Ambassador Birkett pledges stronger advocacy for development finance

Guyana’s candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has identified access to development finance as a key area that needs greater international attention, particularly as developing countries continue to grapple with high borrowing costs and the need for more resources to advance national development.

Speaking on her vision for the United Nations, Rodrigues-Birkett said that while the voices of small and developing states are already heard at the global organisation, greater focus is needed on ensuring that countries have the financial resources to sustain and accelerate development.

“The voices of the smaller developing States are already loud at the UN, and the call is for more development assistance at country level, for a fairer system when it comes to development finance,” she said.

The ambassador added that the high cost of borrowing can have direct implications for developing countries by limiting the fiscal space available for investments in areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, climate resilience and other development priorities.

She further acknowledged that the United Nations does not set the rules governing international financing.

The ambassador said the organisation has an important role to play through its global platform and convening power.

“The UN does not make the rules on financing. The international financial institutions do. However, the Secretary-General has a global voice and the UN has convening power,” she said.

The issue of development finance has become increasingly important for developing countries as governments seek to balance debt obligations with the need to invest in economic and social development.

Against this backdrop, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett also highlighted the importance of leveraging private-sector investment and ensuring countries are adequately prepared to attract and benefit from such investment.

“Leveraging the private sector and assisting countries to be ready for investment has also been raised…I will also continue to advocate for commitments made to be implemented,” she said.

The proposed approach would ensure that development commitments translate into tangible resources and opportunities for countries and their citizens, while strengthening the capacity of developing states to pursue sustainable and inclusive growth.

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