Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Chair of the United Nations Development Group, Helen Clark, gave a rousing speech at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly, highlighting the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will succeed the MDGs at the end of 2015.
Clark spoke of the goals and targets of the SDGs, labelling them as being “broader and more ambitious than that of the Millennium Development Goals.”
She said that the SDGs are aimed at achieving inclusive growth, decent work, infrastructure and improvements, comprehensive social policies, environmental sustainability; promoting peaceful and inclusive societies with access to justice for all and accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
The head of the UNDP stated that the United Nations system was committed to successfully implementing the post-2015 development agenda and would do so using an integrated approach called MAPS – Mainstreaming, Acceleration, and Policy Support as the framework to supporting countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Clark noted that huge investments were needed to meet the demands of the SDGs, and as such, stated that fresh approaches are needed.
She added that the UN would continue to support countries to focus on, and accelerate progress on their development priorities.
