We note with appreciation that the text will be following the format of previous ministerial declarations. This is essential to give a straightforward and logical structure to the document.
We reiterate that a line-by-line negotiation is the most transparent and inclusive way to address the process and we regret that the current roadmap does not reflect that. We thank the co-facilitators in advance for the assurance provided that we will keep the momentum reached last year when it comes to the process. Thus, we kindly request that the roadmap be adjusted accordingly to reflect line by line negotiations, rather than revised texts.

The Group believes that the current outline needs to be further strengthened. The language of the previous HLPF Ministerial Declarations should be used as the basis for 2025 HLPF Ministerial Declaration.

Terminologies from relevant inter-governmentally agreed UN development outcomes such as the 2030 Agenda, UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement, and Addis Ababa Action Agenda must be used.
The integrated, indivisible and universal nature of the 2030 Agenda makes it essential that we pay attention to all of the SDGs.

On Section I of the elements paper, focus should be placed on the urgent need to address the alarming SDGs financing gap, poverty and hunger and ensuring that no one and no country is left behind. Further, the digital divide and technological disparities, limiting access to innovation and AI, especially when 6.2 billion people are still offline, can be considered.

It is important that we do not prejudge ongoing discussions in other ongoing processes. At the same time, we underline the need to implement the Political Declaration of the 2023 SDG Summit as well as the relevant development-related commitments on the Pact for the Future, while reaffirming that the HLPF is the mandated platform to review the Agenda 2030 and its SDGs, which is our guidance towards realizing our sustainable development.

On Section II, we would emphasize that, in addition to the elements highlighted in the draft outline, the following additional actions must be included:

-Exert all efforts to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions - economic, social and environmental - in a balanced and integrated manner, while guided by all the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
-Scale up the provision of the means of implementation for developing countries to achieve the SDGs, as well as access to concessional finance, transfer of technology and capacity building.
-Call on States to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations that impeded the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.
- The group reaffirms that the implementation and the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda must include and address the severe difficulties faced by countries and peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation and strive to remove the obstacles to the full realization of their right to self-determination and right to development, which adversely affect their economic and social development. The group also reaffirms that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the need to respect the territorial integrity and political independence of States.

Regarding SDG 3: we appreciate that the number of issues that were raised by the Group are reflected in the paper. However, we believe that the missing elements in this segment which are critical for developing countries to achieve SDG3 are strengthened. This includes international cooperation and the means of implementation.

The Group is also of the view that the zero draft must address various approaches and issues in relation to health in a balanced, inclusive and consensual manner, particularly on the notion of One Health Approach and climate-change related impact, the zero draft ought to avoid singling out or highlighting one issue or approach over others.

Therefore, we believe that the following key elements should be addressed and further strengthened:

- Scale up adequate and sustainable health financing and investment for developing countries and recognize that financing SDG 3 requires global solidarity and collective effort.
- Urge Member States to strengthen international cooperation to support efforts to build and strengthen capacity in developing countries, including through enhanced official development assistance and financial and technical support to development and innovation programs.
- Recognize the transformative potential of digital health technologies in advancing health promotion, enhancing disease prevention, and supporting
the achievement of universal health coverage and health related SDGs.
- Highlight the importance of data-driven and evidence-based policymaking to address health inequities, and to accelerate progress towards the SDGs.
- Commit to address health inequities and inequalities between rural and urban areas, within and among countries, and particularly between developing and developed countries.
- Strengthen regional health responses and cross-border pandemic coordination
- Promote and improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.
- Reaffirm our resolve to realize our vision of a world with access to inclusive and equitable quality education, and universal health coverage.
- Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, including by strengthening health systems and achieving universal health coverage, and address gaps in preventing, preparing for, and responding to current and future pandemics and health emergencies.
- Include greater emphasis on digital health innovations, traditional medicine, and community-based healthcare models.
- Address health workforce capacity-building, particularly in developing countries.
- Include strategies for the aging population and their specific healthcare needs.
- Add comprehensive strategies for prevention, early diagnosis, and management of non-communicable diseases.
- Assist developing countries to build expertise and strengthen local and regional production of vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other health technologies in order to facilitate equitable access, recognizing that the high prices of some health products and the inequitable access to such products impede progress towards achieving universal health coverage, particularly for developing countries.
- Seriously concerned that the supply of health products and technologies is dependent on manufacturing facilities concentrated in few countries and that the lack of national or regional production capacities, adequate infrastructure, distribute and deliver of diagnostics, medicines, vaccines and other health products and technologies, particularly in developing countries, hampers efforts to achieve diagnosis, treatment and vaccination targets for several diseases, at the right time, safely and efficiently, especially in the context of health emergencies.
     
Regarding SDG 5, the Group appreciates that the main issues raised by the Group under the goal have been taken on in the elements paper. We believe that the inclusion of the following points will strengthen the first draft:

- Recognizing that SDG5 faces setbacks when there are delays in achieving other SDGs, and that the most vulnerable to risks are often the most adversely effected. At the same time, SDG5 needs to be considered as a cross-cutting element in accelerating the other SDGs.
- Emphasizing the importance of women-led development, and the empowerment of women to take ownership of development, especially in developing countries.
- Taking note of the measures to encourage and enable the effective participation of women in all spheres through comprehensive social policies to eliminate discrimination and other mechanisms.
We also seek further clarification from the co-facilitators on the reference on supporting equal rights and opportunities through gender, as the language "through gender" is not a common formulation at the UN.

The Group regrets that its strong call for "tangible actions" is not included in the elements paper, as we believe that it is important to build on the momentum and commitments of Beijing+30 to focus on accelerating progress, especially at a time when SDG5 remains incredibly off-track.

Regarding SDG 8, we appreciate that some important issues for the Group have been taken on board in this section. Even though we don't fully go along with some language as they have been reflected, we look forward to seeing how they are addressed in the Zero Draft and work on that basis to make it agreeable.

The focus should be to support sustainable development across its three pillars in a balanced and integrated manner. The Group would not be supportive of a one-size-fits all approach.

On the other hand, there are some key matters that remain of serious concern, mainly the notion of "shared ownership" of the SDGs. The Group does not support this approach, which undermines the principle of national ownership and the leadership at the country level in our pursuit of sustainable development, as reflected in the 2030 Agenda.

The Group believes that the following key actions on SDG8 are missing in the elements paper, and need to be addressed:

1- Recommit to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable growth in developing countries. Invest in economy, including care-economy, to restore and create jobs.
2- Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological development and innovation.
3- Recognize the important role of the cultural and creative economy as a driver for inclusive and sustainable development growth.
4- Address formalizations of the informal sector and social protection for gig and platform workers.
5- Scale up investments in digital infrastructure, capacity-building and technology transfer, to ensure that developing countries benefit from the digital economy.
6- Address opportunities, risks and challenges posed by new technologies, including AI, on the workplace and the workforce.
7- Recognize the positive contributions of migrants for inclusive growth and social and economic development.
8- Redouble efforts to stabilize and expand employment.
9- Enhance labour laws, on national conditions, and enforcement to protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. Secure the prohibition and elimination of child labour in all its forms.
10- Highlight global cooperation in skill development, including mutual recognition of skills and qualifications to facilitate labor mobility.
11- Support micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises as drivers of inclusive growth and decent jobs through formalization, financing and sustainable business practices.
12- Close the financing gap for universal social protection through financial reforms and international cooperation.
13- Support tourism in a sustainable manner, benefiting local communities and creating decent job opportunities for all.
14- Recognize international trade as an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction, and for the promotion of sustainable development.

Regarding SDG 14, the Group appreciates that the key issues raised by the Group have been included in the elements paper. However, we do see a scope to strengthen these elements.

First, the Group would like to see stronger language on means of implementation. In this regard, we support enhancing financial mechanisms to drive SDG14, including commitment to supporting capacity building, facilitating exchange of knowledge, technology and innovation, and financial mobilization to all developing countries to achieve SDG14. We would also like to see reference to enhancing cooperation, including South-South and triangular cooperation in addressing SDG14.

Second, we would like to recognize the potential of blue economy initiatives, including eco-tourism, and small-scale and artisanal fisheries, for achieving sustainable development and livelihoods, food security and employment. We also highlight the need for investing in such initiatives, and providing incentives to sustainably promote blue economy, including through promoting responsible fisheries, as well as combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. We want to underline that economic growth must be balanced with environmental protection and social inclusion in sustainable ocean management.

Third, we are of the view that the Ministerial Declaration should acknowledge progress made in multilateral processes towards the achievement of SDG14, including the conclusion of the KMGBF, and the BBNJ Agreement.

The Group would also like to emphasize that the discussion on enhancing efforts to build climate resilience must include the principles of equity and CBDR-RC.

We would note that in achieving SDG14, relevant traditional knowledge, knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and local knowledge systems must also be considered at the same level as science and evidence based solutions.

The Group is also of the view that we should not prejudge the outcome of ongoing discussions under different processes, including UNOC3 and the Plastics Treaty.

SDG 17

Regarding SDG 17, We understand that, given the ongoing consultation of FfD4 Outcome Document, we should not prejudge the outcome of the negotiation.

We wish to stress that while we recognize that domestic resource mobilization is an important source for financing for development, ODA clearly remains a critical source of development financing and we strongly urge developed countries to scale up and fulfill the ODA commitments as they bear the primary responsibility in financing for development.

Besides, the Group wishes to include the following issues missing on the element papers that are essential to the Group, and need to be addressed:

1- Stress our deep concern on financing gaps and decreasing trends of development finance. Recognize the urgency of providing predictable, sustainable and sufficient development finance to developing countries.
2- reiterate that international development cooperation, especially North-South cooperation, remains a fundamental catalyst to sustainable development. As North-South cooperation is the main channel of development financing, with South-South cooperation as a complement to, rather than a substitute for, the international community must uphold the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" (CBDR) and push North-South cooperation to continue to play its key role.
3- underscore the critical importance of delivering on pledges on special drawing rights in a timely manner. Call for the urgent voluntary rechannelling of additional SDRs
4- reiterate the call for scaling up debt swaps for Sustainable Development Goals, as appropriate.
5- welcome the meaningful involvement and participation of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other MDBs in the HLPF.
6- acknowledge ongoing discussions on measures of progress on sustainable development that complement or go beyond gross domestic product to take a more inclusive approach to international cooperation.
7- welcome the adoption of resolution 78/322 of 13 August 2024 on the multidimensional vulnerability index, call for the full and effective implementation of its mandate,
8- we invite international financial institutions, multilateral development banks and international organisations to incorporate multidimensional vulnerability, including the use of the multidimensional vulnerability index, as a complement to their existing practices and policies, to inform their development cooperation policies and practices;
9- committed to strengthening the inclusiveness and effectiveness of tax cooperation at the United Nations and look forward to the ongoing work of the intergovernmental negotiating committee.
10- Underscore the role of innovative financing to support financing for development
11- Recognize that unilateral economic, financial or trade measures that are not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, impede the full achievement of economic and social development, particularly in developing countries.
12- Ensure greater alignment between international cooperation (in all its forms) and national development priorities
13- - Commit to bridging the science, technology and innovation divides and the responsible use of science, technology, and innovation as drivers of sustainable development and to increase the use of science and scientific evidence in policymaking.
14- - Commit to continuing to assist developing countries in avoiding a build-up of unsustainable debt and in implementing resilience measures so as to reduce the risk of relapsing into another debt crisis.

15- - Recommit to preventing and combating illicit financial flows and strengthening international cooperation and good practices on assets return and recovery. Reaffirm our commitment to strive to eliminate safe havens that create incentives for the transfer abroad of stolen assets and illicit financial flows.

16- - Take action to bridge the digital divides and spread the benefits of digitalization through technology transfer. Expand participation of all countries, in particular developing countries, in the digital economy, including by enhancing their digital infrastructure connectivity, building their capacities and access to technological innovations.

17- Enchance support to developing countries to enhance their national data and statistical capacity.

Regarding the Voluntary National Reviews, the Group notes the following:

- The VNRs should be strengthened as a tool for sharing knowledge and tracking progress. We recognize the valuable work of the Group of Friends of VNR, co-chaired by Morocco and the Philippines, and encourage greater support for developing countries in preparing comprehensive VNRs.
- The Group notes that the third point (Strengthen the peer learning character, participatory nature, accountability and harmonization of VNRs) lacks some clarity, and some parts of it contradicts the fact that these national reviews are VOLUNTARY.
- There is a need to strengthen the inclusión of civil society, private sector, and academia in the formulation and reviews of VNRs.
- The Group recognizes, and this is an agreed language, that the voluntary national reviews presented by countries reflect the efforts at national level to integrate SDGs into national plans and policies and acknowledge the need to continue supporting countries in the VNR, including the work of the Group of Friends of VNRs. The Group is of the opinión that any references to accountability might hinder the willingness of the countries to present their VNRs.

We look forward to engaging on the zero draft, to work together and formulate language for the Ministerial Declaration, which will have the most impact, while respecting the diversity of views of the UN members.

Thank you.

At the outset the group expresses its gratitude to the co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Kenya, for their dedication as we negotiated the modalities resolution. We also thank the delegation of Uganda for the hard work and commitment to the role of coordinator during the negotiation of the resolution on the modalities of the WSIS+20 review.

The group appreciates the flexibility and fairness expressed by our partners, which led to the agreement that the modalities resolution of WSIS+20 will be a technical rollover.

Mr. President,

The Group hopes that the WSIS+20 Review will be vital in evaluating our progress, confronting the challenges we have faced, and reaffirming our collective commitment to harnessing ICTs for the advancement of information and knowledge societies. This review also aligns with the objectives of the Global Digital Compact, aiming to forge a shared vision for digital cooperation and governance.

The twenty-year review of WSIS outcomes, to be completed by the General Assembly this year is a timely exercise in the context of elaborating the development agenda. We believe a digital economy is a source of innovation and productivity improvements for all countries. It is, therefore, critically important to address the existing digital divide between developed and developing countries, as well as within societies, particularly in the availability, affordability, quality of access, and broadband connectivity.

Finally, the G77 and China reiterate their commitment to actively engaging in this very important intergovernmental process and look forward to reaching a concise, action-oriented outcome agreed upon by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations.

As we approach the final five years of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development represents a critical opportunity to renew the global commitment to financing sustainable development and to accelerate concrete action toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Progress in this regard will be measured, in large part, by our collective ability to close the financing gap through advancing meaningful reform of the international financial architecture. Reforming global economic governance is not an abstract ambition, it is essential to creating enabling conditions for development. The outcome of FfD4 must reflect this reality by reaffirming existing commitments and charting a clear path forward.

ON RENEWED GLOBAL FINANCING FRAMEWORK

The Group acknowledges the Co-Facilitators' efforts to streamline the preamble and improve coherence across the text. However, we stress that certain foundational principles and priorities must remain explicitly reflected. We appreciate the inclusion of language on poverty eradication and express our intention to further strengthen this language to reaffirm it as the overarching objective of the 2030 Agenda.

We also welcome the inclusion of reference to the SDG financing gap, which underscores the critical scale of investment needed to deliver on our commitments. The Group will be proposing additional language to emphasize the urgency of delivering predictable, adequate, accessible, and concessional financing to developing countries, in particular for long-term sustainable development.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda affirms our commitment to advancing toward an equitable global economic system based on the principle that no country or person should be left behind. The Group would like to reaffirm this principle and propose the inclusion of this language.

The Group would also like to see a standalone reaffirmation of the Rio principles, particularly the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), which remains central to the fair and effective delivery of development commitments. The integration of this principle across the text will be essential to maintain alignment with the broader framework of international development cooperation.

We express our appreciation for the inclusion of stronger language on the central role of the United Nations in shaping global economic governance, as well as the removal of earlier caveats in the draft. These changes are in line with longstanding G77 and China positions, and the Group will propose further language to reinforce the UN's role as the most inclusive multilateral forum, particularly in relation to economic and financial decision-making processes.

At the same time, we are concerned that the current draft contains no reference to hunger or food insecurity. Given the alarming increase in hunger levels in many developing countries, exacerbated by multiple crises, the Group believes that this omission must be urgently addressed. We will be submitting concrete proposals to include language that reflects the pivotal role of food security in development and recovery.

With reference to taxation, the Group believes that the design of such policies should be based on the principle of respect for tax sovereignty, enabling countries to tailor tax systems to their specific contexts and needs. Further, discussions on global solidarity levies, specific innovative taxes and taxation of High Net Worth inviduals are at nascent stage, and the Group, therefore, believes that no commitments to such taxes should be made at this stage in the outcome document.

ON DOMESTIC PUBLIC RESOURCES

The Group of 77 and China recognizes that domestic public resources constitute the bedrock of sustainable development and are critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We acknowledge the importance of strengthening national fiscal systems with sustainable development priorities, and in this regard, we welcome the emphasis placed on strengthening domestic resource mobilization.

We appreciate the inclusion of language on curbing illicit financial flows and enhancing fiscal transparency, both of which are essential to protecting and maximizing domestic revenues. The Group stresses that combatting tax evasion, corruption, and other leakages is vital to ensuring that domestic resources are effectively mobilized and retained for national development.

Moreover, we believe that robust and innovative frameworks are necessary to catalyze and sustain private sector engagement in development finance. Public-private partnerships, blended finance instruments, and targeted incentives for sustainable investment should be explicitly promoted to ensure that private capital meaningfully complements public resources, without undermining national ownership or development priorities and exacerbating the debt sustainablility in the long run.

ON DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE BUSINESS AND FINANCE

The Group of 77 and China believes that additional context should be provided in paragraph 26, including the concerning decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries and the urgent need to mobilize private resources at the scale, quality, and speed required to meet sustainable development objectives. In this regard, we emphasize that private business and finance must complement, not substitute, official development assistance (ODA), which remains a critical source of external financing for many developing countries.

We appreciate the references to capacity-building for domestic financial sector development and technical assistance for the preparation of bankable projects, including those that support sustainable industrialization. We look favorably on the inclusion of language promoting access to finance for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as financial and digital inclusion. The Group also has concrete proposals to strengthen the sections on FDI, remittances, recognizing the vital contribution of migrants, and reducing the high cost of capital for developing countries. We will also constructively engage on proposals related to innovative financing mechanisms, including de-risking strategies, thematic SDG bonds, and blended finance.

Regarding standards and reporting, we welcome the reaffirmation of their voluntary nature and the recognition of the importance of capacity-building. These standards must be adapted to national circumstances and must not create additional burdens or unintended negative impacts on developing countries. We also see added value in strengthening the language related to credit rating agencies, and improvement in their methodology for developing countries, and we will continue working to further refine and improve this section in a manner that supports sustainable development financing in all its dimensions.

ON INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

We believe that this chapter must reflect the unique and indispensable contribution of ODA in realising sustainable development and we will be proposing language towards this end.

We welcome the inclusion of a standalone section on access to concessional finance and will be proposing language to broaden the scope of this section.

We believe that the sub-section on MDBs provides a good basis for our discussions, and hope that the language contained therein will not be further weakened.

While the Group recognizes the importance of the peacebuilding agenda, as well as humanitarian assistance, and their role in sustainable development. We are alarmed by the decision of the co-facilitators to include a reference to the so-called 'humanitarian-peace-development' nexus, a concept we have not been able to agree to as recently as in the 2024 QCPR negotiation. The group had previously expressed concerns on the mixing of humanitarian issues in the FFD agenda, and we regret those concerns were not taken into account.

Lastly, we reaffirm that the language on climate and biodiversity must not rewrite decisions from the respective forums in which they were negotiated. We are deeply concerned that there is no reference to the legally binding obligations of developed countries to provide climate finance, which is a step back from the zero draft. We appreciate the inclusion of a commitment to enhance consistency and transparency in ODA and climate finance but believe that it must be clearly stated that climate finance must be new and additional to development finance.

ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE AS AN ENGINE FOR DEVELOPMENT

International trade as an engine for development is increasingly under threat. Tariffs and trade restrictions are on the rise globally amidst rising trade tensions and stalling multilateral negotiations.

Developing countries, in particular least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and African countries. as well as MICs, with limited productive capacities and trade infrastructure, have challenges integrating into regional and global value chains. This calls for concrete measures to improve their capacities to trade and generate value-added, with a focus on the furthest behind including from trade in commodities, services and critical minerals.

We call for a recommitment to multilateral trade that upholds policy space for sustainable development within a universal, rules-based, fair, open, transparent, predictable, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and equitable system.

To promote such a multilateral trading system, countries should refrain from imposing unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations as well as rules and norms of WTO.

The document should also address the issue of increasing use by developed countries of unilateral measures impacting trade in the guise of environmental protection including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) that place onerous requirements upon exporting countries

To preserve the multilateral trading system as a key driver of economic growth and sustainable development, we reaffirm our commitment to a universal, rules-based, open, transparent, predictable, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and equitable multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core.

We urge WTO members to accelerate the accession of developing countries in the process of, or considering, accession to WTO and to provide technical assistance to support them in this process, as well as making the best efforts to reduce trade restrictions.

We call on WTO members to fully implement all WTO agreements, we also urge the finalization of pending agreements.

We reaffirm the commitment made at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference to have a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system.

The ECOSOC FFD Forum can be a relevant venue to assess the impact on sustainable development of unilateral economic, financial or trade measures that are inconsistent with the principles of international law, and the Charter of the United Nations, building on the work of the United Nations system.

We call for strengthening trade capacities of developing countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and African countries. as well as MICs, and their ability to integrate intro regional and global value chains in a very challenging global context.

It is also important to understand that WTO does not have the mandate for investment-related discussions and the Document should reflect that correctly.

ON ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC ISSUES

The Group appreciates that critical actions to accelerate the reform of international financial architecture remain in the First Draft and reaffirms that progress in this area will be an objective criterion to determine if fourth international conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla is successful.

In the chapeau, the Group will introduce language based on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda to convey the collective commitments to reform global economic governance and strengthen the United Nations leadership role in promoting development, expecting this will remain the focus of the paragraph, rather the nature of existing mandates. It will also be important for the Group to recover language from the Zero Draft related to the need o reforming the International Financial Institutions, so that they deliver on their mandates in a more efficient and equitable manner. The Group notes that there is no reference to the link between the efforts to reform the IFA and the imperative of addressing developing countries' needs to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication.

In the actions related to the need of strengthening global economic governance, the Group strongly supports item a) and would like to add a reference to the need of protecting regional representation in the boards of IFIs. The Group is also supportive of commitments on quota review and realignment in the IMF, as well as of a comprehensive shareholding review of World Bank in 2025. In d), we would support stronger language so that we, as members and shareholders, work through the executive boards to increase the voice and representation of developing countries in IFIs, instead of considering options. We are supportive of e) as drafted and would like to qualify diversity in geographical terms in f). We can go along with h) as it is.

We take note of the recent measures adopted by the IMF regarding "surcharges." In this regard, the Group recommends that further clarification be provided on what will be considered as "exogenous shocks" for the purpose of a possible suspension of these additional costs.

On measures to strengthen the financial safety net, the Group would like to propose an additional action to ensure that multidimensional vulnerability is taken into account in the global financial safety net.. We are also considering critical proposals in this section, such as the IMF multilateral swap line, rechanneling SDRs, particularly from developed countries, enhancing their role and considering a new issuance, surcharges suspension, and ways to strengthen the role and scope of the Resilience and Sustainability Trust. The Group will present specific proposals during the intersessional sessions.

Co-facilitators, effective regulation of credit-rating agencies and most transparent, countercyclical, lone-term and accurate credit ratings methodologies are main deliveries for the Group when it comes to strengthening financial regulation. The Group will further enhance the language so that dialogue with these critical institutions is inclusive of all Member States and to ensure developing countries count with the capacity to properly engage with them. We welcome actions on paragraphs 49 and 50 and will revert with specific suggestions.

ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING

we welcome the efforts by the co-facilitators in the revised draft. We believe that this section must have a balanced approach to addressing both (a) financing for STI development and use; and (b) STI development and use for financing for development. In this regard, the Group has the following comments:

The chapeau of this chapter (Para 51) needs to recognise the persistent digital divide between developing and developed countries. We should also recognise that the development of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, takes a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented approach. We are pleased that this section specifically deals with capacity-building, and wish to see a strengthened reference to international support for effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries.

In Para 52 and its sub-bullets, we should recognize the role of robust national regulatory frameworks, clear legal structures, technology-driven policies, and incentives to encourage private-sector participation as well as that of enhanced multilateral cooperation to foster innovation and ensure that developing countries equitable access to STI benefits. We would also like to see language on the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favorable terms.

We also need to acknowledge centrally the need to enhance partnerships to ensure the provision of means of implementation to developing countries, as well as the integration of STI financing into national development frameworks, including digital transformation strategies.

We would also like to review the work of the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism, and consider establishing intergovernmental organizations to support developing counties in utilizing technology for sustainable development.

The Group also recognizes the importance of fair and interoperable data governance at all levels to enable developing countries to harness the benefits of digital economy, emerging technologies and AI models.

The Group also feels that this section should reflect the digital and technology divides in access to affordable digital health technology.

On the SDG investment fair, we feel that it will not suffice for developing countries to merely be invited to bring projects on digital public goods to the SDG investment fair, but that there must be a call for the relevant UN entities to support developing countries upon their request to do so, and that such projects must be brought for funding consideration.

ON DATA, MONITORING AND FOLLOW-UP

The Group is pleased to see that data has retained its cross-cutting and foundational character across the text, but particularly in this section. The Group would like to make the following points:

Upfront in the chapeau, we would like to see a recognition that the ability for developing countries to follow-up on FFD4 outcomes is contingent on the means of implementation, and we call on the UN to assist in assessing the progress in delivering the means of implementation and the challenges that are outstanding.

The Group would also like to see a commitment to scale up international cooperation, including through technological and financial support, to further strengthen the capacity of developing countries national statistical offices and systems.

We also call for sustained ?nancial and technical support for strengthening national statistical systems in developing countries, to meet evolving data demands of integration of arti?cial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics to enhance the quality and e?ciency of statistical output.

We also call for the full and timely implementation of the commitments to establish measures of progress on sustainable development that complement or go beyond GDP to have a more inclusive approach to international cooperation and inform access to development finance.

On the various follow-up mechanisms the Group still has outstanding questions on how these envisioned mechanisms, such as the financing indicator set and the Financing Action Reviews, are intended to be operationalised, how they tessellate with existing frameworks, mechanisms or processes. In view of wanting to improve accountability and implementation, but not concomitantly increase resource or reporting burdens on developing countries, we welcome the co-facilitators and the Secretariat to provide greater clarification to the Group on these follow-up actions as soon as possible. It is also difficult for the Group to engage robustly on these recommendations without first defining the commitments and actions in the preceding sections of the text.

The Group of 77 and China remains committed to engaging constructively in the negotiations to ensure a balanced, inclusive, and actionable outcome document that accelerates progress toward financing for development.

Thank you.