In a dynamic session at the Global Inclusive Growth Summit in Washington D.C., Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and H.E. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and Co-Chair UN SDG Advocate, came together to call for urgent action on financing for sustainable development. 

Moderated by Homi Kharas, Senior Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings Institution and supported by UN Office for Partnerships, the session delved into the short comings of the current international financial architecture (IFA) to fairly address the needs of developing countries, especially those on the front line of the climate crisis. 

Prime Minister Mottley drew attention to the critical need for long-term funding to build resilience, stressing that we cannot separate planet and people. Speaking to her own country’s struggles, she underscored the need to “build resilience from roofs to reefs, in order to minimize loss.” She recognized the value of the Loss and Damage Fund while emphasizing that “[Barbados] would much rather avert loss than recover from loss. And therefore, the access to long-term funding to be able to build resilience is critical." 

Arguing that debt conditions impair investment in development, the Deputy Secretary-General called for a deconstruction and reform of the current IFA to make it more fair and fit for purpose, putting people and planet at the centre. Recalling the Marshall Plan, she reminded the audience that, “a precedent has been set. We cared about people one time. We should care about them again.”   

Closing the conversation, the speakers called for transformative leadership dedicated to building a more equitable and sustainable future for all. 

“All lives matter, not just some.”

- Prime Minister Mia Mottley

“We have the frameworks, we’ve got the tools, we have the brains, now make it work for people and planet.”

- UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed.