UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner concluded a three-day official visit to Brazil during which he engaged in high-level discussions with a range of senior Government officials to discuss the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) support to the country’s development priorities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, governance and advancing decisive climate action. As Brazil assumes the Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) in January 2024 — a gathering of many of the world’s largest economies — Mr. Steiner highlighted Brazil’s increasingly vital role on the global stage including to ‘unite’ the environmental agenda with the economic agenda.
Mr. Steiner held discussions with Brazil’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Fernando Haddad, that focused on the country’s plan for an ecological transition and its work to drive forward reform of the international financial architecture, which is vital to help developing countries to address current finance for development challenges including the growing debt crisis and their ability to invest in key areas like climate action and invest in a just energy transition.
In his meeting with Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mauro Vieira, Mr. Steiner underlined UNDP’s tailored support to Brazil advancement of the SDGs including tackling the climate emergency and expanding international cooperation in key areas such as digital transformation, innovation, and finance for development.
With the UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, starting this November, Mr. Steiner’s meeting with Brazil’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Ms. Marina Silva, focused on the country’s efforts towards eliminating deforestation and the importance of safeguarding the Amazon and its biodiversity to slow climate change. “We are at an extraordinary moment in Brazil, with the country determined to unite the climate and development agendas,” said the UNDP Administrator. “In this regard, Brazil can an example to the world as it dismantles this false dichotomy of having to choose between the economy and the environment,” he added.
And in conversation with Mr. Marcelo Thomé, President of Instituto Amazônia +21, Mr. Steiner elaborated on UNDP’s commitment to sustainable development in the Amazon region including via the design of innovative financing instruments, participation of the private sector and the industry sector, and support to small businesses that promote the protection of biodiversity in the region through promotive approaches.
Tackling the root causes of poverty and inequalities was high on the agenda during a meeting between Osmar Ribeiro Junior, Executive Secretariat of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Mr. Steiner.
The mission provided Mr. Steiner with an opportunity to meet with a range of key counterparts including Luiz Roberto Barroso, President of the Federal Supreme Court and the National Council of Justice (CNJ). A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the CNJ, represented by Minister Barroso; and UNDP, represented by Mr. Claudio Providas, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Brazil. This provides a basis to advance joint projects and initiatives to enhance the access and efficiency of the justice system including via digital solutions.
On the final day of his mission, Mr. Steiner joined a gathering with Mr. Vital do Rego, Vice-President of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU). Alongside other auditors, Mr. do Rego underscored the enduring partnership between TCU and UNDP — spanning both the national and international spheres — to help drive forward effective governance and sustainable development. This cooperation is particularly significant as Brazil currently chairs the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).
At a meeting with United Nations personnel hosted by the Resident Coordinator a.i. at the UN House in Brasília, Mr. Steiner joined Mr. Guy Ryder – USG for Policy – to thanked them for their dedicated efforts to support Brazil to drive forward progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. “The UN Development System is a natural partner for Brazil in achieving its sustainable development priorities. UNDP is a committed partner in the UN Country team as we focus on implementing the objectives of our shared development cooperation framework.”
Mr. Steiner also met with Mr. Francisco Gaetani, the Extraordinary Secretary for State Transformation, where discussions centered on projects aimed at modernizing state-owned companies and designing future-smart public policies.
In a meeting with Mr. Marcio Pochmann, the President of the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE), a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between UNDP and IBGE, which underlined the enduring partnership between these institutions as well as their commitment to further collaboration in the years ahead.
