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The Sustainable Development Goals in China
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in China:
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22 April 2022
Challenging the inequalities people living with HIV/AIDS face
An anxious crowd and deafening silence. People with masks are being called into a clinic cube with an ambiguous sign reading “Immune Deficiency.” This ten-square metre safe house is where people living with HIV meet. As a UN Volunteer Programme Assistant with UNAIDS in China, Weng Huiling shares their stories and fights for their rights.
Weng provides strategic information, advocacy and technical support to coordinate stakeholders to deliver comprehensive life-saving HIV service. She focuses on technical and administrative support to programmes and coordinates partners from the Government, private sector and local communities.
"I have been devoted to the field of HIV/AIDS for years, and UNAIDS has helped broaden my scope to go beyond medical care. My UN Volunteer assignment allowed me to participate in changing the underlying institutional inequality that burdens people living with HIV," she explains.
"Medical care is no longer the bottleneck in HIV response. What we need is accessible and integrated services, community leadership, an evidence-based approach and eradication of the profound inequality. Ending AIDS is possible, if we work together, like with COVID-19." - Weng Huiling, UN Volunteer Programme Assistant with UNAIDS China
In 2021, Weng joined an HIV online prevention intervention study and helped to collect data from key population group discussions and literature reviews. She also used her clinical knowledge to contribute to a cost-effective study on antiretroviral treatment to inform governmental policy prioritization. "I am glad that I could help strategic and technical programme management and participate in discussions on effective, evidence-informed and targeted HIV response," she adds.
"Despite remarkable progress in diagnosis and treatment, people living with HIV are still shackled by discrimination and stigmatization, which can only be overcome by collective inclusiveness. Our goal is to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030." - Weng Huiling
With UNAIDS, Weng has been able to tell the untold. During this year’s Zero Discrimination Day campaign in March, she led five poster exhibition tours and over ten hours of group discussion for more than 60 visitors from UN agencies, schools and universities, and community-based organizations.
She also worked on connecting funding opportunities and the Beijing LGBT Centre for a peer group programme on HIV. The programme, which aims to provide People Living with HIV with group consultations and educational programmes, is now being implemented with an estimated 1,000 influenced population.
"I was so impressed by the five portraits of people living with HIV. Their stories touched my heart. Our mindset towards people living with HIV, sex education and fragile population needs to be revolutionized." -Rita, a visiting student from Renmin University of China
UNAIDS plays a pivotal role in mobilizing China’s political, technical and financial resources through South-South Cooperation and China-Africa Collaboration.
Accordingly, at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) meeting in late 2021, Weng organized a virtual dialogue on China-Africa Health Cooperation, jointly hosted by UNAIDS and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She drafted outcome documents that served for FOCAC in November, emphasizing a joint commitment to local production and multilateral cooperation.
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22 April 2022
UN Volunteers ease accessibility to sexual and reproductive health
With an objective to eradicate poverty and achieve universal access in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), UNFPA, National Health Commission (NHC), and China Family Planning Association (CFPA) launched a 3-year project. This project aims to improve the SRHR among vulnerable populations in Qinghai and Shanxi Provinces in China.
The project mainly targets women and young people of ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups such as those below the poverty line, rural residents, and persons with disabilities. Among this group are the ones in three project sites at an altitude of over 4000 meters including Yushu City, which was heavily impacted by the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in 2010.
Aimin, a national UN Volunteer Project Coordinator, has worked on this project since 2019. She supports programme management in planning, management, reporting, and coordination with various stakeholders.
One aspect of the project aims to improve the capacity of local service providers – including midwives – so that local women and young people can access better information and quality health services.
"I am now more confident with my skills for providing quality care, and more women are willing to deliver in our hospital." - Cairen Sangji, one of the nine midwives who received a 3-month standardized midwifery training at Huaxi Medical University in 2020
So far, over 600 local service providers, health workers, and teachers have benefited from the capacity building and skill development training. After going back to their communities, these skills are not only empowering midwives but also making maternity care safe and respectful.
Aimin and her colleagues discovered that young people in project sites shared similar needs for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) but had limited access. Many factors contributed to this limitation – scarcely qualified teachers, less awareness, and cultural norms influenced people’s attitudes towards CSE.
Last year, over 1000 students who attended the CSE courses learned about the different aspects of sexual education – how to develop respectful social and sexual relationships, and where to turn for more information. It was a first for many – adults and adolescents – in Shanxi Province's Yushu and Yonghe project sites to get an education in CSE and hear experiences through seminars, workshops, and learning sessions.
Coming from an under-developed area in a remote province of Mongolia, Aimin feels fortunate to participate in a project that brings healthier living conditions for all. She is motivated to make a difference in people's lives, especially the ones who are coming from a similar background as her.
"Aimin has demonstrated a high level of initiative, organizational ability, and flexibility. She is a confident and direct communicator.” - WEN Hua, Programme Specialist, UNFPA
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19 July 2021
Happy 50th anniversary: What China and the UN can achieve together
China was one of the architects of the United Nations and was the first signatory of the UN Charter in San Francisco in 1945.
But it was only in October 1971, with the Chinese delegation led by Mr. Qiao Guanhua, that China's representation at the UN resumed. Since that time, the UN has had the great privilege of witnessing and supporting China in achieving one of the greatest periods of socio-economic progress in world history.
Now, on the 50th anniversary of the UN in China, I am honored to serve as the UN Resident Coordinator, a post I took earlier this year.
While I am a recent arrival to China, only just beginning to understand its rich tapestry of over 5,000 years of civilization, the UN in China has had the privilege to shape and witness the profound economic and social transformations that have occurred since reform and opening-up.
As we commemorate a half-century of cooperation, a question naturally emerges: Which way now for the UN and China?
This is a weighty question, as China and the world are at a critical juncture. Tentatively emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, but with many countries still struggling terribly. Staring down the threats of climate change, with record-setting heat, fires, storms, and other disasters. Counting down the years in this "Decade of Action" to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
China's standard-setting leadership in past decades gives me confidence that we can achieve even greater things in the years to come.
China's record-breaking economic development
In 1978, Deng Xiaoping's reform and opening-up policy began to transform the nation, as evidenced, for example, in Shenzhen, which changed from a fishing village on the Pearl River Delta into an international hub for research and innovation in a single generation.
And in 1979, China chose to accept development assistance from the UN, learning from its long experience in poverty alleviation and industrial and agricultural growth.
China's success in the more than 40 years since then has been nothing short of miraculous. During this time, China: Lifted over 750 million people out of absolute poverty; Invested in public health and education, investing in human capital thus making possible a happier and healthier workforce that contributed to economic productivity; Became the world's manufacturing centre, based on a growth model of foreign investments, resource-intensive manufacturing, cheap labour, and exports; Multiplied its per capita GDP from $180 in 1979 to an incredible $12,000 today.
The signs of this progress are evident not just in statistics, but in daily quality-of-life matters. Throughout China now lie the classic hallmarks of a market economy, with opulent shops from luxury brands, foreign and domestic.
A far cry from what I saw as a young boy growing up near Chinatown in my native Kolkata, India, though fondly remembered as a warren of alleys, narrow aisles of food markets, elderly men playing board games in parks, with Chinese characters on the signs overhead.
For example, in Beijing during the early 1980s, cabbage was often the only vegetable on menus. With help from the UN's development agency in China, availability at markets expanded - supporting the diversification of domestic vegetables and introducing new ones from abroad, such as broccoli.
This startling success is on track to continue. China's per capita GDP is projected to more than double by 2025, reaching over $25,000, adjusted for purchasing power. The country's surging economy is set to overtake 56 countries in the world's per-capita income rankings during the quarter-century through 2025, the International Monetary Fund projects.
No less an authority than Professor Jeffrey Sachs, a United Nations SDG Advocate and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, has called China an "inspiration" in stopping the pandemic and ending poverty.
This progress is all the more remarkable considering the hit that the pandemic has delivered to the global economy. China's generosity and leadership on this front are commendable. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the 9th World Peace Forum in Beijing "to build a 'Great Wall of Immunity' to battle the COVID-19 pandemic."
Still, challenges remain. As with any economy at this stage of development, the relentless pursuit of high growth is reaching its natural limits, and China faces new economic, social, and environmental challenges.
New priorities for agenda 2030 and beyond
The UN Sustainable Development Goals are meant to be achieved by the year 2030, and we are now in what is called "the Decade of Action." I see three areas for close cooperation at this critical juncture.
First, a new sustainable development model. The Government recognizes slower economic growth as the "new normal." Changing demographic, labour, and investment realities present China with new obstacles in addressing food security, pervasive inequalities, and cost-effectiveness in universal healthcare.
In a post-Xiaokang society, China needs to embrace innovations and services that drive equitable and inclusive progress, dealing with the legacies of rapid expansion to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind.
Second, climate change. As a consequence of its large population and economy, China is the world's single largest emitter of carbon dioxide, responsible for a quarter of global emissions. Having recognized the environmental costs of this development model, President Xi Jinping has set a bold ambition for China to hit peak carbon emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
This enormous feat will require a massive transition in how China's economy works and its population lives every day. Seismic shifts in investments and technologies will be needed.
Third, multilateralism. China is a champion for multilateral efforts to address global challenges. China has the will, knowledge, and resources to contribute enormously to the Sustainable Development Goals and position itself as an exceptional member of the community of nations.
Today, China is the second-largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget and has sent more peacekeepers to UN missions than any other permanent member of the Security Council. China also played a vital role in shaping the consensus needed for the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.
Future efforts should emphasize initiatives that expand vaccine access, grant debt relief to lower-income countries, and provide sustainable financing for infrastructure and climate efforts.
China and the United Nations
The United Nations family in China is in lockstep with China's vision. The 2030 Agenda and the recently agreed-upon Country Framework are the blueprints for building on the gains of the past.
In this Decade of Action to achieve the SDGs, the UN can support this ambition and convene, connect and catalyze stakeholders in leveraging China's development experience to benefit other countries, especially those in Africa, in the spirit of South-South Cooperation.
As the world deals with the pandemic, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres says, "As we strive to respond and recover, we must re-examine many longstanding assumptions and reconsider the approaches that have led us astray. We must also re-imagine the way nations cooperate. The pandemic has underscored the need for a strengthened and renewed multilateralism."
This October will also be time for the UN and China to celebrate our 50-year relationship. China and the UN will re-imagine, innovate, reinvigorate and continue the hard and daily work and dedicate ourselves anew to creating lasting prosperity for the people of China and all the world.
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11 June 2021
UNU Macau Calls for Multistakeholder Partnerships to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals in Macau and the Greater Bay Area
MACAU, 17 May 2021 – In celebration of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau), the only UN organization in Macau, brought together government, academia, private sector, and NGOs to share their experiences in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), examine the SDGs’ roles in Macau’s strategic development plan, and explore collaborative opportunities particularly in the areas of digital technologies for the SDGs.
The Summit was opened by the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in China, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, who represented a delegation of colleagues from UN China in attendance, including UNDP, UNICEF, UNIDO-ITPO, UNOPS and emphasized the UN’s commitment in supporting all stakeholders in safeguarding the progress made and efforts to achieve the SDGs.
“To leave no one behind, no communities behind, no village behind, there is a need for collaboration and a renewal of multilateralism. Most importantly we must embrace science, technology, and innovation while bringing together the private sector, academia, governments, civil society, the UN families towards a single agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” said Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China.
Even in the pre-pandemic era, we were not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and COVID-19 has worsened the situation, thereby erasing years of social-economic progress. According to the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020, an estimated 71 million people globally were expected to be pushed back into extreme poverty and the persisting digital divide meant remote learning remained out of reach for students who lack access to computers and the internet.
“There has never been a greater need for multi-stakeholder partnerships than right now when COVID-19 has reversed decades of progress on poverty reduction, healthcare, and education and left the most vulnerable further behind. Everyone in Macau has a key role to play in this Decade of Action towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I am elated to learn about the innovative and sustainable solutions that our partners have been implementing in Macau: from eliminating single-use plastics and enhancing the cyber resilience of citizens to improving social services and capacity building initiatives. To tackle the impacts of COVID-19 on development progress and build back better, we need to collectively leverage digital technologies while addressing the potential risks and adverse effects,” said Dr. Jingbo Huang, Director of UNU Macau.
Through this summit, UNU Macau hopes to raise awareness about the SDGs and celebrate successes as well as learn from the challenges in implementing the SDGs in Macau. Topics discussed at the summit revolved around the five Ps of the SDGs: People, Prosperity, Peace, Partnerships and Planet.
UNU Macau has been working with civil society, academic and private sector partners in Macau on strategic projects that promote policy as well as practice-relevant research and capacity building activities in the fields of sustainable community development, social innovation, and civil society cyber resilience. One of our main research projects, the Smart City-zen Cyber Resilience project, funded by the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT), aims to enhance the cyber resilience of citizens in Macau and around the world as well as involve civil society actors in local preparations against cybersecurity threats. This project was designed to help accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Macau’s development plans.
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For media enquiries, please contact:
UNU Macau: Tarinee Youkhaw, Communications Manager, UNU Macau at youkhaw@unu.edu
About United Nations University Institute in Macau
The United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau), formerly publicly known as United Nations University International Institute for Software Technology (UNU-IIST), is a UN global think tank on Information Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). UNU Macau conducts UN policy-relevant research and generates solutions, addressing key issues expressed in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through high-impact innovations and frontier technologies. Through its research, UNU Macau encourages data-driven and evidence-based actions and policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
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22 March 2023
Supporting Public Private Partnerships to Accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals
On 15 March, the United Nations (UN) in China took part in a dialogue convened by the Indian Association Business Council (IABC) featuring leaders of Chambers of Commerce and government counterparts on the topic of “How can we use Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to Accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in this Decade of Action?” Over 100 participants gathered at the historic House of Roosevelt in Shanghai to share information and best practices related to PPPs and explore opportunities for innovative, catalytic collaboration toward achieving the SDGs, including zero hunger, gender equality, and climate action, among others.
Participants EUCham, SingCham, BritCham, CanCham, IrishCham, SwissCham, and AustCham, TEC-The Expatriate Center, together with Indian business leaders from IABC and representatives from the United Nations and the China International Import Expo (CIIE), listened to panel discussion and case study “power talks” highlighting successful PPPs that have focused on integrating sustainable business principles and the UN SDGs into policies and practice.
UN Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee kicked off the evening by introducing the UN SDGs—a collective roadmap for addressing our most pressing global challenges—and the role that PPPs can play in reinvigorating and amplifying SDG efforts. Mr. Chatterjee illustrated the potential of PPPs with success stories from his time as RC in Kenya, including the establishment of an SDG Partnership Platform to address maternal mortality in six countries, which, in a period of 2.5 years, led to a one-third reduction in maternal deaths. Mr. Chatterjee shared that the UN in China will be launching a new Joint SDG Fund that will support cross-sector initiatives in priority areas including climate, health, and food security, by drawing upon the diverse expertise and experience of the 26 UN entities operating in China, convening broad-based public-private partnerships, and catalyzing new sources of finance to scale-up investment and innovation for the SDGs in China and in the Global South.
Mr. Weimin Zhang, Board Member and Assistant President of the CIIE National Exhibition & Convention, shared an important perspective on how CIIE is promoting sustainability and encouraging organizations participating in CIIE to integrate the SDGs into their policies and operations. Next, a panel featuring corporate and Chamber leaders discussed “Factors enabling organizations to navigate PPP to land SDG driven projects”, and senior partners and CEOs from several companies delivered “power talks” highlighting innovative, sustainable business practices, ranging from projects focused on reducing their carbon footprint to addressing food insecurity by reshaping digital farming technology. Mr. Vishal Sharma, CEO of DB Schenker Greater China, discussed ‘Road to Zero’ and their Green Fleets innovation in the logistics industry, as well as their engagement with the public sector to promote advocacy for SDG implementation. Mr. Richard Chen, CEO of Master Kong, illustrated how their F&B product line is syncing up with the SDGs by introducing carbon neutral beverages and renewable plastics to better serve consumers in China.
The event was concluded with sharing from Ms. Shen Yu from UNIDO and Ms. Brianne Stuart from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, on the role of UN agencies in China in supporting responsible business practices and in fostering effective PPPs, highlighting opportunities to engage and tap into UN expertise and resources.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Chatterjee reminded the audience that in order for the international community to reach the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda, we must stop seeing the SDGs solely as lofty ideals for governments and international organizations to pursue and, rather, recognize them also as vital instruments that the private sector can use to reshape sustainable business models and unlock new markets. Ultimately, sustainability is good for both humanity and business.
Following the substantive discussion, participants had the opportunity to network with business, government, and UN leaders, creating linkages and building relationships that will spur tomorrow’s partnerships for a better world.
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15 March 2023
Delivering as One, a UN in China conversation presented by Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee: Episode 14 with Nan Zhang, Programme and Partnership Specialist for UNV in China
In the fourteenth episode of the UN in China podcast, UN Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee sits down with Nan Zhang, Programme and Partnership Specialist for the United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) in China.
Ms. Zhang, a Chinese national, grew up in the city of Tianjin along with her family. Her parents, both university graduates, attached great importance to the value of education and of gaining perspectives in the surrounding world, which led her to her travels during middle school to the United Kingdom. Like many in her generation brought up following the introduction of opening-up and reform, she benefited from the nation’s socio-economic development. Her participation in elderly care and other similar activities planted an early seed of volunteerism in her heart and mind. Having also spent time in Hainan and Hong Kong, she would later move to her second home of Beijing to take up studies at the University of International Business and Economics.
Developing on her interest in international development and humanitarian affairs, she would go on to join the National Health Commission as a civil servant upon her return to China. During this time, Ms. Zhang travelled again to the UK to study at Oxford University, where she majored in Comparative Social Policies. Her work on international cooperation in areas such as global health and disease control would see her engage with UN entities, including the UN Development Programme, the UN Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization. Later, she went on to work for the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS as part of its Liaison Office to the African Union in Ethiopia. After a competitive process, she was selected to lead the UNV team’s field unit in China, joining the UN family in China in 2018.
“I believe that serving and caring for others is beyond boundaries and that volunteerism is always at my heart,”
In this episode, Ms. Zhang explains the unique role of UNV, founded in 1971, with a mandate as the only UN agency dedicated to promoting peace and development through volunteerism while working to ensure that volunteerism is appropriately recognized in all societies. Each year, there are more than one billion volunteers around the world, and in 2022, over 12,400 UN Volunteers served with 56 UN partners, with 65 per cent of UN Volunteers coming from the Global South. She explains how UNV works to create and promote a people-centred UN where its functions are supported through the engagement of empowered UN Volunteers, to serve the UN system as a fit-for-purpose organization contributing to efficiency and gains, while supporting Member State and UN System efforts to integrate volunteerism as a cross-cutting means of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During the conversation, Ms. Zhang highlights UNV’s work in China to promote the universal values underpinning volunteerism: free will, commitment, equity, engagement, solidarity, compassion, empathy, and respect for others. In China, there are over 230 million registered volunteers who contribute over 5.2 billion hours towards economic and social development, with volunteerism also prioritized by the Government in the 14th Five-Year Plan.
More than 110 Chinese nationals serve as UN Volunteers in the country or fully funded by China, covering areas such as poverty reduction, gender equality, climate action, and more. She discusses various initiatives of UNV, including collaborations with the Chinese Youth Volunteers Association, past support of the 2008 and 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games and important efforts to promote the participation and inclusion of women, young people, and persons with disabilities.
Together with the Resident Coordinator, the two discuss other challenges and opportunities in the years ahead, particularly in the areas of youth development and South-South Cooperation, as well as UNV’s work in China to leave no one behind and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as part of the UN system in China.
For users in mainland China, please click this link
Siddharth Chatterjee
Siddharth Chatterjee took office as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China on 16 January 2021 and is the designated representative of - and reports to - the UN Secretary-General. He presented his letter of credence to the President of China on 14 April 2021.
Mr. Chatterjee has more than 25 years of experience in international cooperation, sustainable development, humanitarian coordination and peace and security in the United Nations and the Red Cross movement. He has served in many fragile and war-torn countries all over the world.
A 3 times TEDx speaker, he is a regular opinion contributor on humanitarian and development issues for a range of journals which includes Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Huffington Post, Forbes, CNN, Al Jazeera, the Guardian and as of late has also published in mainstream Chinese journals.
Mr. Chatterjee holds a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University in the United States of America.
Nan Zhang
Ms. Nan Zhang took up her UNV Country Coordinator (Programme and Partnerships Specialist) appointment in China in 2018. Fully committed to volunteerism as a powerful means of implementing the 2030 agenda, she leads and advocates strongly for the UN Volunteers programme and partnerships in China. Ms. ZHANG leads the mobilization, recruitment, and management of the UN volunteers deployed to the UN system in China and abroad to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. She also actively promotes strategic cooperation and the advancement of partnerships with the Ministry of Commerce, Chinese Young Volunteers Association, China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Beijing Volunteer Service Federation, and other key governmental and non-governmental partners. She holds a master’s degree in Comparative Social Policy from Oxford University.
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09 March 2023
Delivering as One, a UN in China conversation presented by Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee: Episode 13 with Smriti Aryal, Country Representative of UN Women China
In the thirteenth episode of the UN in China podcast, UN Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee sits down with Smriti Aryal, Country Representative of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in China, ahead of International Women’s Day.
Ms. Aryal, a Nepali national, was the eldest child in a family of three daughters. Growing up in a simple middle-class background, she was instilled at an early age with the belief that she and her sisters could achieve anything in life through hard work and perseverance. As a good student, she also credits her parents, who were both well-educated. After completing secondary education, she was encouraged to follow in her father’s footsteps as an engineer to study chemical engineering in the United States. However there, her time spent first taking up a sociology elective opened her eyes and prompted a shift in major to the social sciences.
While at university, she recalls closely following the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The Conference, which took place in 1995, saw the participation of former First Lady of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who famously expressed that “human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights”. Inspired by this and her studies in international development, Ms. Aryal, after graduation, returned to Nepal to join a team undertaking a situational analysis of persons living with HIV. Here, she had close interactions with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. This was followed by a role as a consultant for the United Nations Children’s Fund. Later she joined UN Women, with whom she has served for the past eight years, eventually joining the UN family in China in 2019.
In this episode, Ms. Aryal outlines how the mandate of UN Women, founded in 2010, promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment globally and in China, by supporting intergovernmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms, by helping Member States implement these standards through suitable technical and financial support along with partnerships with civil society, and by leading and coordinating the UN’s work on gender equality, promoting accountability through regular monitoring of system-wide progress.
“Learning is something that I feel is part of my journey...”
During the conversation, Ms. Aryal highlights UN Women’s work in China to promote the equal participation and leadership of women and girls in all aspects of life. She raises ongoing partnerships, including work with the International Fund for Agricultural Development and relevant government stakeholders on a rural revitalization project in Hunan Province, reaching over 300,000 beneficiaries, which half of them are women and girls. Similar partnerships also include UN Women’s work with the private sector, through involvement with over 400 companies in China on capacity building, development of standards, and other issues following Women’s Economic Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Also discussed is the need to bring in men and boys, as allies and agents of change in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Together with the Resident Coordinator, the two discuss other challenges and opportunities in the years ahead, particularly in the green and digital economy, the urban-rural divide and in transforming traditional gender norms and expectations, as well as UN Women’s work in China to leave no one behind and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as part of the UN system in China.
For users in mainland China, please click this link.
Siddharth Chatterjee
Siddharth Chatterjee took office as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China on 16 January 2021 and is the designated representative of - and reports to - the UN Secretary-General. He presented his letter of credence to the President of China on 14 April 2021.
Mr. Chatterjee has more than 25 years of experience in international cooperation, sustainable development, humanitarian coordination and peace and security in the United Nations and the Red Cross movement. He has served in many fragile and war-torn countries all over the world.
A 3 times TEDx speaker, he is a regular opinion contributor on humanitarian and development issues for a range of journals which includes Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Huffington Post, Forbes, CNN, Al Jazeera, the Guardian and as of late has also published in mainstream Chinese journals.
Mr. Chatterjee holds a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University in the United States of America.
Smriti Aryal
Ms. Smriti Aryal took office as the Head of UN Women China on 27 July 2019. She is the first Head of the office to China at the representative level, appointed by UN Women.
Ms. Aryal is a national of Nepal and brings over 22 years of professional experience in international development and humanitarian assistance, which she has acquired at the United Nations and externally.
Prior to arriving in China, Smriti served as the Head of the Office in Myanmar (2018-2019), after holding key leadership roles including as UN Women’s Regional Advisor and UNAIDS Regional advisor between 2008-2017 based out of Bangkok and with UNICEF from 2000-2006.
She has worked with a wide range of stakeholders including regional and national governments, CSOs and the UN over 12 countries and brings strong background in public policy development, strategic planning, and strategic partnership related to a host of international development issues.
She has authored and published numerous documents as well as served as peer reviewer in several international conferences and journals. Ms. Aryal holds a master’s degree Master’s in Public Health from University College London, UK, and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Gender Studies from Oregon State University, USA. She is married with a husband and two children, currently living in Beijing.
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20 February 2023
Resilient food systems benefit farmers
With the release of its No 1 central document for 2023, China and its partners stand at a turning point for moving into recovery and rebuilding.
In recent years we have witnessed the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and continuously evolving geopolitics worldwide. Most of the problems were borne by poor people, especially in rural areas, due to their exposure to income losses, health threats and disruption of services during lockdowns. It is a stark reminder of how vulnerable the rural poor and other marginalized groups are.
In China, the pandemic also amplified the suffering of disadvantaged groups including small-scale rural households. Meanwhile, limited arable and degraded land, and climate change accompanied by frequent natural hazards such as extreme heat waves and droughts, have threatened the rural poor, particularly those in northern and western China who rely heavily on agriculture as a major source of income.
China has developed a blueprint to further advance agricultural and rural development to feed its people, nearly 18 percent of the world's population. The launching of the Rural Vitalization Strategy in 2017 has catalyzed a number of policies and reforms in this regard. The importance of agriculture, rural areas and farmers have been reiterated in the 2018-22 Strategic Planning for Vitalization of Rural Areas, the 14th-Five Year Plan (2021-25), and the Rural Vitalization Promotion Law.
The implementation of this blueprint has yielded results and China has witnessed unparalleled economic growth. Indeed, in February 2021, President Xi Jinping officially announced the eradication of extreme poverty in China at the end of 2020, after four decades of sustained poverty reduction programmes.
Recognising the need to sustain the gains, in December 2022 President Xi stressed the need to advance rural vitalization across the board and accelerate the building of a strong agricultural base, toward building China into a great modern socialist country.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development — with a mandate to be at the forefront of poverty reduction, food security and inclusive rural development — has partnered with China for over 40 years in the area of agriculture and rural development. Six years ago, the joint efforts shifted to the realization of rural vitalization and a transformation of food systems. These will be China's key contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. There are, however, several areas that need us to devote more attention and investment.
First, China should continue addressing food security issues with more investment in small-scale farmer households by creating a mechanism to ensure that farmers have full access to agricultural inputs, innovations, and new technology. Empowering and engaging different stakeholders along the entire value chain will assist them to foster inclusive cooperatives and organizations to produce in larger scales and wield more power to deal in markets.
Second, the outflow of rural youth and talent has brought a dramatic change in rural livelihoods in China. While a decreasing share of rural households remain farming, many now must combine their way of living with other sources of income. Thus, more and more rural youths choose to work in agricultural related services while urban young people are working in labor-intensive manufacturing industries. China's rural areas have great potential to provide more employment opportunities to the younger generation. Providing them sufficient vocational training and incubation ground will generate young entrepreneurs dedicated to agricultural activities and agribusinesses.
Third, a large share of China's population still lives just above the poverty line. Many may face the risk of getting pushed back into poverty after the pandemic. Continuous emphasis should be given to them as a majority of them belong to disadvantaged groups such as women, youth and disabled in the rural areas. Adopting a more sensitive approach favouring these groups in the implementation of rural vitalization strategies will help them build decent livelihoods and benefit from healthier food systems.
China should also develop an overall rural vitalization program to benefit both the environment and the people. China should continuously complement high-speed development with high-quality growth and build up effective food systems which allow small-scale farmers and those who are vulnerable to be more resilient and able to bounce back quickly from either health, climate or economic shocks in the future.
Originally posted on China Daily
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Story
01 December 2022
Delivering as One, a UN in China conversation presented by Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee: Episode 12 with Stephen Kargbo, UNIDO Representative to China
In the twelfth episode of the UN in China podcast, UN Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee sits down with Stephen Kargbo, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Representative to China.
Mr. Kargbo, a Sierra Leonean national, was born and raised in a rural part of the country along with his family of six siblings. Although growing up in what he describes as humble beginnings, he went on to complete his undergraduate studies in 1988, and then started his working life as a teacher for several years. This was followed by his work in various positions, notably with development agencies in the country and the U.S. Peace Corps. He then went abroad to take up postgraduate studies in Germany and completed a Master of Science in Rural Development and a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Göttingen.
Mr. Kargbo notes that after taking up several teaching and research roles during his time in Germany, he returned to his home country in 2006 to serve as part of the United Nations Development Programme. Following this period, he then went on to join UNIDO in 2008. In 2013, he served in UNIDO’s Regional Office in Ethiopia and was later assigned as their Representative to Tanzania, Mauritius, and the Secretariat of the East African Community (EAC). Upon the request of UNIDO’s Director-General, he was reassigned to assume his current role and subsequently join the UN family in China in 2021.
"There is not a single country in this universe that has come to human progress without the pathway of industrialization,"
In this episode, Mr. Kargbo explains the unique role of UNIDO, as a Specialized Agency of the UN, mandated to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development. He raises the history of UNIDO in China, which established its presence as part of the UN family in 1979 at the onset of opening-up and reform. In the past, UNIDO worked closely with relevant government counterparts in the development of industrial parks, such as those found in what are today bustling metropolises, including Shenzhen. Nowadays, UNIDO in China works to support China as both a recipient and exporter of technical support while ensuring that through the continued industrial development of China, there is cognisance of the value of the environment and of economic growth that benefits the whole of society.
During the conversation, Mr. Kargbo highlights UNIDO’s work in China to offer its policy advice and best practices at various levels, including with key figures in industry and relevant government entities. He highlights the activities of its related bodies, including the UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Offices in Beijing and Shanghai, the Centre for South-South Industrial Cooperation, and the UNIDO-supported International Centre on Small Hydro Power. He mentions the need for China to enhance the competitiveness of its industries as it continues to transition from traditional manufacturing to innovation-led growth, while placing particular emphasis on more efforts in the areas of energy and transportation, the circular economy, decarbonization, and emerging technologies, including new energy vehicles.
Together with the Resident Coordinator, the two discuss other challenges and opportunities in the years ahead, particularly in the areas of the green energy revolution and the net-zero transition, as well as UNIDO’s work in China to leave no one behind and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as part of the UN system in China.
For users in mainland China, please click this link.
Stephen Kargbo
Mr. Stephen Bainous Kargbo is the Representative and Head of the Regional Office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in the People’s Republic of China, and also covers Mongolia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Mr. Kargbo brings with him an accumulated national and international work experience of over thirty (30) years in teaching/research, organizational management and development cooperation. He has held various positions in NGOs, Academia and the UN system (UNDP and UNIDO).
Before his reassignment to China, he was UNIDO Representative to Tanzania, Mauritius and the Secretariat of the East African Community (EAC). He also previously served in UNIDO’s Regional Office in Ethiopia, leading programmes and operations in Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, as well as activities and engagements with the African Union Commission.
Mr. Kargbo holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics and an M.Sc. in Rural Development, both from the Georg-August University of Goettingen in Germany. He obtained his B.Sc. in Agricultural Education from the University of Sierra Leone in 1988.
Siddharth Chatterjee
Siddharth Chatterjee took office as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China on 16 January 2021 and is the designated representative of - and reports to - the UN Secretary-General. He presented his letter of credence to the President of China on 14 April 2021.
Mr. Chatterjee has more than 25 years of experience in international cooperation, sustainable development, humanitarian coordination and peace and security in the United Nations and the Red Cross movement. He has served in many fragile and war-torn countries all over the world.
A 3 times TEDx speaker, he is a regular opinion contributor on humanitarian and development issues for a range of journals which includes Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Huffington Post, Forbes, CNN, Al Jazeera, the Guardian and as of late has also published in mainstream Chinese journals.
Mr. Chatterjee holds a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University in the United States of America.
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Press Release
08 February 2023
Momentum in China gathers ahead of UN 2023 Water Conference
BEIJING, China, 9 February 2023 – The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan, and the United Nations (UN) in China co-hosted a Joint Briefing on the UN 2023 Water Conference, with over 130 people from national and international organizations in China, diplomatic missions in Beijing, and press outlets attending the event in person at the UN Compound and online.
The UN General Assembly, with support from the Governments of the Netherlands and Tajikistan, will convene the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York from 22 to 24 March 2023. The Conference, the most important water event in a generation, aims to raise awareness of the global water crisis and decide on concerted action to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, as emphasized with Chinese authorities during the recent visit of the President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi to China.
As noted during the Joint Briefing, with many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) off track, progress on Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) is key to the achievement of other SDGs, particularly on health, food, gender equality, education, livelihoods, industry, climate and the environment. Thus, the Joint Briefing sought to galvanize local momentum on the need for accelerating water action for a sustainable future and better inform preparations for the upcoming Conference.
“The 2023 UN Water Conference is the highest profile and most influential water related thematic conference at the UN level in the past 50 years, which has attracted great response and widespread attention globally. It is a conference of milestone significance, and will anchor the direction and clarify the path for accelerating the achievement of the water related goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China will send a high-level representative to lead a delegation to participate in the conference and actively fulfil its role as co-chair of the interactive dialogue "Water for Sustainable Development". China is ready to work with all parties to find transformative measures and make due contributions to solve the water crisis faced by all humankind by promoting the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” said Tian Xuebin, Vice Minister, Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China, who delivered remarks at the Joint Briefing as the Guest of Honour.
Following remarks in the opening session from the Ambassadors of the Netherlands and Tajikistan, and the UN Resident Coordinator, audience members were invited to ask questions of the speakers on the significance of the upcoming Conference.
“Since water and its challenges touch upon so much more than water experts alone can cover, we must gather everyone committed to real and meaningful Water Action,” said Wim Geerts, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
“I believe that one of the important outcomes of the UN Conference will be on the Agenda for Action in the field of water resources adopted within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Conference, which involves four times to an upsurge our efforts and actions to achieve the SDGs and other goals related to water problems. Only by joint efforts, we will be able to make the Conference a watershed moment for the whole world,” said Saidzoda Ozod, Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan in the People's Republic of China.
During the Joint Briefing, a panel discussion on water issues occurred in which high-level speakers and a youth advocate shared views on the significance of the Conference, best practices from different countries, youth perspectives and actions on water and climate change and the way ahead for enhanced collaboration in this area.
The Joint Briefing follows a series of similar events facilitated by the UN in China to engage with all Member States present in Beijing to seek their guidance and support on shared priorities, with journalists also present to cover the occasion.
“As expressed by today’s speakers, water is not only essential for all forms of life, but the most basic of human rights. Water is everyone’s business…I look forward to seeing pragmatic and concrete pledges, commitments, and actions coming out of the event that allows us to ensure a water secure world, for all, by all,” said Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan, and the UN in China thank those in attendance for their participation at the Joint Briefing and look forward to outcomes from the upcoming Conference.
---
For further information and to verify quotes, please contact:
Louise Xi LI, Head of Communications, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in China,
Tel: +8610-85320725, Email: xi.li@un.org
Rosaline Lantink, Press & Media Affairs, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
Tel: +86 137 0127 9154, Email: rosaline.lantink@minbuza.nl
Amriddin Nosirov, Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in PRC
Tel: +86 18514270747 (WeChat), Email: anosiri@mail.ru
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Press Release
02 December 2022
UN Agencies Advocate for the Achievement of the SDGs at the 2022 UN China Sustainable Procurement Workshop
Held in Shanghai’s Qingpu District, the event was attended by UN procurement specialists from UNGC, UN Women, UNGM, UNEP, UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNDP and UNOPS, representatives from the China Chamber of Commerce, including the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCCMHPIE), as well as leaders from the private sector, including SinoCarbon Innovation & Investment, China Environmental United Certification Center, McKinsey & Company, EY Greater China, North Carbon Future, CarbonStop, TÜV Rheinland (Guangdong), Bureau Veritas China, China Environmental United Certification Center, Intertek China，SGS China and etc.
The two day hybrid-event saw over 900 participants coming together to share initiatives and guidance on sustainable procurement and present best practices on greening the supply chain. Opening remarks were delivered by Zhang Yi, Deputy Director General of the People's Government of Shanghai Qingpu District, James George, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, Anne-Claire Howard, Director of the UNOPS Procurement Group, and Chen Yu, Deputy Party Secretary, Xujing Town, Qingpu District & Director of the UN Procurement Project Office.
In his introductory remarks, Deputy Director Zhang Yi said, "Sustainable public procurement has become a new trend in public procurement systems and policies, which require the fulfilment of economic and social benefits, and environmental targets through public procurement. It is important to note that the core requirement of sustainable development is meeting the needs of the present without jeopardising the ability of future generations to meet their needs".
The workshop served as an important building block for the UNDP and UNOPS-led ‘Knowledge Sharing, Capacity Building and Supporting Service Programme on Sustainable Procurement of UN/International Organisations’, aimed at connecting Chinese suppliers - in particular Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Women-Owned Businesses (WOBs) - with the UN Procurement Market and helping businesses align their procurement services with sustainable best practices, including promoting decarbonization as part of China’s 2060 net zero emissions target.
Sustainable Procurement is also one of the key factors in accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. And with less than 8 years left to meet the SDGs, it is imperative that countries come together to help realise their achievement.
“Sustainable procurement is a critical component and a game changer”, said James George, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in China. “Indeed, SDG Goal 12 includes a target to promote public procurement practices that are sustainable. By supporting businesses in China to adopt greener, more sustainable practices we also hope to lower their carbon footprint – helping them to play a role in reaching China’s 2030 carbon-peaking and 2060 carbon neutrality targets”.
Speaking on behalf of the UNOPS Procurement Group, Director Anna-Claire Howard addressed the key question - why does sustainability matter? “It’s not just about doing the right thing, it’s also about good business sense. Sustainable procurement can achieve many things - reducing risks in supply chains, bolstering reputations, decreasing costs, promoting revenue growth, but most importantly, it future-proofs us.”
Since 2020, Qingpu District has served as the project base, due to its strong linkages to the entire Yangtze River Delta Manufacturing Cluster, as well as the District’s commitment to building a "global buying" and "global selling" trade gathering platform. Speaking at the event, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the UN Procurement Project Office Chen Yu highlighted Qingpu District’s role in leading the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and reaffirmed the UN Procurement Project Office’s commitment to realising the UN 2030 Agenda, through the cultivation of quality suppliers for the UN and other international organisations, as well as the provision of more high-quality goods for international public procurement.
As part of the event, two panel discussions were held; the first featured experts from UNDP, UNOPS, the Stockholm Environment Institute, McKinsey China and TÜV China outlining the objectives value, future trends and potential challenges in sustainable procurement, as well as how SMEs can strengthen their own sustainable procurement capacity. The second saw industry experts spotlighting the invisible carbon burden and the steps suppliers can take to reduce the carbon footprint of global trade in the future. In addition, the event saw valuable perspectives from the government and academic sectors, with Zhang Yulin, Deputy Director of the Government Procurement Management Division, introducing the mechanisms through which the Chinese Government aims to promote sustainable development and achieve the goals of carbon neutrality and China’s Carbon Peak, and Zhou Chenghu, an academic from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, sharing insights on how a digital credit system for global trade can boost the development of international public sustainable procurement.
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Press Release
24 November 2022
Member States invited to offer guidance on efforts of UN System in China
The briefing was organized further to the commitment of the UN Resident Coordinator in China to regularly update Member States on the work of the UN in the country. Agreed upon between the Government of China and the UN in China, the UNSDCF represents the strategic and programmatic framework for work in support of the Host Country’s national development priorities, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With the UNSDCF about to enter its third year of implementation, the agenda of the briefing covered UN efforts to fulfil the framework’s three strategic priorities: People and Prosperity, Planet, and Partnerships. Member States were briefed on ongoing efforts, to improve China’s social and public services; accelerate efforts toward environmental protection and the transition to a people-centred, inclusive, low carbon, and circular economy; and inform China’s international financing, investments, and business engagements, as well as its development and humanitarian cooperation efforts, in line with SDGs.
In his remarks, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, said, “At the mid-point of our programme cycle, it is vital for the UN in China to take stock of our progress and chart the way forward. As the UN Resident Coordinator in China, I commit to lead by convening, connecting and catalyzing upon our role as the UN in China, to fully deliver on the UNSDCF, strengthen joint planning and programming of our Country Team, make the UN system fit for purpose in China and fully aligned with the Secretary-General’s bold reforms of the UN development system.”
The briefing provided the opportunity for Member States to provide their guidance and steer on the way forward, including through a well-participated interactive session with the Resident Coordinator and Heads of UN agencies in the country. The discussion underscored the primacy of safeguarding the key pillars that underpin the SDGs, including peace and security, universal human rights, and development, in line with agreed international norms and standards.
As part of the briefing, Member States had the opportunity to hear from the Chairs of the Results Groups and Theme Groups, the interagency mechanisms established to lead the work of implementing the UNSDCF.
In her presentation, Ms. Justine Coulson, United Nations Population Fund Representative to China, said, “As China is an upper-middle income country, we do not deliver programmes in the field on the scale that you would see in less developed countries. But we are still focused on ensuring that we deliver concrete results for targeted beneficiaries, and much of our downstream work in China is focused on addressing the specific needs of the most left-behind groups.”
In her presentation, Ms. Beate Trankmann, United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative in China, said, “In addition to data and research for evidence-based policymaking and practice, we are also providing policy analysis and advisory services to inform policy formulation, so that design and implementation aligns with UN Conventions as well as with international best practice, norms and standards.”
As a way to illustrate the programmatic efforts and their focus on vulnerable groups and leave no one behind, attendees were invited to view a short video titled “Voices from the People We Serve”, which highlighted the experiences of beneficiaries of UN projects on the ground.
After the briefing, H.E. Mr. Assem Hanafi, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the People’s Republic of China, said, “I would like to thank the UN Resident Coordinator in China, Siddharth Chatterjee and his able team for the comprehensive briefing on the UN’s accomplishments in China over the last two years. I would also like to refer to the valuable role that the UN has played during the negotiations that took place during the COP27 conference in Sharm El Sheikh, leading to the best possible outcomes. Egypt is committed and willing to offer the utmost support to the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Beijing, particularly in areas related to combating climate change and poverty reduction which remain amongst the priorities of Egypt and developing countries, and where partnership with UN – China and other developing partners and stakeholders is crucial.”
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Louise Xi LI, Head of Communications, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in China
Tel: +8610-85320725, Email: xi.li@un.org
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Press Release
15 November 2022
UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) Induction Workshop in China Kicked Off in Beijing
With full support from the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), this Workshop is jointly organized by UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office together with the ILO, UNFPA, UN Women, and WHO offices in China, under the coordination by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in China.
The Workshop is held on the basis of the shared vision of ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities are fully respected, protected and fulfilled, and all persons with disabilities can fully and equitably participate in society, while supporting China in accelerating the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and of disability-inclusive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and at the same time fulfilling the commitment to “Leave No One Behind” as outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for China 2021-2025, and in response to China’s 14th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Development of Persons with Disabilities.
With a localized programme and an all-round coverage on key elements such as the connection between CRPD and SDGs, equality and non-discrimination, accessibility, meaning participation, inclusive data, and gender equality, this Workshop aims to provide national stakeholders with crucial and foundational knowledge on the implementation of the CRPD and of disability-inclusive SDGs in practice, responding to China’s obligations.
Over 30 participants (around 80 per cent are women) representing UN agencies, government institutions, organizations of persons with disabilities, academia, and civil society organizations attended the first day of the Workshop. Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office and UNESCO Representative to China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia and Republic of Korea delivered opening remarks.
As Chair of the UN Theme Group on Disability (UNTGD), Prof. Shahbaz Khan highlighted in his opening remarks that 2022 marks an important year for the advancement of the rights of more than 85 million persons with disabilities and accessibility development in China. However, major challenges still remain in many aspects of life for persons with disabilities, but “with the right policy support and knowledge base which this Induction Workshop provides, these are opportunities where we can make meaningful changes for all”. He further reassured that the UN in China stands ready to continue cooperating closely with all stakeholders to advance disability inclusion in China, and called for collaborative effort amongst all partners.
On behalf of the UNTGD and UNESCO, Prof. Khan particularly expressed his gratitude towards the CDPF for its support, especially in providing insightful knowledge and expertise through sharing sessions, and to all of the participants at the Workshop.
This capacity building workshop, which will continue to be held on 15-18 November and 8-9 December 2022, is part of a 10-month inception phase of the UNPRPD programme in China that aims to advance CRPD implementation at the country level by focusing on the essential preconditions for disability inclusion across sectors, and improve and increase the implementation of disability-inclusive SDGs at the country level in addressing national priorities and gaps concerning persons with disabilities in national planning.
UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office, as Chair of the UNTGD in China, is positioned to lead the implementation of the UNPRPD programme in China. The UNTGD was established in 2015 as a unique, comprehensive, multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and advocacy on the needs and rights of persons with disabilities in China. Members of the UNTGD include UN agencies, CDPF, OPDs, CSOs, international and local NGOs, embassies/multilateral and bilateral organizations, and private sector partners.
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Press Release
22 November 2022
Promoting Gender-just Green Transitions Online Workshop Held in Beijing
Women’s participation, experience and voice are critical to develop innovative solutions and drive green, low-carbon transitions. Gender-just green policy measures can remove structural barriers to women’s participation in energy sector transformation, foster women’s career development and economic empowerment, and ensure that women are included in the green sector in the future.
The workshop convened representatives and stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities for women to meaningfully participate and lead in green transitions, and the potential for gender mainstreaming in relevant policies and practices. Representatives of governments, financial institutions, industrial associations, private sector stakeholders, civil society, think tanks, and bilateral and multilateral organizations exchanged their experiences from different perspectives.
In his opening speech, Thorsten Giehler, Country Director of GIZ China, emphasized women’s participation in generating innovative solutions and the importance of gender equality and diversity in energy transition.
Smriti Aryal, Country Representative of UN Women China, spoke of structural inequalities in addition to climate change and its impact. She said, “Effective measures are needed to tackle the gender gap in current climate action, including through collecting and using gender-disaggregated data, enhancing coordination and gender mainstreaming across sectors and all levels of government, strengthening the resilience of women, especially women who work in the informal sector and those who are most vulnerable to socioeconomic shocks, and unleashing women’s real and potential capabilities in green transitions.”
Beate Trankmann, Resident Representative of UNDP China, said UNDP is working to support countries around the world to connect the dots between climate action, social inclusion, gender equality and sustainable development. “A green economy transition is at the heart of reaching net-zero emissions. However, if not managed well, it risks widening social inequalities.”
Ge Chazhong, Professor and Chief Scientist of the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Ministry of Ecology and Environment shared that "Chinese women are actively engaged in the cause of ecological and environmental protection, but the current environmental and climate policies still lack gender perspectives.” He suggested incorporating “gender perspectives into the ecological, environmental protection and climate change laws and policies, ensure the equal and legitimate rights and interests of women, including rural women, and strengthen women's decision-making and participation in ecological and environmental protection and climate response.”
Irene Giner-Reichl, founding member and Senior Advisor of the Global Women’s Network for Energy Transition (GWNET), emphasized “the energy transition requires not only behaviour change, innovation and integration across sectors, but also a large diverse talent pool.”
The workshop included panel discussions on integrating gender perspectives into policies, programmes and financing in green transition processes, and supporting women’s equal participation, promotion and leadership in green industries and enterprises. This event was a follow-up activity to the Women in Green Energy initiative, which was launched by GIZ in cooperation with various institutions in the framework of the Sino-German Energy Partnership and with support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany (BMWK).
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