United Nations Jamaica 76th Anniversary

For almost two years we’ve all been impacted by the most dangerous challenge our world has faced in our lifetime – COVID-19. This pandemic has certainly highlighted the fragility of our health system and exacerbated deep inequalities including access to technology and a global financial and supply chain system that disadvantages hundreds of millions of people all over the world. But the coronavirus pandemic has also reminded us of our common humanity. As frontline workers led the charge against the lethal infection, racing around the globe, countless stories emerged of disparate communities joining together, of boundaries breaking down, and of strange bedfellows making common cause against the threat. Collaborative relationships built on mutual trust have accelerated and reached new levels of intimacy. Everything frommobilizing new resources, to filling the urgent need for vaccines, face masks, ventilators, screening tests, and of course getting services and information to the people in need, required governments, civil society organisations, the private sector and development partners to effectively work together. Where we have been successful, it has been mainly because of community, national, regional and global level partnerships. As we continue the path to recovery, it is going to be critical that this important lesson - the need for strong, enduring, reliable and productive partnerships - be embedded in our collective efforts to address future shocks and build back better. This crisis presents critical opportunities to seize this moment of disruption and secure a collective future of prosperity, to redesign our approach to resilience and to advance our collective agenda to achieve the SDGs by 2030. This will of course require that we continue to forge new and strengthen existing alliances. We at the UN are committed to this. Jamaica has long understood this, and I applaud its leadership in calling for greater regional and global cooperation. I also commend the people and government of Jamaica for braving this pandemic with resilience and for many times setting a global example. Over the past few years, it has been a privilege for the UN country team to work with key stakeholders in supporting programmes that help mitigate the impacts of climate change, promote digital inclusion and youth participation, explore innovative ways to diversify the economy, ensure that children can access learning, unlock the true potential of the blue and green economies, create private-sector opportunities, improve food security and agriculture productivity, prevent violence especially as it impacts families, women and girls and increase access to development financing – all while supporting national efforts to fight against the health and socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19. Still, we realize that we need to do more. And with the commitment of the UN SG, backed by member states, to continue the reforms, the new coordination instruments provided under the Multi- Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026, will help us deepen our collaboration with communities, government and other key actors in Jamaica to find innovative ways to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. On this UN day, I would like to thank you, Jamaica, for being a proactive partner and for your commitment to sustainable and inclusive change. Working together, we will emerge from the pandemic stronger, more agile, and better equipped to address the growing demands placed on all of us. From the Secretary-General of the United Nations and your UN Country Team, Happy United Nations Day Jamaica! Dr. Garry Conille UN Resident Coordinator Jamaica, Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and The Cayman Islands A Reinvigorated UN Partnership with Jamaica MESSAGES 5 THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN JAMAICA