Madam President;
Dear Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator,
Distinguished members of the Executive Board and other delegations,
We thank Administrator Steiner for his all-encompassing remarks, as well as the members of the Board and the Secretariat for the arrangements made and documentation prepared to hold this session.
We wish to take this opportunity to reiterate our appreciation for the efforts made and results achieved by the UNDP, including its Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, in the socio-economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic for two consecutive years. The demolishing impact of the pandemic, which has compounded structural inequalities and the economic crisis globally, is a source of concern for our country and for developing countries, since it will undoubtedly reverse much of the progress made in recent decades in terms of development.
We are particularly grateful for the actions taken by the UNDP, its representative in Cuba, and the Regional Director for supporting my country's national efforts to cope with the negative effects of the pandemic. The actions implemented jointly, in support of the national response plan to COVID-19, have contributed to ensuring an effective and equitable response to the pandemic.
We are confident that, throughout this year, we will continue to count on the collaboration of the entity in our efforts to keep COVID-19 under control and during the recovery process.
Mr. Chairman,
Given the current scenario of the COVID-19, which particularly impacts on developing countries, it is critical that UNDP continues to support, mobilize resources and influence on the governments of developed countries, urging them to fulfill their Official Development Assistance commitments.
At this juncture, we believe that international cooperation is the only alternative to bring the efforts of all our States together in the common fight against the pandemic and to reverse its negative consequences. UNDP can and should play a pivotal role in integrating such efforts in cooperation with other UN entities.
However, the persistent imbalance between core and non-core resources, which has been affecting UNDP's performance for several years, impacts on the Program's ability to lead the renewal of international cooperation and to meet both accumulated needs and those arising from present or future events. The foregoing is particularly evident in our region, where the constant reduction in core resources has eroded the availability of resources for important priorities in our countries.
There is an urgent need to remedy this situation so that UNDP can engage in more strategic and flexible planning based on the needs and priorities of its recipient countries.
To conclude, I would like to reiterate our commitment to continue to strengthen the ties of cooperation between Cuba and UNDP.
Thank you.