麻豆APP

USG Li Junhua,

Distinguished Members of the Independent Expert Advisory Panel, 

Allow me to begin by congratulating you on your appointment and thanking you for accepting the responsibility entrusted to you by the Secretary-General, and to join USG Li to warmly welcome you to this inaugural meeting. 

This first meeting marks an important transition for the MVI - from its development and endorsement to its continued refinement, operationalization and broad implementation.

I thank USG Li for outlining clearly your expected role and expectations of you. 

Building on the work of the first High-Level Panel, your mandate is now to ensure that the MVI remains rigorous, credible, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable countries.

The message of the MVI is clear: income alone does not tell the full story of development. 

Countries may appear prosperous on paper while remaining deeply exposed to multidimensional vulnerabilities, such as climate shocks, external market volatility, geographic isolation and debt distress. 

The MVI makes these structural realities visible and provides a stronger basis for more responsive and equitable development and financing decisions.

As part of the Joint Interim Secretariat, my Office has remained closely engaged throughout this process, helping to sustain both the technical work and political momentum needed to advance the MVI from concept to implementation.

We helped build consensus among the 92 countries we serve, namely the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States around a universal index that reflects the vulnerabilities of all developing countries.

We have also consistently advocated for the MVI’s recognition and use by international financial institutions and multilateral development banks.

The General Assembly’s endorsement of the MVI was a critical milestone. But it was not an endpoint.

The task now is squarely focus on turning the MVI into a practical tool that informs decisions and improves outcomes.

As you commence your work, allow me to highlight three priorities for your consideration.

First - is the need to protect the integrity of the MVI through independence, sound data, transparency and technical rigor.

Second – is the importance of focusing on application and impact. The MVI and the Vulnerability-Resilience Country Profiles must help countries shape national plans, investment priorities and financing strategies.

And finally – is the need to further advance institutional uptake across the UN system, MDBs, IFIs and development partners. 

The objective is not to create more complexity, but to enable better informed decisions, fairer financing and greater resilience.

My Office stands ready to support the Panel and the MVI Secretariat, as you embark on this critical mandate.

I wish you productive discussions and every success in the work ahead. 

Thank you.