New York – Meeting today on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA-79) at UN Headquarters in New York. Humanitarian, development and peacebuilding leaders agreed to expand collaboration across their respective domains to boost actions for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States through integrated humanitarian, development and peacebuilding approaches that are nationally owned, conflict-sensitive and inclusive—maximizing benefit from the comparative advantages of all contributing partners. 

Their agreement concluded a panel discussion entitled “The Humanitarian, Development and Peace Nexus Series: Strengthening Cooperation to Deliver on the Promise of the 2030 Agenda,” co-hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The panel discussion built upon outcomes of the UK-Saudi Arabia Development Dialogue held in May 2024, where both countries reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating SDG progress through cooperation and innovative approaches, as well as the inaugural event of the series hosted by UNDP on the sidelines of the UNGA-78 last year. 

“It is crucial to strengthen cooperation and to levarage the HDP Nexus and other innovative solutions to improve outcomes for the world’s most vulnerable,” said Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), who chaired the meeting. “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can only be achieved if efforts are localized and adapted to best address communities in need. The growing list of urgent humanitarian crises due to conflicts and other emergencies requires an ongoing commitment from all humanitarian actors to look towards the future while addressing the present by combining humanitarian, development, and peace efforts to create a better world for all.” 

Panellists, including from the Saudi Fund for Development, the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, the federal republic of Somalia, underscored that rising global conflict is exponentially expanding humanitarian needs and significantly hindering the delivery of long-term, sustainable development, thus constraining progress towards the SDGs. With only six years left to the 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs, only 17% of SDG targets are on track.  

"Violent conflicts are now at their highest levels in nearly 80 years, triggering increasingly protracted humanitarian emergencies and erecting formidable barriers to development. Without decisive action, by the end of this decade, two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in fragile and conflict-affected areas," emphasized UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, who co-chaired the meeting. "Yet, this vicious cycle can be broken. By harnessing shared, collaborative, and complementary approaches to prevent and resolve conflict -- and investing in development that embodies the very promise of a brighter future --we can realize the SDGs’ commitment to leave no one behind." 

Panellists called for stepping-up investments in prevention and addressing root causes of conflict at the community level, to help prevent new humanitarian needs from emerging, tackle protracted crises and support countries to manage increasing and compounding risks. Furthermore, they underlined the importance of derisking development investments in crisis contexts and strengthening capacities and experience exchange among concerned partners to promote best practices in implementing HDP approaches. 

Co-chair Lord Collins of Highbury, UK Minister for Africa emphasised that “as millions of people are suffering as a result of devastating humanitarian crises across the globe, it's essential that we continue to work with our international partners to achieve our UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This includes doubling down on best practices, listening to the voices of those most affected, addressing the long-term drivers of crises and doing all we can to ensure no one is left behind."  

In a concluding statement from the panel discussion, partners committed to advancing concrete and measurable actions to realize shared approaches to preventing and responding to conflict, humanitarian crises and fragility, and building sustainable peace and development. This includes the consideration of a HDP Cooperation Framework, that could be developed and finalized ahead of the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum in 2025, for a potential joint declaration.