Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Executive Director,
We commend UNICEF's continued leadership in advancing the rights and wellbeing of children in an increasingly complex and challenging global environment. In this context, UNICEF's mandate, and its ability to deliver at scale, remains more important than ever.
At the outset, New Zealand would like to acknowledge and thank UNICEF staff around the world for their extraordinary efforts in responding to recent humanitarian crises. In some of the world's most difficult and dangerous operating environments, UNICEF personnel continue to provide lifesaving assistance, protect children and support essential services under exceptionally challenging circumstances. Their commitment deserves our recognition and appreciation.
We particularly value UNICEF's focus on children furthest behind, including those affected by conflict, displacement and humanitarian crises, and its emphasis on strengthening national systems and long-term resilience.
New Zealand places particular importance on UNICEF's engagement in our Pacific region. Children in the Pacific face disproportionate risks from climate change, geographic isolation and capacity constraints. We welcome UNICEF's continued work to support climate resilience, child protection, health, disability inclusion and locally led approaches across Pacific Island countries.
Turning to the broader system context, New Zealand strongly supports the Secretary-General's UN80 initiative. We need a UN development system that is more focused, efficient and coordinated. For UNICEF, reforms should strengthen the organisation's ability to deliver for children, particularly at country level and in humanitarian settings. UNICEF's operational capabilities, technical expertise, global reach and supply and logistics functions are core strengths that should be preserved and reinforced through reform efforts.
We also support reforms that reduce fragmentation across the UN development system, strengthen the Resident Coordinator system, improve accountability for collective results, and make greater use of comparative advantages across agencies. However, efficiencies should not come at the expense of delivery capacity. Retaining in-country and regional expertise will remain essential to achieving results for children, particularly in vulnerable and remote contexts.
Executive Director, New Zealand remains concerned about the challenging funding environment facing UNICEF. Core funding is essential to enable UNICEF to respond rapidly to crises, sustain critical services and invest in long-term development outcomes. We encourage all partners to continue supporting UNICEF through quality funding.
In closing, New Zealand reaffirms its strong support for UNICEF and its vital role in advancing the rights and wellbeing of every child. We look forward to working together to ensure UNICEF remains effective, focused and equipped to deliver for children in an increasingly complex world.