APPG hosts UNDP Director Ulrika Modéer in Parliament - 13 June 2023

On 13 June 2023, the APPG for the UN Global Goals hosted a meeting in Parliament between APPG members and UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy at the UNDP, Ulrika Modéer, who was on a mission to London for meetings with the FCDO and others.

APPG members including Natalie Bennett, Patrick Grady MP, Lord Moynihan, Lord Hannay, Baroness Hodgson and Lord Jeremy Purvis, as well as APPG co-chairs Lord McConnell and Theo Clarke MP, Ms Modéer for a discussion across a range of topics related to the UK’s role in championing and implementing the SDGs.

The discussion covered topics including the UNDP’s role as a ‘lead implementer’ of programmes, the need for countries to stay committed to Voluntary National Review (VNR) processes, and how the UK can integrate the SDGs across its programming.

APPG members also took the opportunity to discuss the work of the UNDP related to resettling refugees across the Middle East, supporting the use of natural resources for development in lower-income countries and supporting the creation of stronger tax bases across the world. At this ‘midway point’ for the 2030 agenda, APPG members and Ms Modéer also reflected on progress towards the SDGs, and how countries including the UK can make the 2020s a ‘decade of delivery’, despite stalled progress towards the goals.

There was strong agreement in the room on the need for the UK to recommit to the Sustainable Development Goals, to integrate the goals across its aid programming, and for the UK to be a strong and reliable partner for the achievement of the Global Goals.

The APPG would like to thank Ms Modéer, and Stephan Ulrich who also joined us from the UNDP, for taking the time to engage with Parliamentarians on these issues, and we hope to continue this collaboration going forward.