That’s the message from UN chief António Guterres on World Tourism Day observed on Wednesday.
According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), tourism employs one in every 10 people on Earth.
To protect tourism jobs, Mr. Guterres said that governments and businesses must invest in sustainable and resilient practices, embrace renewable energy, and better protect the “biodiversity and ecological balance” of all destinations.
The UN chief stressed that targeted investments can deliver jobs and support local businesses and industries while mitigating the environmental impacts of tourism.
“Investing in sustainable tourism is investing in a better future for all,” he said.
Maritime transport must decarbonize ‘as soon as possible’: UNCTAD
Action is urgently needed to combat surging carbon emissions in the shipping industry, the UN trade and development body UNCTAD said on Wednesday.
Ahead of World Maritime Day on 28 September, UNCTAD called for cleaner fuels, digital solutions and clear and universal carbon regulations in an industry accounting for over 80 per cent of the world’s trade volume, in which emissions have risen by one fifth over the past decade.
The trade body’s Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan insisted that maritime transport needs to decarbonize “as soon as possible”, while ensuring economic growth.
“Balancing environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance and economic demands is vital for a prosperous, equitable and resilient future for maritime transport,” she said.
Investment in green technologies is urgent as nearly 99 per cent of the global shipping fleet still relies on conventional fuels, and commercial vessels are on average over 22 years old.
UNCTAD reports that up to an additional $28 billion will be required annually to decarbonize ships by 2050 and up to $90 billion will be needed each year to develop infrastructure for entirely carbon-neutral fuels by 2050.
Full decarbonization could double annual fuel expenses, potentially affecting small island developing states and least developed countries that rely heavily on maritime transport.
Antarctica sea ice falls well below previous record low: WMO
And in another climate alert, Antarctic sea ice has fallen well below its previous record low of lasts year, according to data from the United States Government monitoring service, said the UN weather agency late on Tuesday.
Having reached its maximum level during winter in the southern hemisphere, it has dipped below 17 million square kilometres for the first time since records began in 1979.
That is a full million km² below 2022, said the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) – an area greater than the size of Egypt.
One of the US National Snow and Ice Data Center scientists issuing the alert said it was far outside anything seen before and “almost mind-blowing”.
The consequences of continued ice melt could have far-reaching consequences for long-term seasonal evolution, said WMO.
Scientists with WMO’s Global Cryosphere Watch are on alert to see if this is the start of a new worrying trend due to rising emissions in the atmosphere and ocean.
“The 2023 Antarctic sea-ice deficit has direct impacts on the climate- and ecosystems, both nearby as well as far field, including at lower latitudes, which are home to the majority of human population and their economic interests,” said Dr Petra Heil, an expert from the Australia Antarctic Division and part of WMO’s Global Cryosphere Watch.
“There is growing concern about rapid changes in the cryosphere – melting sea ice, ice sheets and glaciers,” says Omar Baddour, chief of climate monitoring at WMO.
“The drop in Antarctic sea ice this year has been really dramatic. What happens in Antarctica and the Arctic affects the entire globe,” he added.
Addressing a special summit meeting, Dennis Francis – a veteran diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago – said he was determined to make sure the issue gets the attention it deserves during his presidency.
With the climate crisis unfolding rapidly, the need for more inclusive and innovative approaches to slowing climate change, including rising seas, has been resonating throughout High Level Week, in particular, at the Climate Ambition Summit.
The UN body assessing the science related to climate change, estimates that under current conditions the global-mean sea level is likely to rise between eight and 29 centimetres by 2030, with equatorial regions suffering the most.
The rise is mainly driven by thermal expansion, aggravated by the melting of mountain glaciers and the ice cap, with a further rise anticipated of up to 70 cm by 2070.
Extreme sea level events which used to occur once every century could become an annual phenomenon by the close of this century.
Not just our problem
A staggering 900 million people living in low-lying coastal zones are at risk of losing their homes due to rising sea levels and other climate effects, Mr. Francis warned, adding that the issue extends far beyond coastal communities.
No one is immune to a potential catastrophe, he said, “fertile river deltas like the Mississippi, Mekong, and Nile – the world’s breadbaskets – are sinking.”
Collective ambition needed
Beyond the crushing impacts on livelihoods and communities, sea-level rise carries further implications, spanning environmental, legal, political, technical, economic, cultural, and human rights dimensions.
“Not only do we risk losing land, but also the rich cultural and historical heritage of these islands and regions that have helped to shape people’s identities,” alerted Mr. Francis the dignitaries, who gathered at the early morning event.
Mr. Francis called on leaders to raise their ‘collective ambition’ and take much-needed action, and move it up the agenda at the forthcoming COP28 convening on November 30 and the SIDS (Small Island Developing States) Conference planned for 2024.
Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, and other top representatives are converging to endorse multilateral treaties which form the bedrock of international legal frameworks.
“Multilateral treaties are essential tools for Member States to achieve the objectives of the UN Charter,” emphasized David Nanopoulos, Chief of the Treaty Section at the UN Office for Legal Affairs (OLA).
The former, focused on trade and signed by 15 nations as of Tuesday, aims to shore up international law regarding ship sales.
The landmark BBNJ treaty was agreed in June, following nearly two decades of negotiations, and strengthens the legal regime in the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, in over two-thirds of the world’s ocean.
Other treaties open for signature include those relating to environment, human rights, disarmament, and combatting transnational organized crime.
United Nations/Paulina Kubiak
Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, signs the BBNJ treaty at the UN Treaty Event.
Long legacy
The Treaty Event, established in 2000 by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, capitalizes on the UN General Assembly’s annual high-level week to garner global leader support for multilateral treaties and the rule of law.
This initiative has seen substantial success, with over 2,000 treaty actions secured.
As the depository of multilateral treaties, the UN Secretary-General plays a pivotal role in their administration, ensuring transparency and facilitating cooperation among Member States, thereby upholding international law and principles of diplomacy.
The big objective of the major UN General Assembly meeting is to unlock innovative and practical solutions to close the widening divisions between rich and poor.
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs which drives the UN’s effort on SDG financing, notes that although fiscal challenges are mounting, “there is a window of opportunity if we act now.”
Financial divide
Most developing countries suffer from severe debt problems. And one in three countries around the world is now at high risk of suffering a fiscal crisis, according to the UN.
These countries cannot fund progress on the SDGs if they are facing exorbitant borrowing costs and paying more on debt servicing than on health or education.
“Developing countries face borrowing costs up to eight times higher than developed countries – a debt trap”, warned UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “and one in three countries around the world is now at high risk of a fiscal crisis.
“Over 40 per cent of people living in extreme poverty are in countries with severe debt challenges”.
Held every four years since 2015, This year’s High-level Dialogue takes place at a critical moment, when only around 15 per cent of SDG targets are on track.
Member States noted that while progress has been made across all action areas of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda – the roadmap for financing the SDGs – many of its finance commitments remain unmet.
They added that challenging economic prospects amid the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts and intensifying climate change have put financing for the SDGs under increased pressure.
Innovative approaches
According to Mr. Guterres aggressively scaling up SDG financing will require innovative approaches, bold policy decisions, and new sources of funding.
Member States welcome the UN Secretary-General’s proposal for an SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion US dollars per year to significantly increase affordable, long-term financing for development.
They also support his call for deeper and longer-term reforms to the international financial architecture, which currently fails to serve as a safety net for all countries and exacerbates inequalities.
Solutions must be systemic
“It is clear that the systemic problems of financing for sustainable development require a systemic solution: reforms of the global financial architecture,” said the UN chief.
He is also calling for a new Bretton Woods moment, when countries can come together to agree on new global financial architecture that reflects today’s economic realities and power relations.
“Together, we must turn this moment of crisis into a moment of opportunity, find joint financing solutions to rebuild global solidarity, and create new momentum for sustainable development and climate action,” Mr. Guterres said.
According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), this represents between $1,179 and $1,383 per person, per year.
The study factors in 50 SDG indicators across 90 countries, covering three quarters of the global population.
For the world’s 48 developing economies, the shortfall is estimated at $337 billion annually, if they are to take the required action on climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
When expanded to cover all developing economies, using the median per-capita cost for the 48 in the study, total annual needs ris to between $6.9 trillion and $7.6 trillion.
Think smart
Although finding this kind of investment will likely be extremely difficult for countries with limited resources, the solution lies in allocating funding in cross-cutting areas, such as education, which also advances gender equality, poverty reduction and innovation – all Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets.
“Merely increasing funds won’t guarantee success. Governments, companies, investors and institutions need to strategically allocate their resources,” said Anu Peltola, who heads UNCTAD Statistics. “They don’t have to stretch every dollar to cover every goal.”
Debt crisis
Analysis by UNCTAD indicates that the world’s wealthiest economies are expected to account for nearly 80 per cent of SDG expenditure between now and 2030. These countries generally face the highest annual per capita costs and the largest financing gaps.
Small island developing States also face high costs, with required spending on gender equality estimated at $3,724 per person, almost three times the average global requirement.
And while least developed countries face much lower costs per head, the required spending as a percentage of each nation’s overall economic output (GDP) is significant, reaching 47 per cent for education alone.
The UNCTAD analysis reveals major shortfalls in national spending trends towards sustainability. The biggest gap is in inclusive digitization, at $468 billion a year. Closing this gap would require a 9 per cent increase in annual spending.
Six areas of transformation
Conversely, improving social protection and decent job opportunities require less investment for the world’s 48 developing economies, at $294 billion, which would require a six per cent increase in annual spending.
The analysis focuses on six paths for transformation through sustainable development: social protection and decent jobs, transforming education, food systems, climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, energy transition and inclusive digitization.
It covers indicators ranging from reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing protected forest cover to guaranteeing universal access to electricity and the internet, promoting literacy, fighting hunger and reducing mortality.
UNCTAD’s report also highlights the need to tackle the global debt crisis. Around 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt interest payments than on essential public services such as education and health.
In its latest report, the UN Human Rights Council (OHCHR) body found that attacks on civilians, escalating fighting, economic decline and human rights violations persist, despite the country’s re-admission to the League of Arab States.
The continued war in Syria is a “monument to the failure of diplomacy” said Inquiry Chair, Paulo Pinheiro.
Speaking in Geneva at the launch of the report, Mr Pinheiro called on all parties to the conflict to cease the attacks on civilians following the recent wave of demonstrations.
He urged the government in Damascus to respond positively to Syrians’ legitimate aspirations and rights before the country “plunges deeper into escalating violence and economic decline”.
Aftermath of earthquake
The Commission Chairperson reiterated the need for “unilateral coercive measures” imposed by the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland from 2011 onwards, to be reviewed, and called for the easing of sanctions since the earthquake on 6 February 2023 to be maintained.
He pointed out that at the time of the earthquake, the Commission received “multiple reports of aid diversion, extortion and corruption,” and documented “obstruction and interference in aid delivery” in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
The “Government and other parties needless hindered life-saving aid” and “no party answered our call for a cease-fire. They continue shelling and they continue the war”, Mr Pinheiro said.
Citing the report, Mr Pinheiro explained that a single airstrike on 25 June killed or injured over 37 civilians at an outdoor vegetable market in Idlib that should have been observable to the offensive forces.
He added that of the 15 attacks documented in the earthquake-affected area, several may constitute war crimes.
Airstrikes
According to the report, humanitarian operations were also affected by suspected Israeli airstrikes that rendered key transport infrastructure inoperable.
“These instances, as well as the failure of the UN Security Council to reach a consensus in July to extend cross-border aid deliveries via the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing, stand as a stark reminder of how hostilities, politicisation and fragmentation in Syria harm civilians and deprive them of much-needed assistance,” Commissioner Lynn Welchman said.
Calling for a thorough review of the failures of the earthquake response,” she urged warring parties and the international community to ensure that cross-border humanitarian assistance can continue at the necessary scale and in a principled, needs-based and sustainable manner”.
Displaced
Meanwhile, the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) found that continued hostilities, including shelling, have displaced some 5,300 families, which is more than 26,500 people, between 1 and 9 September.
Clashes in northeastern Aleppo forced nearly 4,600 families from their homes and there are reports of overcrowding in camps and villages, with some families resorting to sleeping in the open. As of 9 September, at least five people were killed, with 22 others, including 11 children, injured.
While the situation in Deir-ez-Zor Governorate, in Syria’s northeast Syria, is calm, hostilities since 27 August have reportedly resulted in 69 deaths and 96 injuries.
More than 6,700 families have been displaced according to Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
Safe return ‘implausible’
The Commission also documents how recent weeks have seen increased conflict in greater Idlib, displacing thousands, and killing dozens in Deir-Ezzor, as well as an outbreak of large-scale protests calling for economic, social, civil and political rights in Government controlled-areas, notably Suweida.
It warns that beyond the frontlines, the safe return of Syrian refugees is implausible with cases of ill-treatment by Syrian security forces, including some blackmailed for their release.
Several refugees, including children, have since gone missing, it states. Arbitrarily detaining, torturing, forcibly disappearing and executing civilians in areas under their control is a war crime and crime against humanity the Commission points out, while calling for the release of all persons arbitrarily detained in Syria.
In a positive development, Mr Pinheiro noted that families seeking clarity on the fate of detained, disappeared and missing loved ones had received “long-awaited welcome news” following the establishment of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria by the General Assembly in June.
No peace
Commenting on the impact on ordinary Syrians, Commissioner of the Inquiry, Hanny Megally described the experience of truffle gatherers in central Syria: “We’re seeing an increase, [in] people fighting over economic needs and survival and that results in violence, abductions.” People fighting over the truffle market is “an example of the country descending into that state of insecurity,” he said.
World leaders, meeting in the Indian capital for the annual G20 summit, reached agreement by consensus this afternoon on the declaration, which covers issues ranging from climate change and green growth to gender equality and countering terrorism.
Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said the UN particularly welcomed the declaration’s language about accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Re-energize and re-invest in SDGs
“We’re especially happy to read about the commitments there, and how we must all re-energize and re-invest in the Goals if we are going to come even close to achieving them by their target date of 2030,” he said.
Mr. Dujarric said the adoption of the declaration by consensus after lengthy negotiations – especially in an era of global polarization — was a tribute to the efforts of India, which currently holds the G20 presidency.
“It also reflects India’s role as a leader of the Global South and developing countries. This highlights India’s capabilities as a bridge-builder, politically and geographically.”
Simple but urgent appeal
UN Secretary-General António Guterres had arrived in New Delhi with what he described as a “simple but urgent appeal” to G20 leaders: come together to solve humanity’s biggest challenges.
He stressed that global leadership was especially necessary on climate action and sustainable development.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr. Guterres addressed the summit session dedicated to climate and environmental issues, urging leaders to demonstrate greater ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting climate justice. G20 members presently account for 80% of the world’s emissions.
New member
Meanwhile, the G20 also agreed today to admit the African Union (AU) as its newest member, a decision welcomed by the UN.
“This is a reflection of Africa’s growing influence and importance on the global stage,” said Mr. Dujarric. “When much of the existing international multilateral architecture was built, most of Africa was still colonized and did not have an opportunity to have their voices heard. This is another step towards correcting that imbalance.”
Speaking on the eve of the G20 summit of advanced economies, which will take place in the Indian capital on 9-10 September, Mr. Guterres said global leadership was especially needed in two priority areas – climate action and sustainable development.
‘No time to lose’
“We have no time to lose. Challenges stretch as far as the eye can see,” the Secretary-General told a press conference.
He warned that the world was in a difficult transitional moment, faced with rising inequality and poverty and hunger levels and yet a distinct lack of global solidarity.
“We cannot go on like this. We must come together and act together for the common good.”
Lead on climate action
Mr. Guterres noted that G20 member countries were the world’s major producers of greenhouse gases, responsible for 80 per cent of total global emissions, and therefore needed to demonstrate greater leadership on climate action.
“Leadership means keeping the 1.5-degree goal alive; rebuilding trust based on climate justice; and advancing a just and equitable transition to a green economy.”
He added that leadership also meant wealthier countries finally delivering on their long-standing funding commitments to help developing countries meet their targets for reducing emissions, such as through the Green Climate Fund.
The Secretary-General said leaders must also take concrete action to ensure the world achieves the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on schedule by 2030.
Specific actions include:
Funding an SDG stimulus of at least $500 billion
Setting up an effective mechanism to reduce the debt burden on poorer countries
Changing the business model of multilateral development banks to leverage private finance on a much larger scale
Shifting subsidies away from fossil fuels to more productive uses
‘Catalyze SDG progress’
Mr. Guterres said that “together, these actions would catalyze SDG progress and help developing economies invest in key transitions across energy, food systems, digital, education, health, decent jobs and social protection.”
He added that significant progress towards the Goals was still within reach so long as there was goodwill from all countries, regions and groups.
The UN chief will be taking part in the annual G20 summit this weekend, presided over by India with theme of One Earth, One Family, One Future.
He echoed that message during Friday’s press conference underling that “we must act together as one family to save our one Earth and safeguard our future.”
The restrictions placed by the Taliban de facto authorities on women and girl’s education and employment have shattered the dreams of many of the women here, but their spirits remain unbroken.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through its implementing partner, the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR), is doing what it can to empower them via Alternative Developmentprojects.
These projects focus on providing small rural farmers and drug-affected communities with licit income generation activities to reduce their dependency on income from opium poppy or risk thereof.
UN News spent time with the women of this tiny village in Kabul city’s Police District 7, better known as PD7.
We also travelled to Nangarhar Province in the eastern part of the country. Visiting the rural districts of Gushta and Surkhrud we saw first-hand how these projects have helped regular Afghans make ends meet, particularly after the Taliban’s harsh decrees shut the doors of opportunity for women and left former opium poppy famers with no viable means to make a living off their lands.
The women beneficiaries in Dogabad are provided with pullets, feed, and poultry farming training through this project, with a goal of giving families and communities affected by drugs some sense of food security and basic income.
Mariam* is a Women’s Empowerment Manager at DACAAR. She had almost finished her master’s degree in business administration before the ban on women’s education was enforced.
She told UN News that she feels empowered because programmes like these give vulnerable women in Afghanistan the opportunity to be financially independent in the future, as well as the ability to support their loved ones.
She says her job is to motivate the women and girls she serves, and her message is simple.
“I tell them: Please keep going. One day something positive will happen, and life will change. I will never lose hope and never give up on this opportunity. I will try. No matter how hard the situation gets, I will try my best.”
UN News / David Mottershead
Chickens provided by UNODC’s alternative development project feeding in a backyard in Dogabad village, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Dreams shattered
Many of the women involved in the project are overqualified to do this kind of work, but survival supersedes everything else. Fatima* was studying to get her master’s in economic management and working as an interpreter before the ban. Her father, a driver at a human rights organization for 17 years, lost his job after the Taliban takeover.
“We didn’t have anything to eat. We borrowed money from so many people just to survive, at least until my father found a job. But he didn’t. So that’s why we had to sell our house.”
The family of nine is now renting a small house in the neighbourhood. This project is a lifeline.
Eighteen-year-old Sara* received her high school degree just before the ban was implemented. In addition to poultry farming, she is currently volunteering at a small private school for children who cannot afford tuition.
“I love my students very much, and I feel empowered by helping them become better people.”
She had dreams of becoming a doctor, but for now, those dreams seem out of reach.
A sustainable model
Since 2016, UNODC has supported more than 85,000 households through Alternative Development projects. The UN agency has adopted a short and medium-term strategy to ensure food security, while also creating sustainable models which lure farmers away from the poppy industry.
The years-long process of transforming a poppy field into an orchard requires patience but could be very lucrative if properly implemented
UN News / David Mottershead
A wide view of Haji Mohamed Iqbal’s lemon orchard which was supported by a UNODC alternative development project.
“Once a field is converted into an orchard, it will stay that way in the longer term, and there is less possibility for the farmer to again revert back to poppy cultivation.”
That’s according to Hidayatullah Sapi, an Alternative Development Programme Coordinator at UNODC.
UN News visited an orchard with Mr. Sapi in the rural Gushta district, an hour and a half east of Nangarhar’s Provincial capital Jalalabad. While the plot was never used to cultivate opium poppy – the main ingredient in heroin, UNODC supported its establishment as a preventive measure and used it as a demonstration for other farmers to be trained.
A bright future
A drip irrigation system installed on this plot, home to nearly 1,100 lemon trees, has been a lifesaver for landowner Haji Mohamed Iqbal and his employees. Both cost effective and environmentally friendly, this system has massively increased his production and allowed him to hire two permanent laborers. In addition, as the land’s yield continues to grow, it has created jobs for up to 20 seasonal workers.
“We have another orchard with same number of trees that yields 700 monds (4,900 kgs), but this orchard, which is properly designed and taken care of, yields 112,000 kgs of lemon. So, there is a huge difference between this and the traditional orchard,” Mr. Iqbal explained. “The future of this orchard looks bright.”
UN News / David Mottershead
Haji Mohamed Iqbal tending to his lemon trees in Gushta district, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.
From farm to table
Alternative Development is about much more than just providing support to farmers. According to Mr. Sapi, the projects focus on the entire value chain of a certain crop or product. For example, farmers are grouped together in cooperatives to give them a degree of bargaining power with traders. He further explained that UNODC has supported the processing factories with equipment and linked them to the farmers.
“So now those factories are buying the products from orchards that we have established. They are processing [these products], packaging [them], and then supplying them to the market.”
Climate devastation
With its low altitude and high temperatures, the eastern region of Afghanistan is ripe for citrus cultivation, according to the UNODC alternative development coordinator.
Yet, while the land here is fertile, climate change has had a devastating impact on local farmers.
“When there is rain, there is enough water in the rivers. But floods can destroy the farmers’ fields. And in the off season, when there is no rain, the rivers are dry, and people lack access to water for irrigation,” Mr. Sapi explained.
He stressed the need for the international community to support farmers in implementing improved agricultural practices, especially installing drip irrigation systems so they will be able to use water more efficiently during times when this vital resource is scare.
UN News / David Mottershead
UNODC’s Hidayatullah Sapi standing on the banks the drying “Red River” in the eastern region of Afghanistan.
Living in the now
Even though funding is drying up and has been since the Taliban retook the country nearly two years ago, hopeful farmers continue to visit Mr. Iqbal’s orchard.
“They want to establish orchards [like this one], but they cannot afford to. And there are no more NGOs coming here to assist them,” he said.
Mr. Sapi noted that the local demand for citrus is astounding – some 200,000 metric tonnes annually – but only 10 per cent of that is met locally. This means investing in orchards could be a viable long-term replacement to poppy cultivation in the eastern region.
In the meantime, people still need to make ends meet, which is why UNODC also supports the development of vegetable farms.
The Taliban authorities implemented a ban on poppy cultivation in April 2022, with a 10-month grace period. This year the ban has been strictly enforced, and evidence suggests that it has been quite effective.
On the outskirts of Jalalabad city in Surkhrud district, UN News spoke to Fatehabad village elder Khanullah, who said the farmers he leads had plans to cultivate poppy this year, but the Taliban destroyed the crop before the harvest.
The de facto authorities took their names and referred them to UNODC’s implementing partner, DACARR, which provided 21 farmers with 3 kgs of okra seeds and 25 kgs of fertilizer each.
“There are more farmers who are also eligible for support, but since the project is small only these 21 farmers were selected”, Mr. Khanullah explained.
UN News / David Mottershead
Former poppy farmer Mazar Shah irrigating his vegetable farm in Surkhrud district, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.
Out of options
Mazar Shah, one of the 21 men that received the seeds and fertilizer, told UN News that while he appreciated the support, he and the other farmers faced an uphill climb.
Vegetables simply cannot replace poppies, he said. They all understood the harms caused by opium, but he and the other former poppy farmers were trying to survive, feed their families, and pay their debts.
“We were cultivating poppy because it has more return. If we are supported with the high value crops, we will never cultivate poppy, not in a hundred years”, Mr. Shah explained.
Afghan markets are flooded with vegetables, so the profit margins are almost nil. The price of 7 kgs of Okra when in-season is around 120 Afs, or 1.5 USD, and the vast majority of farmers do not have the capacity to grow in the off-season when profit margins are potentially much higher.
UNODC’s Hidayatullah Sapi warned of a growing sense of despair among vulnerable farmers.
He said: “Famers have clearly told us that if the international community and the de facto authorities do not support [them], and if there wasn’t a ban by the de facto authorities, [they] will grow poppy again because [they] don’t have any other option.”
The humanitarian imperative
Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, the United Nations has been operating under what is called a “Transitional Engagement Framework”, which largely limits its operations to meeting basic humanitarian needs. UNODC’s Representative in the country, Ms. Anubha Sood, said Alternative Development projects “definitely fall under humanitarian.”
She stressed that with the ban now being strictly enforced by the de facto authorities, “farmers need to grow something [so they can] put food on the table.”
Ms. Sood highlighted the gender perspective in the move away from poppy cultivation. Women, she says, have been the most vocal in combating the narcotic crop, particularly due to its social impacts.
UN News / Ezzat El-Ferri
Men walking in the Taliban-run Agoosh drug treatment centre in the Afghan capital Kabul.
“Women don’t want their family members to be involved in the cultivation of opium poppy”, the UNODC country chief said. “It has wiped out a generation. You see the impact even among your household members. Your young children are using it. Your family members are using it. Your husband is using it. Your brother is using is. So, it’s not just about economic gains. There are other repercussions, and now people see that. And women have been very, very vocal about it.”
Ms. Sood noted that many of the farmers who were supported by UNODC have made the switch in a sustainable manner, and those efforts are being replicated by others with the means to do so.
However, she stressed that the ban has created a lot of suffering for the small farmers who don’t have the reserve to carry on. “Their crops are gone, and their families are going to starve”, she said.
Since 2022, only $5.86 million (USD) has been provided for UNODC’s alternative development projects. The aim has now shifted to projects focusing on food security and has since reached some 14,000 direct beneficiaries, of whom 33 per cent are women.
Ms. Sood stressed that the United Nations has taken the decision to “stay and deliver” for the common Afghan, “no matter who is in power”.
“These are the people that we need to think of when we sit and decide whether this money goes for this intervention. I think that is what should not be forgotten.”
*The names of the Afghan women featured in this piece have been changed for their own protection
In a new report, UNCTAD shows that Africa can become a major exporter of higher value-added goods, creating growth and jobs, and fuelling a rise in productivity and wages.
Launching the report in Nairobi, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan insisted it would offer a better future for the continent’s economies.
Diversifying trade “builds resilience and enhances innovation”, Ms. Grynspan said, adding that diversifaction was “key” for private sector development and employment opportunities for Africa’s growing population.
Africa’s competitive advantage
Ms. Grynspan highlighted three factors driving the “huge” opportunity for the continent. From a geopolitical point of view, countries and businesses are seeking to diversify their suppliers and thus reduce risk. Africa is well placed to tap into this trend, Ms. Grynspan said, which together with the African Continental Free Trade Area offers “great synergies” for participating in global supply chains.
Africa also has a unique advantage amid the rise of the renewable energy market, as it is a vital source of raw materials for technology-intensive industries – for instance lithium, essential to the production of electric car batteries. It has the possibility to become a destination for manufacturing and should seek to export more complex finished goods rather than just commodities, Ms. Grynspan said.
As for demographics, Africa boasts not only a dynamic, young workforce, but also a “burgeoning” middle class offering local consumer markets for hi-tech goods.
‘Untapped potential’
The report analyses “untapped potential” for African countries to strengthen their position in the automobile, solar energy and pharmaceutical industries.
Encouragingly, Ms. Grynspan noted that Africa’s tech ecosystem growth has already proven impressive, as “hubs in artificial intelligence, 3D printing, blockchain, fintech [financial technology] and e-commerce are thriving” in countries such as Kenya, fostering innovation and strengthening Africa’s chance to capture technology-intensive global supply chains.
Higher wages and resilience
Creating an environment conducive to technology-intensive industries will raise wages, the UNCTAD chief said, underscoring that the average wage on the continent is $220 per month while in the Americas, in comparison, it is nearly $670.
According to UNCTAD, deeper integration into global supply chains would also diversify African economies, boosting their resilience to future shocks.
Attract investment
However, for this to happen, more investment will be needed, Ms. Grynspan said. The report highlights the fact that currently, only about two per cent of global investments in renewable energy go to Africa.
Paul Akiwumi, Director of UNCTAD’s Division on Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes, said that in order to drive more large-scale private investment, regulatory barriers will have to be removed and regional industrial development plans put in place.
Mr. Akiwumi cited the example of a regional agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia, allowing for the creation of an industrial zone for the production of electric car batteries. He also highlighted the importance of product registration and intellectual property in order to attract investors.
Urgent debt relief needed
Ms. Grynspan stressed that in order for Africa to be able to seize its competitive advantage, the continent’s economies need debt relief to create fiscal space so that countries can invest in strengthening supply chains and in education for their workforce.
She recalled that African countries pay four times more for borrowing than the United States and eight times more than European nations, as shown in UNCTAD’s recent “World of Debt” report.
‘Change the rules’
“This must change if Africa is to achieve its full economic potential and be a major actor in global supply chains,” the UNCTAD chief insisted, pledging the UN’s unwavering support to nations across the continent.
Ms. Grynspan highlighted UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ advocacy to “change the rules that reproduce these asymmetries” and fix the “distorted” perception of risk which international investors hold in relation to developing economies.
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