United Nations – Saint Kitts and Nevis has bolstered opportunities and partnerships for Kittitians and Nevisians through its active and meaningful participation at the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s flagship High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
The Saint Kitts and Nevis delegation led by the Hon. Ministers Konris Maynard and Dr. Joyelle Clarke engaged with high-ranking United Nations officials, colleague Ministers and key diplomatic representatives. This includes the President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, H. E Analaena Baerbock. The dialogue focused on matchmaking and global synergies in renewable energy technologies and driving global action on economic equity for Small Island Developing States. The federation’s leadership on the implementation of the Multi-Dimensional Index (MVI), through its pilot of the Vulnerability Resilience Country Profile (VRCP), was heralded as a model for island ambition, innovation and leadership.
The Ministerial delegation also engaged with Ambassador Selwin Hart, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on Climate Action and the Just Transition. They agreed to deepen dialogue and support for modernisation of the national grid and mobilising financing to ensure the success for the green energy transition. Ministers Maynard and Clarke also reaffirmed Saint Kitts and Nevis’ support for his candidacy to lead the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as part of the CARICOM’s strategic commitment to representative multilateralism.
In furtherance of the Sustainable Island State Agenda’s focus on ensuring dignity and people-centered security, the Ministers received the Executive Director of the UN-Habitat, Annáclaudia Rossbach, at the Permanent Mission of Saint Kitts and Nevis to advance solutions and best practices for resilient, climate-smart housing. The UN Habitat’s mandate reflects the Saint Kitts and Nevis government’s philosophy that “everyone has a fundamental human right to housing, which ensures access to a safe, secure, habitable, and affordable home. UN-Habitat places affordability, sustainability and inclusiveness of the housing sector at the core of the urbanization process to ensure access to adequate housing for all. Housing is more than just a roof; it’s the opportunity for better lives and a better future.”
Building on Saint Kitts and Nevis’ successful hosting of the Sixth High-Level Meeting of Ministers and Authorities on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030 which took place in Saint Kitts and Nevis on December 5, 2024, the delegation met with Mr. Kamal Kishore, Head of the United Nations’ Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to advance cooperation in the face of the impending hurricane season and its accompanying intensified Cat-5 hurricanes, prolonged droughts and public health crises.
In the margins, the Hon. Ministers also reconnected with H. E. Ambassador Tom Chih-Chiang Lee, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York to reiterate the Federation’s unwavering commitment to its partnership with the Republic of China (Taiwan). Equally, the Hon. Minister Clarke who is currently serving as the Vice-President of the United Nations Environment Assembly sat with her colleague Minister and President of the UNEA, Hon. Matthew Samuda of Jamaica to discuss and strategize on their leadership of the Assembly.
When asked about the Federation’s strategy for partnership and cooperation, the Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Terrance Drew highlighted the Government’s ambition by noting that “our march towards sustainability, resilience and security is not automatic”. He further impressed that “it requires diligence, determination and targeted diplomacy – working with multilateral and bilateral partners to bridge understanding gaps, cultivate partnerships and secure synergies”. Regarding the nation’s Second VNR presentation, the Hon. Prime Minister stated that it “highlights a vision for transformation, and the United Nations is an integral partner for sustainable development.”
The 2026 session of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) concluded with the adoption by acclamation of a progressive Ministerial Declaration intended to drive momentum for international cooperation on sustainable development. The 2026 Ministerial Declaration identifies current trends, successes, and challenges, and their impacts on accelerating the implementation of the SDGs, alongside priority actions for advancing transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.