First Secretary Ianthe B. Douglas
By Elilai Rengiil
First Secretary Ianthe B. Douglas of Palau’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations has urged the UN to align its development support with island countries’ priorities and deliver practical results on the ground.
Speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) at the Second Committee’s 16th plenary meeting on October 15, Douglas said assistance must be accessible, predictable and tailored to the needs of small island developing states.
The alliance said SIDS often need specialized expertise to carry out national development plans. Meeting those needs requires a sustained and effective UN presence.
AOSIS highlighted the importance of UN country teams, particularly arrangements in which one office serves several countries. It said these multi-country offices should be regularly monitored and adjusted where necessary to ensure effective services.
The alliance also sought early information about proposed reforms and the criteria used to determine how UN country teams and multi-country offices are organized.
That information would help countries make informed decisions about the future of UN development support, Douglas said.
AOSIS maintained that the General Assembly should remain the forum for decisions on the UN development system and its reform because every member state has an equal voice there.
The alliance called for stronger national ownership, better coordination among UN agencies and support aligned with countries’ priorities.
It said the goal must be a UN development system equipped to help island countries implement the 2030 Agenda and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for small island developing states.