[Check against delivery]

Excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honor to join you today to reflect on the progress made towards achieving the Copenhagen Commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Nevertheless, as we have heard over the last two days, despite decades of global commitment, too many of our ambitions remain unrealized.

Across many contexts, the most persistent challenges lie not in the vision, but in implementation.

To succeed in accelerating action towards achieving the promises of the 2030 Agenda and the Copenhagen Commitments, we need to better respond to the challenges of implementation.

For example, infrastructure can influence up to 92 per cent of all targets across the SDGs, and is critical to advance locally on all aspects of development.

Addressing these challenges requires national-level approaches that strengthen the machinery of implementation, with due attention to the most vulnerable and fragile groups.

Across UNOPS’ work over the last 30 years, we have seen time and again the importance of providing practical solutions that fit local contexts.

Solutions that put people at the heart of its operations.

Guided by a commitment to inclusion and empowerment, UNOPS works to strengthen national capacities, engage youth, empower women and support communities in achieving their development priorities.

Governments should be empowered to have ownership of their development projects.

This means providing them with the necessary support to ensure that projects are implemented effectively, efficiently, and sustainably, with the aim of building local capacity.

UNOPS has also made concerted efforts to localize procurement across the countries we serve.

Last year, nearly half of the goods and services we procured were sourced directly from beneficiary countries – boosting local economies, strengthening supply chains, and enhancing the sustainability and impact of our work.

This transformative approach ensures that projects are not only responsive to immediate needs but also contribute to long-term sustainable development outcomes.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

As we approach 2030, the task before us is clear: to bridge the gap between ambition and delivery.

With stronger national institutions, smarter investment, and sustained partnerships, we can accelerate progress toward the SDGs and the promises of Copenhagen.

UNOPS remains committed to supporting governments and other partners in doing not just more – but better – for the people we serve through practical, scalable action.

Thank you.