UN Country Team for Mauritius & Seychelles Annual Retreat 2025

01 July 2025 – A three-day United Nations Country Team (UNCT) retreat for Mauritius and Seychelles commenced today with the participation of 25 UN agencies, funds and programmes. It is organised under the theme “Repositioning UNCT for Accelerating Economic and Climate Resilience for All in Mauritius and Seychelles.” The gathering brings together government leaders, civil society organizations, regional organisations, international development banks and private sector partners to reflect, recalibrate and recommit to deepened collaboration for transformative results and progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

During the Opening Ceremony at the Savoy Hotel, Beau Vallon in Seychelles, Ms. Lisa Singh, UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, congratulated the clear vision of Mauritius and Seychelles toward an economic and climate-resilient future and emphasized:

“The current global context, more than ever, calls for expanded partnership between the UN, government and all stakeholders to achieve transformative and lasting results that contribute to improve people's lives and build their resilience.”

As Seychelles embarks on the second year of its National Development Strategy (2024–2028) and Mauritius initiates its new Government Programme (2025–2029), “A Bridge to the Future,” the timing of the Retreat is therefore significant in allowing the UN to strengthen strategic alignment with government priorities. Joining remotely, Hon. Mr. Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, reaffirmed the value of multilateralism, stating:

“Mauritius will continue to champion the principles of multilateralism and international solidarity. We look forward to even deeper partnership with the UN System in delivering transformative change for our people, our region and our planet.”

In his keynote address, Vice President and Minister for Finance, National Planning & Trade of Seychelles, Hon. Mr. Ahmed Afif, underscored the nation’s pioneering leadership and the evolving role of the UNCT in supporting national resilience:

“We pioneered the world's first blue bond to sustainably finance our marine sector. We implemented a debt for nature swap to reduce national debt while protecting our oceans. We are actively expanding renewable energy, sustainable tourism and digital public services. These are not isolated achievements, they are part of a national strategy to build long term resilience. To sustain and scale this progress, we need the UNCT to evolve with us—to become more responsive, more integrated and catalytic in its support.”

Reinforcing this call for responsive and inclusive action, Hon. Mr. Flavien Joubert, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change of Seychelles, highlighted:

 “No country can work in isolation as the threats that we face are collective and common to all, including climate change, global economic instability, pandemics, and cyber threats. We should commit ourselves to ensuring that no one – no children, women nor men, persons with disabilities or any at-risk groups in our communities, and abroad – is left behind.”

The three-day event, which will cover issues of climate resilience, innovative finance, economic diversification, equitable growth, and regional integration, will facilitate the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS).