Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Saša Jurečko at the 2025 Development Cooperation Forum, ECOSOC

President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council,

Distinguished panellists,

Slovenia concurs with the findings of the Secretary General’s report on ‘Trends and progress in the international development cooperation’. We welcome its recommendations to address the most pressing challenges and deliver better results, in particular on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Allow me to raise three points, which are of particular importance to Slovenia:

First, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance is rising at an alarming rate due to armed conflicts, climate change and other crises. In consequence, aid is often diverted to meeting immediate needs rather than addressing root causes of fragilities and achieving long-term development goals.

Slovenia underlines the importance of comprehensive solutions to the complexities of fragile contexts. The humanitarian-development-peace nexus is the key approach to break the vicious cycle of instability and conflict, promote peaceful and inclusive societies, improve governance and strengthen the capacities to form and implement development strategies.

Second, Slovenia firmly supports locally led development, which brings deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities, provides more relevant and targeted solutions, increases ownership and accountability. We highlight the importance of social inclusion, in particular participation and leadership of women and girls, in this process.

While localization plays an essential role for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, ensuring additional funds and overcoming the SDG financing gap remains a top priority, as stipulated in the Pact for the Future. Slovenia recognizes the importance of mobilizing public, private, domestic and international resources, and engage all stakeholders to do their part.

Third, we must pay particular attention to the specific needs and challenges of the most vulnerable developing countries. For this reason, Slovenia supported the introduction of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index to address structural weaknesses and improve resilience of developing countries to external shocks. In addition, we underline the importance of broadening the donor base in support of the most vulnerable.

The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development comes at a critical moment. With 5 years remaining until 2030, it brings a unique opportunity to strengthen the global development cooperation architecture and make it more fit for the purpose.

However, the conference in Seville will also take place against a backdrop of deepening divisions and polarizations on a global scale. With increasing geopolitical tensions countries tend to prioritize their own strategic and economic interests over global development goals.

These geopolitical tensions pose a major challenge to multilateral cooperation, based on shared values and principles, which are at the core of the Agenda 2030. Slovenia firmly believes that Member States must deliver on the commitments set out in 2015 to ensure safer, healthier and more prosperous world for all.

I thank you.

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