Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield Spotlights U.S. Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, is gearing up for the 2023 SDG Summit with a visual display in the lobby of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations spotlighting U.S. initiatives that advance the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The United States supports the 2030 Agenda because the SDGs are, at their heart, about expanding economic opportunity, narrowing the disparity, caring for our planet, good governance, and ensuring no one is left behind. That is the American mission at its core,” said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.
The Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action, galvanizing efforts toward poverty eradication, quality education, gender equality, clean water, and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work, industry innovation, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace and justice, and partnerships for achieving these goals.
U.S. Supports Libyan Response to Catastrophic Floods
In a separate statement, the United States expressed its deepest condolences to the people of Libya who are suffering from catastrophic flooding caused by severe rainfall due to Storm Daniel and the subsequent failure of two dams. These devastating events have claimed more than 6,000 lives, injured thousands, and left thousands missing and unaccounted for.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced an initial $1 million in humanitarian assistance to help meet the most immediate needs in Libya. Additionally, a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) has been activated to the North Africa region to lead the U.S. government’s humanitarian response. Comprised of disaster experts from USAID, this team will identify priority needs and coordinate with Libyan and international humanitarian partners to deliver support.
“Our thoughts are with the Libyan people as they cope with this horrific disaster. The American people are committed to supporting the people of Libya during this difficult time,” the statement read.
‘Historic’ Effort to Accelerate Global COVID-19 Vaccine Access
The United States has also reflected on its historic effort to accelerate global COVID-19 vaccine delivery, demand, and uptake. A new report details the far-reaching impact of the U.S. Government’s Initiative for Global Vaccine Access, known as Global VAX. This initiative was launched in 2021 as a united government effort to help countries overcome challenges related to COVID-19 vaccine delivery and uptake.
Global VAX committed more than $1.8 billion and provided technical support and diplomatic engagement to rapidly increase access to and confidence in vaccines in more than 120 partner countries. Notably, this effort significantly increased COVID-19 vaccination rates in low-income countries, particularly in Africa.
The report underscores how Global VAX leveraged the full range of the U.S. government’s global health programs and laid the foundation for stronger, more robust health systems with increased capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to future waves of COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks.
Advancing Public-Private Humanitarian Partnerships
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield also addressed a UN Security Council Open Debate on Advancing Public-Private Humanitarian Partnership. She emphasized the need for bolder action, breaking out of business-as-usual models, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Highlighting the urgency of addressing humanitarian crises, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield commended examples of successful partnerships with the private sector, including collaborations in logistics, aid delivery, and support for refugees. She called for the public sector to proactively work with the private sector to harness their expertise and innovations in achieving humanitarian goals.