Message from the Resident Coordinator, Nardos Bekele-Thomas for the InFocus Newsletter Vol.5, Issue 3, DECEMBER 2021

The pandemic has humbled the human race and exacerbated the grave inequalities of this world. With the deepening of the climate crisis, the decline in human development globally, the manifestation of global injustice, subjective ethics and global prejudice against Africa and her people; our spirit of coming together and ability to act as one global community has been undoubtedly tested.

At the time of writing this foreword, 3 255 816 South Africans have tested positive for COVID-19, more than 2 954 919 recoveries have been made and more than 21 422 495 vaccines have been administered. But more importantly, 90 262 people have lost their lives to this disease. These harrowing figures are more than statistics, they are people we knew, people with aspirations that won’t be realized, and people who deserved equal access to healthcare. My deepest sympathies go out to all members of the UN family in South Africa who have lost loved ones during this time. May you find peace and comfort in the memories you shared with those who have departed. 

2021 marks the first year of implementation of the newly reinvigorated United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework which sets out to reframe policies and practices around sustainability to foster economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty and strengthen the ecological foundations of the economy. It also marks another year of the UN family, Delivering as One to stop the spread of the virus, save lives, tackle climate change, educate and respond to the socio-economic challenges facing the people of South Africa and throughout the region.

This year has been a year of small victories even in the face of loss, complexity and deep uncertainty. The UN has worked tirelessly in helping the people of South Africa to live prosperous and healthy lives in a safe and cohesive society that protects and values environmental sustainability. In the pages that follow, you will see that the UN Family has no doubt made significant contributions to the developmental landscape of South Africa.

I invite you to read the remarkable stories on young volunteers in South Africa helping the elderly in their communities register for Covid-19 vaccines; the stories of young people running local community radio programmes seeking to provide youth with a voice on critical issues such as HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, social cohesion and rising unemployment; the stories of rural communities standing against forced and early marriages, and the stories of brave men and women living with disabilities thriving and educating us despite the obstacles placed by our society. In the pages of this edition, we look back on efforts of the UN Development System to weather the storm of misinformation on vaccines through the Zwakala Campaign and we raise our voices and the game for Climate action.

The stories captured in this edition truly reflect the intention of the SDGs – working together as a community to realize equality, human dignity and freedom for all humans and ensuring that no one is left behind. Indeed, the Secretary General’s sentiments that “the only pathway forward for people and our planet is solidarity” are relevant for catalyzing sustainable solutions.

As the year draws to an end, I wish to thank you all for your efforts and commitment to uplifting millions of people out of poverty and for embodying the spirit of Ubuntu. And as we usher in a new year, I look forward to the continued support of implementing partners, civil society and the private sector as we work towards the realization of our common agenda of action, designed to strengthen and accelerate multilateral agreements particularly the 2030 Agenda and make a tangible difference to people’s lives all over the world.

In these turbulent and trying times, I wish you and your families safety, good health, peace and joy during this festive season.