Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the fourteen (14) Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). We welcome the convening of this important session, amidst a moment of profound uncertainties and challenges.

On one hand, the 2030 Agenda is nearing its deadline with only 14% of the SDG targets on track. On the other, the multilateral system is facing headwinds, characterized by fiscal tightening and a troubling erosion of the very international norms that protect developing countries, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Our countries continue to confront a convergence of crises that threaten livelihoods, economic stability, food and water security, and the very territorial integrity of some of our nations.

For CARICOM, this is not an academic debate; it is an existential reality. Just a few examples: last year, Hurricane Melissa caused damages equivalent to 41% of Jamaica’s GDP. For Dominica, the damage from Hurricane Maria exceeded 200% of GDP.

Despite contributing less than 1% to global emissions, we are paying 14% interest rates on loans to rebuild, while developed nations pay at average 3-4%. As we continue to face rising costs from climate shocks, we continue to be deeply impacted by the rising costs of energy, trade and supply chain disruptions that compromise our ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and our own commitments for a better life for our citizens.

Therefore, for CARICOM resilience is not only about recovering from crises. It is about building societies that are equitable, inclusive, and capable of withstanding future shocks.

The theme of this segment, “From innovation to impact,” is therefore a lifeline, not a slogan.

CARICOM recognizes the important role of the resident Coordinator system and UN country teams in supporting national priorities. However, greater coherence, flexibility and tailored support are still needed, particularly for Small Island Developing States with limited institutional and technical capacity.

We welcome the long overdue Expertise- on-Demand Mechanism and urge rapid implementation. The Group furthermore welcomes the Joint Knowledge Hubs, including the planned hubs on climate change and science, technology and innovation (STI) and urges additional hubs on Disaster Resilience, and partnerships which are priorities for CARICOM.

While these reforms will increase efficiency in the delivery of services, we still need a UN Development System to shift gears from addressing vulnerability to building resilience.

To achieve this, CARICOM calls for urgent action in three specific areas of UN operational activities.

First, the group emphasizes the imperative of Financing Alignment and Risk Rethinking.

The Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) mandates a more coherent UN system, yet fragmentation remains a serious obstacle to SIDS. The current international financial architecture is structurally biased against our resilience. Our prospects for achieving the SDGs would be considerably enhanced if the UN system support were fully integrated, including with  the Bretton Woods institutions.

The UN development system must leverage its normative role to advocate for the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) as the universal standard for accessing concessional finance. Furthermore, as the Caribbean moves to operationalize its Climate Finance Action Plan (2026-2030), we urge that the UN Country Teams shift from short-term project cycles to long-term, predictable capital investments in resilience.

We welcome the UN’s investment of approximately $200 million under the current Multi-Country Cooperation Framework, but we need a quantum leap in blended finance and risk mitigation tools to de-risk private investment for blue and green economies .

Second, Innovation must evolve from fragmented small scale pilots to coordinated regional transformation. For this, we need the UN development system to facilitate technology transfer at scale. CARICOM is an emerging leader in environmental governance—with two Member States currently presiding over the UN Environment Assembly —yet our transition to renewable energy and the circular economy is hampered by a lack of accessible technology.

The UN must act as the honest broker to bring the private sector and research institutions to the table, ensuring we are not just absorbing innovation, but co-creating it, with greater involvement of our youth.

Thirdly, Mr. President, a resilient system requires resilient people. The Caribbean is undergoing a profound economic transformation driven by digitalization and climate adaptation . We cannot wait for traditional four-year degrees to fill the skills gap in disaster management, a just energy transition, and  climate-smart agriculture. Enhanced support for digital transformation, capacity building, and technology transfer is imperative, to ensure that innovation contributes meaningfully to sustainable and inclusive growth.

In closing Mr. President,

The United Nations development system must continue evolving to meet the realities of our time. But as we work together to ensure that the United Nations can continue to support the most vulnerable countries, we are equally committed to ensuring that we create a high-performing organization, fit for purpose.

Hence, reforms must avoid a “one size fits all” approach that fails to account for the unique vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States.

For CARICOM it is imperative that the recalibration of the UN country presence and the regional reset safeguards local presence, secures predictable financing, and prioritizes delivery effectiveness tailored to the specific developmental needs of our region.

CARICOM remains committed to working constructively with all partners to advance sustainable development, climate justice, and a multilateral system that enable real improvement of the lives of our people.

I thank you.