UN Resident Coordinator holds two-day talks in BVI to strengthen UN Cooperation

Road Town, Tortola BVI, October 3, 2024: Newly appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean and the Eastern Caribbean, Simon Springett, has completed a two-day mission to the British Virgin Islands, expected to lay the foundation for strengthening UN cooperation and efficiency to help to advance the country’s sustainable development efforts, while protecting and building resilience of the most vulnerable.

In his inaugural visit to the Overseas Territory, Mr. Springett formally presented his credentials to Premier, Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley, before they sat down for wide-ranging talks on key national and global priorities, including the ongoing issue of development finance. 

On the matter of financing for development,  the UN General Assembly’s recent adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), was also discussed,  and the Resident Coordinator  provided assurance of the UN’s continued support towards successful implementation of the tool that could potentially help countries, especially Small Island developing States (SIDS),  to more accurately measure their vulnerability to shocks , and gain access to the concessional financing that they desperately need.

The need for strengthened partnerships to further support the BVI in addressing its development challenges was underscored, and Premier Wheatley thanked specialized UN agencies for their assistance towards the development of social protection policy and public assistance legislation, studies on workforce policy, and the development of BVI’s National Development Plan. 

Discussions also centred on potential areas for future collaboration including strengthening sustainable and cultural tourism, increasing access to capital for rebuilding post-disasters, and promoting environmental sustainability through conservation initiatives, support for Marine Protect Areas and the establishment and use of Exclusive Economic Zones. 

Speaking ahead of the Resident Coordinator’s visit, the Premier underlined: “The importance of the incoming Resident Coordinator’s visit to the Virgin Islands cannot be understated. His visit aims to deepen the relationship with the United Nations network of institutions to deliver tangible results that will beneficially impact the lives of everyone in the Virgin Islands."

A highlight of Mr. Springett’s visit was the official launch of the ‘Working Group on the Development of a Roadmap to Improve Access to Development Finance for Eastern Caribbean Overseas Territories.’ In delivering Opening Remarks, he told members of the Working Group that the Roadmap should provide a strategic framework for regional collaboration and advocacy, ahead of key upcoming global fora on Financing for Development, and for mobilizing resources and technical expertise from the international development system towards improving sustainable development at the national level.

“It goes without saying that the UN system stands ready to support the swift preparation and implementation of the Roadmap. We already have a skeleton draft, so I encourage us to be decisive and action-oriented to ensure that the first draft is completed at the soonest,” Mr. Springett told members of the Working Group. 

During his visit, the UN Head also met with key Government officials, including the Sustainable Development Goals National Coordinating Committee (SDGNCC) to discuss the implementation of the Country Implementation Plan (CIP) for the BVI, which will guide the planning and implementation of country-specific UN development activities under the umbrella of the UN’s five-year regional Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF).  The CIP will operationalize the outcomes of the MSDCF at the country level, in fulfilment of the Government’s national priorities and in pursuit of the 2030 Agenda.