PR-LEVEL BRIEFING: FOURTH FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE (FFD4) OUTCOME DOCUMENT ZERO-DRAFT
STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR REBECCA BRYANT, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF AUSTRALIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
22 January 2025
Thank you, Ambassador, good morning excellencies, colleagues.
Let me start by thanking you, the Co-Facilitators for your hard work in getting us to this point in the FFD4 process, and for convening this briefing to hear reflections on the zero-draft.
We are encouraged by the strong alignment from a diverse range of stakeholders on the key element of the zero-draft. Its ambition and action-oriented focus provides an excellent starting point for achieving a consensus outcome at Seville.
That said, there is still a lot of work to do. We need an outcome that addresses the challenges of today and beyond, to fully implement the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.
We welcome the zero-draft’s focus on elevating country-led development and revitalising the development effectiveness agenda. This includes increasing voice and representation of developing countries and backing inclusive country-led national platforms to strengthen coordination of development partners in support of country plans and strategies.
We welcome the focus on aligning financing with cross-cutting issues, including on gender equality, climate and the environment, disaster risk reduction strategies, social protection, collection and use of disaggregated data, and addressing the digital divide.
However, we note the absence of text on financing for people with disabilities and indigenous people and communities. We must uplift all, including marginalised groups.
We must also strengthen use of innovative financing tools, such as guarantees and blended finance, to catalyse domestic public resources and private investment at scale.
As we continue to explore new commitments in the text, we must not lose sight of the need to address the unique challenges of the smallest and most vulnerable, particularly countries in special situations.
Critically, we must ensure the Seville outcome leaves no one behind.
Australia is determined to play a constructive role in building a consensus outcome. We stand ready to work with you all.
Thank you.