The Government of Samoa officially handed over the new wing of the One UN House at Tuanaimato to the United Nations on Friday, to coincide with the visit to the country by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

The United Nations moved to its current location at Tuanaimato in 2017, when the Government of Samoa handed over one of the main facilities used for the UN’s Third SIDS Conference, hosted by Samoa in 2014.

“It is the hope that the new wing will enable and complete the merge of all UN agencies to follow the structural framework for the Samoa Multi-Country Office and to work collectively as the UN country team on the ground to deliver on the national development needs of Samoa and for the whole cluster including Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau,” said Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, who represented the Government of Samoa at the handover.

There are currently 15 UN agencies operating in Samoa, most of which are housed in the One UN premises, while others are spread out at different strategic locations around Apia.

The completion of the new wing will bring together more UN agencies under the common premises and will significantly advance the Secretary General’s efficiency agenda as part of the UN reform on the repositioning of the UN development system.

“This visit is not just about paying tribute and solidarity for the people of Samoa, but also a visit of gratitude. Gratitude to the Government of Samoa that has provided the UN with absolutely fantastic premises. It is remarkable that despite all the challenges the Government faces, the generosity with which it has allowed the UN to work in such fantastic premises deserves not only gratitude but great admiration,” said Secretary General, Guterres.

“I thank the government and people of Samoa for their warm welcome and exceptional hospitality. It is a privilege to visit this beautiful island. To experience its rich culture. And to witness both its immense resilience and its extreme vulnerability. Samoa is a firm friend of the United Nations and an active supporter of multilateralism. I applaud your fierce advocacy for climate justice in international climate negotiations, and your commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.”

The SG’s visit to the One UN House also coincided with the launch of the UN joint programme, “Catalyzing the Samoa National Food Systems Transformation Agenda through Collective Action”, which is funded by the joint SDG fund. The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Laauli Leuatea Polataivao, and the Minister of Health, Hon. Valasi Tafito Selesele launched the initiative in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The Secretary General’s two-day visit to Samoa is an affirmation of the UN’s solidarity with Samoa, and the Pacific region, as it navigates complex challenges such as the existential threat of climate change.