject of mental health. Suriname is certainly not excluded in this regard, as people in Suriname are less inclined to talk about their feelings, and especially when they are not doing so well.

What also contributes to the stigma is that when certain generations bring up the subject of mental health, the association is often quickly made with the Psychiatric Hospital (formerly LPI and Wolvenbuttel), which especially used to carry a very negative connotation; perhaps still does now. This is because it used to be that all mental health complaints were treated only by a psychiatrist, and they were employed there. So, if you wanted help, you had to go there.

However, nowadays not every mental health complaint is a case for the psychiatrist, but certain complaints are treated by the psychologist. The stigma surrounding mental health is damaging to us as a population, because a population that is not mentally healthy has negative consequences for crime, such as domestic violence and abuse, suicide rates, the economy and addiction rates. Thus, everyone benefits from a mentally healthy society.

We can reduce this stigma by having a dialogue with each other about mental health in general, but also personally about our own mental health. Furthermore, it helps enormously to provide information about mental health, so that people are more inclined to look up more information when in doubt if someone is in need of help. You, yourself can also ensure that you are well informed by consulting the many educational videos and articles online. What is the situation of Mental Health in Suriname?
Mrs. Heijmans-Goedschalk: In Suriname depressive symptoms are predominant. The suicide rates in Suriname do not lie, we rank 8th worldwide with the number of suicide cases per year compared to our population. In addition, anxiety symptoms are also more common, one of which is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for example. Indeed, there are unfortunately many cases of mistreatment and abuse in domestic situations in society, which can later manifest itself in the form of serious mental health complaints. How does one recognize Mental Health Disorders & what steps should be taken?
Mrs. Heijmans-Goedschalk: As soon as you notice changes in yourself or someone close to you in daily routines and/or mood, and this persists for more than 2 weeks, you may have a mental health complaint. The first step you can then take is to have a conversation with someone close to you whom you trust. For the confidant, try to listen attentively, and not come up with solutions right away. If necessary, you can help the person seek professional help. If you yourself are in doubt as to whether you might need professional help, you can always visit your family doctor, who can then help you or refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Let's create a culture of openness where one feels safe to share how they are feeling. - Mrs. Heijmans-Goedschalk What are the benefits of talking about mental health?
Mrs. Heijmans-Goedschalk: To reduce stigma, one way to help is to make mental health (symptoms) an open topic and normal to speak about. When we see that someone's leg is broken, we usually ask the person how they are doing because we see and notice from the person that the person is in pain. With mental health, that's a little more difficult, because we usually can't tell from someone that they're struggling, that they're in pain. And this is precisely why good in-depth conversations within our environment are very important, for example asking your close friend/relative/colleague how they are REALLY doing. Or contact someone close to you who you know is going through a difficult period, for example after a loss. The more often we can talk to each other about mental health, for example at the dinner table, on balconies, the less taboo this topic becomes. Understanding our emotions and how to recognize them also plays an important role at a young age. As parents, we have a duty to set a good example by also talking about how we feel with our children. Once we create the habit of talking about these topics, we are more likely to find out that many cases that we thought were "far away from us" are actually very close and we can help each other sooner. Being able to let your heart out is extremely liberating, especially when it comes to things you would rather keep secret. I would also like to say that we psychologists, just like the doctor, are bound by a duty of confidentiality. So don't let it be a barrier for you to seek professional help for fear that your private life will continue to be discussed with third parties. Let's together create a culture of openness where it is allowed that you are not doing well.

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19 July 2022

Nieuwe directeur aangesteld bij UNESCO-kantoor in Jamaica

Dr. Anna Paolini is met ingang van juli 2022 benoemd tot nieuwe directeur van het UNESCO-kantoor in Jamaica. Dit volgt op het vertrek van de vorige directeur, Dr. Saadia Beatriz Sanchez Vegas, die in juni met pensioen ging. Dr. Paolini brengt een schat aan ervaring mee naar haar nieuwe functie. Zij was van september 2013 tot juni 2022 UNESCO-vertegenwoordiger in de Arabische staten van de Golf en Jemen en directeur UNESCO Doha Office for the Countries of the Gulf and Yemen. Ze was ook UNESCO-vertegenwoordiger en bureauhoofd in Oezbekistan van 2007 tot 2009 en later bekleedde ze dezelfde functie in Jordanië. In 1992 trad zij in dienst van UNESCO als specialist op het gebied van cultuur in het Regionaal Kantoor in Amman. In 1997 verhuisde ze naar het hoofdkantoor van UNESCO, waar ze verschillende functies bekleedde binnen de sector Cultuur, waaronder die van verantwoordelijke voor activiteiten op het gebied van roerend erfgoed en voor erfgoed in conflictrespons in de Arabische regio. Daarvoor was zij wetenschappelijk medewerker aan het Architectuurinstituut van Venetië, werkte zij in Italië in de restauratie en verrichtte zij onderzoek op het gebied van stadsherstel in verschillende Arabische en Afrikaanse landen. Zij heeft een Master in Architectuur en een Master in Stedelijke en Regionale Planning voor ontwikkelingslanden, een postdoctorale graad in Ontwikkelingssamenwerking, alsmede een Ph.D. in Stedelijke en Territoriale Ingenieurswetenschappen. Dr. Paolini is lid van de Internationale Raad voor Musea (ICOM) en de Italiaanse Vereniging van Beroepsarchitecten en auteur van verschillende papers over verschillende onderwerpen in verband met het cultureel erfgoed.

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14 July 2022

Hoop zaaien met mangroves

Bij een bezoek aan het mangrove rehabilitatie project bij het strand van Weg naar Zee zag de heer Guterres de verwoestende gevolgen van de door klimaatverandering aangewakkerde kusterosie, overstromingen en zeespiegelstijging. Weg Naar Zee, een gemakkelijk toegankelijk kustgebied van ongeveer 10.000 hectare gelegen ten noordwesten van Paramaribo en onderdeel van de 386 kms van de voornamelijk modderige kustzone van Suriname, heeft geleden onder extreme erosie die heeft geresulteerd in een afwezigheid van zacht slib, een favoriete foerageerhabitat voor kustvogels. Sinds 2016 steunt de VN de inspanningen van het land, onder leiding van academici en studenten, om het behoud, het natuurlijke herstel en het herstel van mangroven te vergroten. Eén zo'n project, geleid door de Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname, installeert sedimentvangende structuren langs de kust en planten om de schade te keren. Lopend langs de modderige kust met de Surinaamse minister van Ruimtelijke Ordening, Silvano Tjong-Ahin, plantte de heer Guterres een jonge mangroveboom. Dit project wordt geleid door professor Sieuwnat Naipal, die een van de drijvende krachten is achter het behoud van de mangrove in het land. "Op de natuur gebaseerde oplossingen - zoals het behoud van mangroven, regenwouden en andere essentiële ecosystemen - zijn van vitaal belang. De wereld heeft meer van dergelijke initiatieven nodig", zei hij tegen de pers. Eerder zei de secretaris-generaal dat mangroves een speciale betekenis voor hem hadden, omdat het eerste boek dat hij als kind las over deze winterharde, uniek heilzame bomen en struiken ging. Mangroves spelen een essentiële rol in de strijd tegen de klimaatverandering, omdat zij enorme hoeveelheden koolstof kunnen vastleggen en opslaan in hun wortels en zelfs in de bodem waarin zij groeien. Zij zijn ook uiterst belangrijk voor ons kustmilieu en de leefgebieden en kraamkamers die bijdragen aan een grote variëteit aan plant- en diersoorten. Ze worden ook de "nieren van de kust" genoemd omdat zij een belangrijke rol spelen in de cyclus van voedingsstoffen in het kustmilieu.

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14 July 2022

Ananas voor duurzame ontwikkeling in de Surinaamse savana

Het savanne gebied is een gebied dat gecaracticeerd wordt door wit silicaatzand dat meestal onvruchtbaar is, desondanks is het telen van ananassen, passievruchten en cassave, die de belangrijkste bron van inkomsten voor deze inheemse gemeenschap. Tijdens zijn bezoek aan Peirre Kondre op 2 juli, heeft de Secretaris-Generaal van de Verenigde Naties (VN), António Guterres het werk kunnen zien van twee coöperaties die worden gesteund door de VN en haar agentschappen, waaronder de Voedsel- en Landbouworganisatie van de VN (FAO), en de Europese Unie. Eén zo'n coöperatie, geleid door lokale vrouwen, maakt van ananas afgeleide biologische producten, zoals jam, sappen en fruitcups. De andere coöperatie houdt zich bezig met het teeltproces en probeert van de ananasoogst een productie te maken die het hele jaar door loopt, in plaats van seizoensgebonden is.  Volgens het Ontwikkelingsprogramma van de Verenigde Naties (UNDP) is de integratie van inheemse en tribale gemeenschappen in de economische welvaart van cruciaal belang. Hoewel zij slechts 4% van de totale bevolking uitmaken, beslaan hun landrechten meer dan 80% van het grondgebied van Suriname, maar zij worden niet officieel erkend door de nationale wetgeving.  Alvorens de gemeenschap te verlaten, vertelde kapitein Lloyd Read de Secretaris-Generaal dat hij Tamushi de almachtige [de grote geest God] zou vragen, om hem de kracht en macht te geven om verder te gaan, in een wereld die bedreigd wordt door klimaatsverandering en oorlog. Hij zong een prachtig gebed in zijn moedertaal Kaliña, met de volgende woorden: Hierna nam de heer Guterres afscheid van het dorp en zei Kapitein Read dat hij hoopte dat de Secretaris generaal aan hun zou blijven denken.  "Inheemse volkeren hebben niet bijgedragen aan de klimaatverandering, toch behoren zij tot de meest getroffen bevolkingsgroepen.  Tegelijkertijd hebben zij oplossingen waar de wereld zoveel van kan leren. Zij zijn trotse hoeders van een deel van de onmisbare biologische diversiteit van de planeet, en zij hebben steun nodig om dat te kunnen doen," benadrukte de VN-chef later op een persconferentie.

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Press Release

15 November 2022

Welcome to an 8-billion-strong world

Billions of people are struggling; hundreds of millions are facing hunger and even famine. Record numbers are on the move seeking opportunities and relief from debt and hardship, wars and climate disasters. Unless we bridge the yawning chasm between the global haves and have-nots, we are setting ourselves up for an 8-billion-strong world filled with tensions and mistrust, crisis and conflict. The facts speak for themselves. A handful of billionaires control as much wealth as the poorest half of the world. The top one percent globally pocket one fifth of the world’s income, while people in the richest countries can expect to live up to 30 years longer than those in the poorest. As the world has grown richer and healthier in recent decades, these inequalities have grown too. On top of these long-term trends, the accelerating climate crisis and the unequal recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic are turbocharging inequalities. We are heading straight for climate catastrophe, while emissions and temperatures continue to rise. Floods, storms and droughts are devastating countries that contributed almost nothing to global heating. The war in Ukraine is adding to ongoing food, energy and finance crises, hitting developing economies hardest. These inequalities take their greatest toll on women and girls, and on marginalized groups that already suffer discrimination. Many countries in the Global South face huge debts, increasing poverty and hunger, and the growing impacts of the climate crisis. They have little chance of investing in a sustainable recovery from the pandemic, the transition to renewable energy, or education and training for the digital age. Anger and resentment against developed countries are reaching breaking points. Toxic divisions and lack of trust are causing delays and deadlock on a host of issues, from nuclear disarmament to terrorism to global health. We must curb these damaging trends, repair relationships and find joint solutions to our common challenges. The first step is acknowledging that this runaway inequality is a choice, and one that developed countries have the responsibility to reverse – starting this month at the UN climate conference in Egypt and the G20 summit in Bali. I hope COP27 will see a historic Climate Solidarity Pact under which developed and emerging economies unite around a common strategy and combine their capacities and resources for the benefit of humankind. Wealthier countries must provide key emerging economies with financial and technical support to transition away from fossil fuels. That is our only hope of meeting our climate goals. I also urge leaders at COP27 to agree on a roadmap and institutional framework to compensate countries in the Global South for climate-related loss and damage that is already causing enormous suffering. The G20 summit in Bali will be an opportunity to address the plight of developing countries. I have urged G20 economies to adopt a stimulus package that will provide governments of the Global South with investments and liquidity, and address debt relief and restructuring. As we push for action on these medium-term measures, we are working non-stop with all stakeholders to ease the global food crisis. The Black Sea Grain Initiative is an essential part of those efforts. It has helped to stabilize markets and bring food prices down. Every fraction of a percent has the potential to ease hunger and save lives. We are also working to ensure Russian fertilizers can flow into global markets, which have been severely disrupted by the war. Fertilizer prices are up to three times higher than before the pandemic. Rice, the most widely consumed staple in the world, is the crop that will suffer most. Removing the remaining obstacles to the exports of Russian fertilizers is an essential step towards global food security. But among all these serious challenges, there is some good news. Our eight-billion-strong world could yield enormous opportunities for some of the poorest countries, where population growth is highest. Relatively small investments in healthcare, education, gender equality and sustainable economic development could create a virtuous circle of development and growth, transforming economies and lives. Within a few decades, today’s poorest countries could become engines of sustainable, green growth and prosperity across entire regions. I never bet against human ingenuity, and I have enormous faith in human solidarity. In these difficult times, we would do well to remember the words of one of humanity’s wisest observers, Mahatma Gandhi: “The world has enough for everyone's need – but not everyone's greed.” This month’s big global meetups must be an opportunity to start bridging divides and restoring trust, based on the equal rights and freedoms of every single member of humanity’s eight-billion-strong family.

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Press Release

25 October 2022

Government Launches Kick-Off event to Develop National Climate Agreement

This event was held to kick off the development process of the National Climate Agreement which is intended to serve as a roadmap to address climate change issues and for accessing different options of climate finance available for Suriname. During the Kick-Off event, both United Nations and the Inter-American Development Bank, co-organizers of the event, presented ongoing support being provided to the Government of Suriname in the areas of climate and environment. The United Nations system in Suriname, under leadership of the Resident Coordinator, is also supporting the Government of Suriname through the implementation of a Joint SDG Fund programme whereby the objective is to help the country achieve Agenda 2030 (including Paris Agreement climate goals), to address development funding challenges (which hinder the country’s progress) while also delivering inclusive, gender-based outcomes. In tandem, the IDB continues to support the Government of Suriname in the development of an NDC Investment Plan. This raises the country’s climate ambition by including two new sectors (agriculture, transport, and urban Infrastructure) and by increasing the climate goals of the forestry and energy sectors. IDB’s support also incorporates climate change criteria in budgeting and public investment decision-making, in collaboration with the Ministry of Spatial Planning and the Environment. The High-Level Meeting for Climate Financing is planned for the first quarter of 2023 at which the government-led National Climate Agreement will be elaborated and presented. Today’s Kick-Off event was utilized to raise awareness, and to ensure broad-based, cross-sectoral inputs into the National Climate Agreement. The government has also updated its Nationally Determined Contribution, and with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank, is developing an Investment Plan for the updated Nationally Determined Contribution. During his opening remarks the UN Resident Coordinator, Dennis Zulu, stated: “We have a very narrow window of opportunity to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Urgent and ambitious action is needed now. As we have seen with the recent unprecedented flooding, adaption is crucial for Suriname.” He further emphasized that "a National Climate Agreement can not only ensure a sustainable pathway towards Climate Financing, but also gives Suriname a multi-sectoral plan for addressing Climate Change.” Minister Tjong-Ahin shared that the government of Suriname is committed to take the lead in climate actions by stating “Our government is committed to curb the situation and take a lead role in climate action and in association climate finance.” President Santokhi during his remarks made it clear that climate change adaptation will require many changes, but that the national development must not be undermined in the process. He underscored the importance of ensuring that the National Climate Agreement is an inclusive process by stating that “we need to join hands to formulate a good strategy, plan and execute. All stake holders, the private sector, indigenous people, commercial banks, NGO’s are invited and have to assume their responsibility to get things going.” Ms. Margret Jones Williams, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, stated that the development of the National Climate Agreement is urgent, and that the development has been prioritized by the government who has shown a very high level of political will. Ms. Williams also highlighted the need for continued consultation with all stakeholders as this event yet again showed that all stakeholders, especially those representing the Indigenous and Tribal peoples, want and deserve the opportunity to provide their input in the development of the National Climate Agreement. Minister Tjong-Ahin with his final remarks thanked the United Nations Agencies and all other organizations for the support in organizing this event. He also reaffirmed not only the importance of the National Climate Agreement but also the importance of ensuring that the development process is an inclusive process. “This process is about all of us having consensus about what we want to do against climate change before we move forward,” he said.

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Press Release

29 September 2022

Launch ceremony of the project “Sustainable Pineapple Value Chain Development” in Suriname

The joint programme, “Sustainable Pineapple Value Chain Development”, part of the “The Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator” (ASTA) co-led by FAO and UNIDO, was developed in close collaboration with the various stakeholders in the pineapple value chain in Suriname. The joint programme will see the four UN agencies, in partnership with development banks and local financial institutions, implement several solutions including an innovation hub to provide cutting edge technical assistance and an innovative guarantee facility to ease access to credit and de-risk investments. In his opening remarks, UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Dennis Zulu said: “At the United Nations, we are committed to supporting, to accompanying, and to pioneering new ways of facilitating linkages between value chain actors and service providers, strengthening and institutionalizing knowledge in local institutions, and contributing to a conducive policy environment. But we need to do it together and we certainly cannot do it without each other.” Ms. Lisa Kurbiel, head of the Joint SDG Fund, congratulated Suriname on being successfully selected amongst 10 programmes from 155 proposals received by the Fund after going through a very competitive process. She emphasized “this joint programme offers a unique opportunity to channel SDG-compliant investments into the pineapple value-chain through an innovative collateral facility to ease access to credit and de-risk investments accompanied by cutting edge technical assistance. We also see this joint programme as a model with potential to be scaled to other value chains both in the country and in the region.” His Excellency Albert R. Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, stressed on the importance of this financial and technical assistance that targets the sustainable development of a value chain that is deeply anchored in the culture of the Indigenous Peoples and other communities. “The success of this program will give our Country access to foreign investment to strengthen the livelihoods of local farmers and Suriname's capacity to export.” His Excellency Chandrikapersad Santokhi, president of Suriname, expressed satisfaction at the launch ceremony of this project and praised the SDG Fund that is in the best position to bridge a gap though a sustainable investment model that leverages the power of markets to empower communities, and support a clear path for farmers to build a rewarding, modern pineapple value chain in Suriname. The president highlighted: "Suriname's pineapple sector is challenged by a lack of modern production, post-harvest handling, and an integrated supply chain. To solve these problems, consideration of all stakeholders is needed. And we are delighted, to count on the UN, as one of our trusted stakeholders.[...] a key component to succeed in this project, is the cooperation of all parties, – if we want to go fast, we will go alone, but if we want to go far, we need to go together.”

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Press Release

09 August 2022

“Protecting Indigenous knowledge systems and cultural expressions as effective levers for sustainable development in Suriname”

Indigenous women also are the educators among many of their peoples, transmitting resource and territory sustainable management knowledge, cultural heritage, and their languages. Language is a key element when implementing literacy programs or designing an educational curriculum. We need to understand and expand our education system to include more Indigenous knowledge that cares for the planet. We also need to invest more in education in Indigenous communities by developing appropriate curricula and inclusive teaching methodologies that meet their specific needs. Indeed, there is a general lack of disaggregated data, admittedly indigenous peoples, especially women, suffer the highest illiteracy rate1 in the population. This has dramatic consequences since it leads to a lack of opportunities in the labour market, limited personal development possibilities, and high levels of rural-urban shift, where they face low wages and discrimination. In most cases, indigenous women are the primary conduit through which the younger generation learns and perpetuates Indigenous languages. Despite accounting for only 6.2 percent of the world’s population, indigenous peoples are the custodians of 4,000 languages. These languages are part of our common human heritage, which we must preserve and cherish. This is why UNESCO, as the lead agency of the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages, which runs from 2022 to 2032, is working to address the critical status of many indigenous languages around the world, and encourage their preservation, revitalization, transmission and promotion among youth. The link between indigenous knowledge systems, natural sciences and social sciences and policy-making is a key priority for UNESCO in Suriname, Guyana, Belize and the indigenous peoples' landscape of the Caribbean. For example, the UNESCO project "Strengthening the Capacities of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten and Suriname to Implement the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage" deepened dialogue on the relevance and importance of documenting and protecting the intangible heritage of these territories through youth and community-based approaches. The project highlighted the importance of recognizing and identifying living heritage through community-based inventories and developing strategies to pass it on sustainably with the authoritative and full participation of local communities. Strengthening international South-South cooperation through the development and implementation of joint agreements and strategies (Willemstad Declaration) was also one of the main outcomes of the project. Finally, Suriname ratified the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage during the project. Just last month, UNESCO visited Suriname's World Heritage Sites to advise national and local stakeholders on the development of a national strategy for sustainable tourism. On this occasion, UNESCO participated in a traditional meeting, called the Krutu, of the Kwinti tribe -- one of the six indigenous and Maroon communities in Suriname to address the challenges of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve and on ways to develop sustainable tourism strategies and sustainability practices. UNESCO is also developing a trialogue series to mobilize all relevant stakeholders and expand the Indigenous Knowledge-Environmental Sciences-Policy Making interface in the Caribbean. Indeed, we believe it is one of the drivers for leveraging the value of indigenous knowledge in addressing environmental and societal issues, and in complementing the traditional scientific knowledge system. In Suriname, Guyana and Belize, biodiversity and the related ecosystem services are important catalyzers for climate adaptation and regulation, land and forest preservation, provisioning of freshwater resources and disaster risk resilience. Indigenous knowledge systems can help in transitioning towards community-based sustainable green and blue economies in these countries. Indigenous peoples’ issues are an integral part of global concerns. Therefore, we must rally as one humanity for the full participation and enjoyment of Indigenous peoples’ rights, their knowledge systems, languages and cultural riches, through innovative and creative exchanges, in the global endeavor to find sustainable pathways for the living world, for society and for humanity as a whole.

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Press Release

06 August 2022

Wat kunnen Surinaamse bedrijven nu bereiken met de Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelen?

De SDG Terugkomdag werd geopend met een toespraak van mevrouw Judith Brielle, Liason Officer van de UNFPA, die aangaf onder de indruk te zijn van de gedrevenheid van de deelnemende bedrijven om significante stappen te ondernemen voor het behalen van de Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelen. Na de openingstoespraken van de andere hoofdsprekers waaronder mw Angelic del Castilho, voorzitter van het SDG Forum Suriname, mw. Miriam Mac-Intosh, Directeur van Buitenlandse zaken en mw. Sherida Mormon, Directeur van VSB was er een sfeer van enthousiasme en samenwerking. Hierna 6 bedrijven in de gelegenheid werden om te laten zien wat zij na de training hebben kunnen doen met de Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelen. Alembo, HEM Suriname, B4Agro&food Systems, Torarica Group, Baitali Group en de Surinaamse Brouwerij gaven allemaal aan hoe zij de SDGs tot een deel maken van hun interne processen. De bedrijven gaven verder aan op welke manieren zij de Surinaamse gemeenschap kunnen ondersteunen de SDGs te behalen. Deze activiteiten, die variëren van het inzamelen van plastic cups tot het rehabiliteren van mangrove ecosystemen langs de Surinaamse kust, zullen dienen als inspiratie voor andere bedrijven om ook hun verantwoordelijkheid te nemen in het beter maken van onze wereld. De activiteiten zullen de bekendheid van de Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelen in Suriname vergroten. De samenwerking tussen verschillende bedrijven om de doelen te behalen zullen onder anderen leiden naar betere werkomstandigheden, efficiëntere productieprocessen, een schoner milieu en een gemeenschap waarbij eenieder de kans krijgt zich te ontwikkelen. Met de Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelen kunnen ook de Surinaamse bedrijven toekomstige economische groei veilig stellen, door armoede op een inclusieve manier uit te bannen, en tegelijkertijd het milieu te beschermen. De Verenigde Naties doet daarom een beroep aan alle Surinaamse bedrijven om zich te committeren aan het behalen van de Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelen.

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