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Around the world: Daily updates from UN country teams - November 2023

13 November 2023

A man in a hat feeds an infant while a woman sits by the infant on a grass area in the sun. — Caption: At the global meeting in New York this week, Resident Coordinators are discussing UN teams’ work on the transformational power of catalytic areas like food systems; energy access and affordability; digital connectivity; education; jobs and social protection; and climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution to leave no one behind.

Photo: © UNICEF

Our UN teams are on the ground in 162 countries and territories, coordinating joint programmes and tackling a range of multi-faceted priorities and key initiatives on a daily basis — from climate action and food security to gender equality and safety of civilians. UN Resident Coordinators and their teams utilize innovative approaches to problem-solving to better serve communities. Below are some highlights of their work this month.

Wednesday, 22 November

Rapid needs assessment and distribution of non-food items in response to unprecedented rainfall in the Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, unprecedented rainfall has killed over 24 people and displaced almost 18,000 in the past five days. More than 3,500 homes have been affected and at least 45 communities remain completely isolated. Our UN team, led by Resident Coordinator Mauricio Ramírez Villegas, is supporting the Government in conducting a rapid needs assessment, while also distributing non-food items such as hygiene kits, tarpaulins, solar lamps, and mosquito nets. Our colleagues are distributing a limited number of items prepositioned in the country, but much more is needed, including food. Infrastructure, housing, and agriculture are expected to be some of the most affected sectors. Our UN team is concerned with significant damage to people’s lives and livelihoods, including small businesses, as well as recently confirmed outbreaks of dengue fever and cholera in affected areas.

Tuesday, 21 November

Sahrawi Refugee Response Plan

In Algeria today, the UN launched the Sahrawi Refugee Response Plan, covering the next two years – 2024-2025. The plan calls for US $214 million to ensure food stability, a reliable water supply as well as to address the nutritional requirements of people living in camps in Tindouf. Funding will also be used to enhance educational access, offer protection services, and to improve and promote the health of the men, women and children living there. The plan also includes measures to diversify livelihood activities. Led by the UN Refugees Agency (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the new plan encompasses a robust and sustainable alliance of all 28 humanitarian actors on the ground to meet the needs of Sahrawi refugees. Our colleagues note that the Algerian government and international donors have demonstrated steadfast solidarity with the Sahrawi refugees by providing critical humanitarian support. However, they say that despite this support, operations there remain underfunded. With the Response plan launched today, the UN renews its call to fund operations to provide humanitarian assistance to Sahrawi refugees. [Full press release available on algeria.un.org]

Monday, 13 November

Resident Coordinators' Global Meeting: Secretary-General engages his representatives on the ground leading UN teams' work on sustainable development

The Secretary-General will also engage with over 120 Resident Coordinators this Thursday in a frank conversation with his representatives on the ground leading UN teams’ work on sustainable development. The UN Resident Coordinator Global meeting takes place throughout this week at UN headquarters to address the progress and challenges in rolling out the sweeping UN development system reform, in an increasingly complex global setting. This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General spoke with Resident Coordinators about the multitude of global, regional, and local challenges, which also point to the urgent need to boost financing and political will for people and the planet, to fast-track the Sustainable Development Goals at this half-mark point. Resident Coordinators are also discussing our UN teams’ work on the transformational power of catalytic areas like food systems; energy access and affordability; digital connectivity; education; jobs and social protection; and climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution to leave no one behind. This week, they will also engage with UN entity chiefs working on development—the UN Sustainable Development Group Principals—as well as other senior UN leaders to tackle issues ranging from the challenges of staying and delivering in increasingly complex settings to landing the Secretary General’s Our Common Agenda on the ground. Resident Coordinators will also dialogue with Member State representatives on the progress and challenges of the UN development system reform on the ground.

Interested in more? Check out previous daily updates from UN teams 'around the world':