Bulgaria’s UN Ambassador banged the gavel as President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the first time on Monday with a vow to build on the “solid foundation” left by the outgoing head and his bureau to transform the world into “a better place for the people of today and tomorrow”.
Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva said in her opening statement that she was “honoured and humbled” to have been elected to lead one of the principal organs of the UN, while noting that the upcoming session will be “especially challenging for the world”.
In addition to COVID recovery, she highlighted the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has “triggered massive food insecurity, energy shortages and financial crises”.
The new ECOSOC chief elaborated on initiatives to assist in overcoming “the crises that have engulfed our societies”.
Setting her agenda
As ECOSOC President, Ms. Stoeva’s said her first priority was to ensure that the Council and the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) which is the climax of its work each year, provides “solid, evidence-based, innovative and actionable policy guidance” to curb and address the pandemic’s impacts on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UN Haiti/Daniel Dickinson
Secondly, she aims to help bridge the “great finance divide” that has sharply curtailed the ability of many developing nations to recover.
Her third priority is to ensure preparations advance for the SDG Summit taking place in September 2023, by building momentum and reviving “the passion that characterized the elaboration and implementation of the SDGs”, which were agreed in 2015.
Fourth, she aims to build on the success of this year’s Humanitarian Affairs Segment to “support and reinforce” the UN and its humanitarian partners in addressing “profound humanitarian challenges” worldwide.
Fifth, Ambassador Stoeva aims to follow-up on the recommendations made to ECOSOC in the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda blueprint for action, while her sixth priority will be to provide better access to youth, civil society and others.
Her final priority she said, would be to implement the recommendations adopted by the General Assembly in June 2021 for reforming the work of ECOSOC and the HLPF.
Ambassador Stoeva assumed her duties as Bulgaria’s Permanent Representative to the UN in February last year and has served as ECOSOC Vice-President responsible for the Management Segment, where she successfully led the Council’s review of the Functional Commissions and Expert Bodies.
Fond farewell
In a heartfelt speech, outgoing President Collen Kelapile said that he was “deeply honoured and elated” to have served in the top job for the past year.
Reminding that it was the first time that Botswana had occupied the seat, he described it as “a momentous occasion for both my country and I personally”.
Before handing over the reins, Mr. Kelapile looked back at the main theme of both ECOSOC and the HLPF this month, highlighting the “eight broad priorities”, of his term, which included vaccine equity, inequalities, post-conflict recovery, and youth engagement.
He also highlighted the Council’s new Coordination Segment and a revitalized Partnership Forum to guide its subsidiary bodies, reminding that it has dealt with conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian emergencies, including in Haiti, South Sudan, and the Sahel region.
The outgoing President also drew attention to meetings during his tenure surrounding the climate crisis, implementing the New Urban Agenda, and supporting the advance of the SDGs during the recent months of crises on multiple fronts.
“I am pleased that the Council adopted a Resolution last Friday to ensure implementation of the outcomes of the Operational Activities for Development Segment,” he said.
© UNICEF/Bullen Chol
A girl walks home from school after the Nile river flooded on the outskirts of Juba, South Sudan.
Championing the vulnerable
As President, he reminded that ECOSOC continued to advocate for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as a special push on behalf of African countries, “providing them a platform to share their experiences and development challenges”.
The Council has been actively involved in preparations for the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs next year, and in 2024, the Third Conference on LLDCs and the Fourth Conference on SIDS, he said.
Ambassador Kelapile has called for strengthened international cooperation, global solidarity and partnerships to overcome their development challenges and lent support for inclusive and sustainable recovery in these countries.
Looking ahead
In passing the gavel to Ambassador Stoeva, he wished her “all the best” in leading ECOSOC’s work on COVID-19 recovery, and implementing the 2030 Agenda during the Decade of Action.
He thanked all who supported him and asked that they “extend the same support and cooperation” to her.
In closing, Ambassador Kelapile stressed the need to work together “harder” and coordinate further.
“With less than eight years to 2030, it is clear that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals must remain our guiding framework”.
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It’s inspiring to see Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva taking on the role of ECOSOC President with such determination to tackle the crises that are affecting our societies. Her commitment to providing evidence-based policy guidance for sustainable development is commendable. Looking forward to seeing positive changes under her leadership.
I believe Ambassador Stoeva’s commitment to addressing the current crises and her focus on providing evidence-based policy guidance for tackling the pandemic’s impacts on the SDGs are crucial steps in creating a better future for all. Her determination inspires hope in these challenging times.
I think Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva’s leadership will bring a fresh perspective to the challenges our world is facing. It’s crucial to have strong leaders who are dedicated to creating positive change.
I believe Ambassador Stoeva’s commitment to addressing the multiple crises affecting our world is commendable. Her focus on providing evidence-based policy guidance to tackle the impacts of the pandemic on the Sustainable Development Goals shows a dedication to creating a better future for all.
How will Ambassador Stoeva address the challenges of both COVID recovery and the ongoing war in Ukraine simultaneously?
Hey Liz_84, it seems like Ambassador Stoeva has her work cut out for her! She mentioned in her opening statement that the upcoming session will be particularly challenging due to the crises affecting the world. By focusing on initiatives to assist in overcoming these crises and providing evidence-based policy guidance, she is striving to address both COVID recovery and the war in Ukraine simultaneously.
As a concerned citizen, I am impressed by Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva’s dedication to tackling the crises affecting our world. Her commitment to providing evidence-based policy guidance for sustainable development goals is crucial in these challenging times.
Ms. Stoeva’s commitment to addressing the crises affecting our societies is truly commendable. Her emphasis on evidence-based policy guidance to tackle the pandemic’s impacts on the SDGs is crucial for a sustainable future.
Could you provide more details on how Ambassador Stoeva plans to address the challenges mentioned in the article?
Hi JennySmith21, Ambassador Stoeva aims to tackle the challenges by focusing on initiatives to assist in overcoming the crises at hand. Her priority is to ensure that the Council provides evidence-based policy guidance to address the pandemic’s impacts on the Sustainable Development Goals. Stay tuned for updates!
How will Ambassador Stoeva’s initiatives specifically target the food insecurity and financial crises triggered by the war in Ukraine?
I believe Ambassador Stoeva’s commitment to addressing the crises affecting our societies is commendable. Her focus on providing evidence-based policy guidance to tackle the pandemic’s impacts on the SDGs shows a proactive approach to building a better future for all.
As a citizen of the world, I believe Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva’s determination to address the pressing global issues is commendable. Her focus on providing evidence-based policy guidance to tackle the pandemic’s impacts on the Sustainable Development Goals is crucial for a better future for all.