S/PV.9418Resumption1 Security Council

The President: I would like to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than three minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Flashing lights on the collars of the microphones will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after three minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Qatar.

Ms. Al-Thani (Qatar) (spoke in Arabic): We welcome the presence this morning of His Excellency Mr. Igli Hasani, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, and would like to congratulate him on assuming his Office. We would also like to congratulate his friendly country on assuming the presidency of the Security Council. We thank him for convening this meeting to shed light on an important subject. Furthermore, I would like to express my appreciation to Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme; Mr. Jared Cohen, President of Global Affairs at Goldman Sachs; and Mr. Michael Miebach, Chief Executive Officer at Mastercard, for their informative briefings made this morning. I take this opportunity to commend the constructive initiatives taken by their corporations in the context of partnership with the private sector as good examples of partnership to improve humanitarian and economic situations throughout the world. The unprecedented diverse and escalating challenges that we are currently facing, whether owing to armed conflicts, natural disasters, climate change, earthquakes, floods or coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, have all led to catastrophic humanitarian crises worldwide. We listened earlier to some of the aspects of the humanitarian needs to which we, as the international community, must respond. As a responsible and active member of the international community, the State of Qatar is at the forefront of countries committed to providing humanitarian aid to those affected by catastrophes and humanitarian crises. We also provide development assistance to establish peace, stability and sustainable development, especially in developing countries, least-developed countries and countries affected by crises and those emerging from them. This week, my country was among the first countries that sent hundreds of tons of emergency humanitarian relief to our brothers and sisters affected by floods in Libya and those affected by the earthquake in Morocco, in addition to the relief aid provided by the State of Qatar this year to our brothers in the Sudan and our brothers in Syria and Türkiye in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes. Over the past two years, the State of Qatar has made great efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan by establishing airlifts to transport tens of thousands of Afghans and foreign nationals via Doha. We have also hosted Afghans and provided education opportunities to Afghan girls and contributed to the reconstruction of the Kabul airport to facilitate humanitarian aid. Given the various global challenges, the United Nations and Member States shoulder the bulk of responsibility for exploring and benefiting from all the means available to make up for the shortfall in the humanitarian response. In that regard, we should not underestimate the transformative potential of the private sector, which constitutes a key stakeholder in terms of humanitarian, emergency and development assistance, as well as its role in helping communities affected by socioeconomic and ecological disasters. The private sector is part of the broader community and can be affected as well, but it can have an impact on communities by promoting inclusiveness and flexibility. Through its emergency and development efforts, the State of Qatar recognizes the added value that can be provided by the private sector in various fields, the most important of which is the humanitarian arena. That is why we attach importance to partnerships with the private sector at the national level in a number of areas, such as projects that contribute to limiting carbon emissions and mitigating the climate crisis. At the international level, the State of Qatar has promoted a number of relief campaigns, including the Al-Fakhoura campaign for the Gaza Strip. We also encourage partnership between civil society and the private sector in order to provide financial contributions. At the same time, nonetheless, we realize that corporate institutions can provide more than just money. For example, the private sector can provide significant technical and logistic expertise in modern technologies, digital technology, communications, data analysis and artificial intelligence. The United Nations undeniably has a pivotal role to play in partnership with the private sector, thereby benefitting from modern technology and innovation. Accordingly, the State of Qatar supports the Innovation Cell of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs as part of the contribution agreement that was signed by both parties this year within the framework of the expanded partnership since the State of Qatar announced its generous multi-year unearmarked $500 million contribution to support the core resources of United Nations agencies and bodies, including in partnership with the private sector. In conclusion, we acknowledge the enthusiasm and willingness of the private sector, which were demonstrated, for example, by the briefings of Mr. Cohen and Mr. Miebach. The private sector is ready to constructively engage with States and international institutions to advocate for vulnerable people and improve the economic and humanitarian situation for all. We look forward to additional meaningful partnerships with the private sector to achieve our shared goals. The State of Qatar stands ready to continue its positive engagement with partners, including the private sector, to honour our humanitarian commitments.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Thailand.

Mr. Chindawongse (Thailand): The Global Humanitarian Overview in July informs us that humanitarian funding requirements in 2023 have surpassed $55 billion to support almost 250 million people affected by conflict, climate change, disease outbreaks and other crises. Regrettably, our efforts up until July this year fulfilled only 25 per cent of those needs. This is therefore an urgent call for all to take greater part in supporting the most fundamental of tasks, namely, that of saving lives. In particular, we support the role of the private sector — through financial support, technology, innovation and even the delivery of humanitarian assistance itself. Therefore, we thank you, Mr. President, for organizing and presiding over this important meeting on this critical topic, and we commend the briefers this morning, the private sector and all stakeholders for their commitment and contributions to peace. I wish to highlight three points. First, public-private partnership should share the same commitment to upholding international humanitarian law and the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence, in accordance with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs-World Economic Forum Guiding Principles for Public-Private Collaboration for Humanitarian Action. A departure from those principles could fuel misunderstanding, even suspicion, and complicate conflict resolution, especially as such assistance is often delivered across the fault lines of conflict. At the same time, all parties to the conflict must refrain from politicizing humanitarian efforts. Instead, they should help ensure safe and unhindered access to such efforts. Helping people in difficult and even life-threatening conditions and situations must take precedence over political interests. Secondly, humanitarian partnership should encompass public, private and people elements. Our people must be at the front and centre of our efforts, complemented by a whole-of-society approach to ensure that our assistance responds to people’s needs in a timely manner. In the case of disaster management, for example, the expertise and know-how of the private sector can play a key part in strengthening emergency preparedness and humanitarian response. The power of the business sector’s technological advancements, including satellite, drone and artificial intelligence technologies, could be leveraged towards enhanced disaster prevention and better delivery of humanitarian assistance. The presence of the private sector operating in the area could offer not just a possible funding base, but also logistical support and engagement with the locals. Thailand recognizes the need for such a whole-of- society approach. In July this year, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation held the first-ever national assembly on disaster management as a platform for stakeholders, public and private, to exchange views and experiences in order to collaborate on the design of national disaster management policies. Thirdly and lastly, the role of the private sector can contribute to peace efforts across the entire continuum. As public-private partnership in humanitarian assistance can help alleviate human suffering in the immediate term, private investment in peacebuilding and private sources of financing for development can help pave the way for sustaining peace in the longer term. We need to mobilize collective efforts to alleviate hardship, build institutions and infrastructure for sustainable growth, promote resilience in post-conflict rebuilding, and thereby prevent compounding crises from contributing to cycles of violence. To that end, public-private partnership and the roles of other stakeholders would be most beneficial in achieving adequate, predictable and sustained financing. Such a partnership, when extended to peacebuilding and sustainable development, must be in line with national priorities and support inclusive, peace-positive endeavours. In conclusion, we know that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for all stakeholders to partner up in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and explicitly identified partnerships as one of the Goals. The achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs require all hands to be on deck. In a similar logic, multi-stakeholder partnerships are required for effective humanitarian actions, so let us — public, private and people — join hands to turbocharge efforts to attain those goals.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

Mr. Szczerski (Poland): At the outset, let me thank Albania for organizing this important open debate, and the briefers for their presentations. We live, it seems, in a state of permanent humanitarian emergency. The 2023 Global Humanitarian Overview gives us truly staggering figures. In recent decades, humanitarian emergencies have become more intricate and longer-lasting, while humanitarian disasters extend beyond the mandate or capacity of any single agency or country. The complex character of humanitarian emergencies must be addressed through comprehensive and inclusive humanitarian actions. The only way to respond adequately is through timely, consistent, coordinated actions and the appropriate involvement of stakeholders, including the private sector. We therefore welcome this event and more exchanges on effective public-private partnerships, including sharing good practices, from private companies as well. Poland appreciates the efforts of the United Nations and its agencies to involve the private sector in providing humanitarian solutions. We welcome the establishment by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of a corps of dedicated private-sector mobilization staff. We also acknowledge the key importance of localizing humanitarian aid. Local entities and businesses know the specific characteristics of a given area, and they can more easily establish relationships with the local communities. However, if we want to have the private sector on board, on the one hand, we have to demonstrate the advantages of partnership in humanitarian response and offer private-sector entities a longer perspective in terms of investment and building their brand. On the other hand, the transparency and accountability of the partnership should be guaranteed. With regard to examples of best practices, Poland is impressed by the engagement of the private sector and its cooperation with the United Nations in operations following the earthquake in Türkiye, and we hope that such operations will also be carried out in the aftermath of the tremendous devastation that recently afflicted Morocco and Libya. The war in Ukraine has showcased good examples of private-sector involvement in aid. Business entities donated in kind, cash and expertise at an unprecedented scale, and their financial assistance amounted to billions of dollars. In Poland, we have witnessed it directly. From the first weeks of the war, the Government of Poland cooperated with the private sector, which was involved in transferring humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but also in establishing logistical solutions. Many companies and corporations had established internal teams to respond to the war in Ukraine in the manner that was most beneficial from their business perspective. From temporary housing units for internally displaced persons constructed by a Polish company and assembled by Ukrainian companies to the purchase by the Polish side of some 20,000 Starlink terminals for Ukraine, we gathered many examples proving that private-sector engagement makes humanitarian aid more effective and contributes to building community resilience. As we prepare for the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, let us take seriously the commitment to leaving no one behind. We cannot allow humanitarian crises to condemn millions of people to a life without peace, security, development and human rights. Poland stands ready to cooperate with partners, including the private sector, to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Portugal.

Ms. Zacarias (Portugal): Let me start by thanking Albania for convening this important and timely debate. I also want to thank the briefers for their input and views. Every passing year, the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance grows, and consequently, every passing year, the amount of money required to assist them also grows. In order to tackle that trend, we must start by addressing the root causes of the problem. We must confront head-on the issues of armed conflict and the accelerating negative impacts of climate change. In order to do so, we need to boost a socially just green transition, and we need to secure peace by promoting sustainable and inclusive development and by encouraging all Member States to protect, respect and fulfil human rights. As we pursue that long-term strategy, we can and should focus our attention on dealing with the growing funding gap, which is currently estimated at $41 billion. Part of the answer to that funding gap, as this debate suggests, is to diversify funding sources — and also to diversify operations, in terms of both deployment and management. We welcome the fact that the humanitarian-development space is becoming enriched with a growing and more diversified number of actors, from local authorities to the business sector and civil society. That new paradigm is helping us to operationalize the triple-nexus approach, and it is a true reflection of a multi-stakeholder approach — one that allows us not only to strengthen funding, but also to make it more predictable. Although risk assessment and robust due diligence procedures are needed, public-private partnerships are already crucial in areas such as disaster risk reduction, logistics and information and communication technologies. Looking ahead, it is clear that they will also be indispensable when resorting to artificial intelligence, automation or data analytics, either to better identify populations in need or to better coordinate responses. In order to advance on this agenda, we must also start by looking at what has been done and what has worked so far. Portugal is ready to share its experience in this area with the Council. For example, in 2019, when Cyclones Idai and Kenneth hit Mozambique, we designed — together with the private sector and with local authorities — a financing mechanism that pooled funds from different sources. It was thanks to the partnership between public and private actors that this instrument was able to be deployed. It funded non-governmental organizations that focused on short-term reconstruction and long- term community resilience. Without private support, the mechanism would not have been able to equip the neonatology unit of Beira Central Hospital or to completely rebuild its ward block. In conclusion, the private sector drives technological innovation, which can render the humanitarian system more effective and efficient, both financially and operationally. We must become more agile and innovative in identifying solutions and advancing partnerships. Those in need cannot be denied the hope arising from those joint efforts.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Germany.

Mr. Zahneisen (Germany): I would like to thank the presidency for convening this timely and important debate today. At the outset, I would like to stress that Germany fully aligns itself with the statement delivered this morning on behalf of the European Union. A number of delegations have stated one figure today — the record-high humanitarian needs worldwide, standing at $55 billion. Available resources, though, cannot keep up with that increase, and the financial gap is widening in a worrisome manner. I want to add another figure. The four largest donors provide 60 per cent of all humanitarian funding. If we include what we call the traditional humanitarian donors, we reach a figure of over 90 per cent, probably even 95 per cent. That is not a sustainable situation. We must share the burden among us more broadly and more fairly, and we strongly encourage other Member States to maintain and, ideally, scale up their humanitarian engagement through the United Nations and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. At the same time, we must rethink how the humanitarian system is working. We urgently need innovative financing schemes. Blending financing is one option. Other ideas are more investment in nexus approaches to reduce the new material needs in the first place and strategic investments to make the system more efficient, effective and responsive. We believe the private sector can and should play a pivotal role. We are of the firm conviction that public- private partnerships have the potential for being a source of financial support for the humanitarian system, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) proves the case. Just last year, UNHCR was able to raise more than $1 billion through private sector funding. In that regard, we support the initiative of the Albania presidency to create a digital platform, drawing donations from corporations and foundations to help alleviate the growing desperation of people across the world. But equally important is structural change within the humanitarian and development system. The technical know-how and the expertise and innovation of the private sector are drivers of change that need to be better tapped. Many humanitarian partners have already established successful partnerships with the private sector. I am proud to say that my country has been an early supporter of public-private partnerships in the humanitarian field. Since we heard the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) address the Council this morning, I would like to focus only on WFP partnerships. We have been funding and supporting the WFP Innovation Accelerator in Munich for many years. The Accelerator seeks innovative solutions to improve the humanitarian system and improve food security, including through humanitarian cash cards for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan based on blockchain technology, one of the Accelerator’s outcomes. In close cooperation with Google, the Accelerator also developed an artificial-intelligence-driven programme to better analyse satellite imagery to assess structural damage after earthquakes. In practice, that will increase the responsiveness after disasters manifold, in terms of speed and the quality of assessment. Frankly, the size of operations of partners does not matter. Small partners can make a difference, too. A Berlin start-up, for instance, has been a crucial partner for setting up ShareTheMeal, the WFP’s fundraising app. In 2022, ShareTheMeal raised over $28 million from an audience that is not usually tapped by traditional humanitarian funding — young people. In total, 175 million meals have been shared with people in need through the app since the launch of ShareTheMeal. In conclusion, we firmly believe that public-private partnerships can make a difference in the humanitarian world, and we must all collectively be ready to make those strategic necessary investments to scale up those partnerships. My country is certainly willing to do that.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Morocco.

Mr. Kadiri (Morocco) (spoke in French): At the outset, I commend Albania on organizing this open debate, enhanced by the participation of His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Albania. That shows your country’s commitment to humanitarian issues, Sir, as a means of maintaining international peace and security. I would also like to thank the briefers for their presentations. This open debate in the Security Council is being held at a time of increasing humanitarian needs resulting primarily from conflicts, climate change and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Today 363 million people worldwide — 4.5 per cent of the global population — need rapid humanitarian assistance. Although $55.2 billion have been pledged, the international community’s response has only reached $15.8 billion, a mere 29 percent. In that context, the international community is turning more than ever towards additional partnership, bringing in the private sector and others into humanitarian operations in the form of public-private partnerships. In that regard, we must be guided by several principles. The partnerships have to be based on basic humanitarian principles, namely, neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence. Humanitarian work needs to be results-based and provide the number of people reached by each humanitarian operation, in accordance with humanitarian prerequisites, the provisions of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and United Nations agencies’ normative requirements, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. United Nations agencies must play a key role in monitoring the funds and assistance allocated to humanitarian response operations to ensure that the funds are not diverted. We have always prioritized helping friendly countries in need of urgent humanitarian assistance as part of our continental and international action. In that context, at the request of King Mohammed VI, Morocco has deployed more than 17 field hospitals and provided more than 2.65 million medical services for local people and refugees in 14 countries, on four continents. Similarly, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, His Majesty King Mohammed VI sent a shipment of medical devices and materials to some 20 friendly African countries and to the African Union Commission in order to support their efforts to combat the pandemic. Similarly, in 2020, in its capacity as President of the Humanitarian Affairs segment of the Economic and Social Council, the Kingdom of Morocco launched an appeal to action in support of the international response to COVID-19. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Morocco is a member of the Central Emergency Response Fund of the United Nations, to which it contributes significantly. In 2014, we adopted a national immigration and asylum strategy, which is a reference for the humanist multiparty and partnership approach sought in the Global Compact on Refugees, the Global Refugee Forum and international humanitarian law. Before I conclude, I would like to thank all those who expressed their condolences, sympathy and compassion and their availability to provide support to the colossal efforts being undertaken by the Kingdom of Morocco to deal with the consequences of the earthquake that impacted my country on the night of 8 to 9 September.

The President: I now give the floor to the representative of Chile.

Mr. Ruidíaz Pérez (Chile) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to start by expressing our deepest condolences to the Governments of Morocco and Libya for the deaths, disappearances and severe damage caused by the recent natural disasters. Chile thanks Albania for convening this open debate. We take note of the statements and contributions we have heard. In recent decades, we have witnessed a redesign of the humanitarian response architecture and the role that the private sector can play with the United Nations, its agencies and States. Since the Global Compact in 1999 to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, clear parameters for the formation of public-private partnerships have been defined and established. We value the inclusion of new actors in responding to some of the global issues, as new perspectives can contribute to sustainable solutions to international peace and security. There is no doubt that the private sector is essential to the humanitarian response owing to the quality information it has access to on the ground and its experience and greater flexibility in managing innovative capacities. On certain occasions, in crisis situations, private entities are able to react even faster than the State in providing goods and/or services. However, we recall that States have the primary responsibility for humanitarian response and that the private sector is complementary and does not in any way signify the surrender of the State’s basic powers. At the same time, functions that are entrusted or attributed to the private sector must be carried out within national legal frameworks and subject to ethical considerations, while maintaining a gender focus, with strict respect for human rights and with guarantees of transparency and accountability. We would like to underscore that cooperation between the public and private sectors should be carried out through specific partnerships that are aligned with SDG 17. The private sector has much to contribute to humanitarian responses. It has the capacity to amplify economic and technical resources to contribute to the improvement of social cohesion, as well as the preparation for natural disasters, for example. We would like to refer specifically to the financial sector which can play a crucial role in providing predictable resources for crisis response. In critical moments, the financial sector can consider providing soft loans and facilitating the payment of financial obligations and especially conducting risk assessments with a gender perspective. The meeting rose at 3.35 p.m.