UN resident rep. says, believes country provides sustainable strategies for achieving global goals

GUYANA’s development model is bolstered by a robust budgetary and planning framework, ensuring the proactive implementation of strategies and initiatives to meet global sustainability goals, according to United Nations Resident Representative Yesim Oruc.

Oruc, in a recent media engagement, asserted that other nations can adopt the country’s development model.
Eight years ago, member states gathered at the United Nations to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Guyana has a development model which is very well pinned by a very strong budgetary and planning framework on the Global Goals [and] presents a lot of lessons learned for other countries. In Guyana, the presentation on its own achievements for the SDGs there are some good practices there that other countries could emulate from budgeting from planning,” Oruc said.

Nations have committed to addressing global challenges related to poverty, access to food and water, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.
These are part of 17 goals, which are all interconnected.

In Guyana, particularly much focus has been placed on improving access to fresh and clean water, especially in vulnerable communities some of which are located in the hinterland regions of the country.

Referencing recent statistics provided by the Ministry of Housing and Water here, Oruc praised the country for its delivery of clean water to these communities.
It was reported that prior to August 2020, the hinterland coverage was only 46 per cent of the population. It has already been increased to 75 per cent by the end of 2022 and is targeted to achieve 85 per cent by the end of 2023.

The delivery of water and sanitation is one of the many key targets set out by the UN.
Oruc further proceeded to commend the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDs), a framework that delineates the nation’s intentions for climate and energy security.
She said: “When those plans are fully achieved, they will indeed present a great best practice and right now in terms of planning and budgetary practices…we do think there are very good practices that other countries of the region but also globally would be worthy of replication and learning more of.”

In recent months, Guyana has received significant recognition for its work in championing climate, energy and food security.
In fact, the country was recently appointed by the commonwealth secretariat to develop a framework on climate change and forest preservation.
Guyana will be participating in the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference/ Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC also known as COP 28. The country is expected to host a side event at the major conference.