"FINANCING"

In a boost to the African Union’s target to vaccinate 60 percent of the continent’s population by 2022, the World Bank and the AU announced a partnership to support the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) initiative with resources to allow countries to purchase and deploy vaccines for up to 400 million people across Africa. WORLD BANK

A joint thematic event of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on least developed countries, on the theme “Diversifying the financing toolbox to enhance investment in least developed countries”.

The General Assembly holds a high-level meeting on middle-income countries--the current socio-economic fallout from the pandemic and how it has underlined and exacerbated existing fragilities, with severe consequences for achieving the SDGs.

“We need a more efficient and predictable, multilateral trading system that can withstand future economic shocks,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the meeting of the General Assembly on the middle income countries and called for a new debt mechanism that can provide “a menu of options, including debt swaps, buy-backs and cancellations.” UNIFEED

As he prepares to leave office on Friday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said, “the last four years have been an unusually difficult time,” marked by protracted and emerging conflicts, the rising impacts of climate change, and the toll of diseases such as Ebola and now COVID-19, bringing the number of people requiring assistance and protection to unprecedented levels. UNIFEED

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths today (15 Jun) told the Security Council that Yemeni men, women and children “are suffering every day because people with power have missed the opportunities presented to them, to make the necessary concessions to end the war.” UNIFEED

The insecurity in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, an oil rich and agricultural potential area, ravaged by a six years civil war, then followed by a fragile peace, is currently undergoing a difficult transition from war to a sustainable, durable peace. UNMISS

Targeted sanctions, Darfur arms embargo continue to thwart spoilers of peace in Sudan, chair of 1591 Committee tells Security Council. Updated sanctions list can help Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab, chair of Committee pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) tells Security Council.

Amid Mali’s worsening humanitarian situation, delegates in Security Council call upon authorities to protect civilians, underline need for credible elections.

Despite a massive 65 percent increase in migrants sending money home via mobile transfers in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of their rural family members struggle to access mobile banking services which could help lift them out of poverty. IFAD