UN ANNUAL REPORT 2023

The United Nations Sao Tome and Principe is pleased to present this Annual Report 2023 which highlights the main results of the UN in 2023, in support of the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This report provides an overview of the key results, with human stories that show how development actions have changed the lives of people for the better. It shows progress made to the fulfillment of the promise made by the United Nations (UN) member states in 2015 to leave no one behind in the achievement of the SDGs.

The UN partnered closely with the Government, development partners, civil society and private sector to advance our common goals, and thanks to your continued support and trust we have been able to do so. I would like to mention in particular the partnership with the associations for people with special needs and the Government to develop a draft national strategy for greater inclusion across the various sectors. 

2023 has been the first year of implementation of the CF, and I am glad to see that the country programs of individual UN agencies have been approved by their respective Executive Boards and are now aligned with the focus of the CF and its timeframe till 2027. 

The inclusive sustainable development trajectory of the country has had strong headwinds with rising prices worldwide and hampering economic growth but the commitment to an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous society has been unwavering.

In 2023, Sao Tome and Principe (STP) took on the presidency of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries which adopted Youth and Sustainability as their main theme for 2023/4. As UN, we support the efforts of the Government to create more opportunities for youth to participate in the civil, political, socio-economic and cultural life in STP. We are proud that the Government has partnered with the UN and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the first International Conference on innovative financing for Biodiversity Conservation that took place on the island of Principe, the first UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

Climate financing will be a continued focus of our work in 2024. We look forward to the continued partnership for the acceleration of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in STP, our north star that guides our actions.