Mr. President,

I thank the Executive Director and Deputy Director of UNICEF for their comprehensive reports and the other associated briefings. We are encouraged to note that there are statistics in this area for my country, although we would have liked to see better numbers. But that is why we are here, to ensure that we follow thru to improve the data.

The principles and objectives of the UNICEF multi-country programme(MCP) are highly relevant for the Pacific Island countries, and the Federated States of Micronesia, in particular. We note the consultative process undertaken to incorporate issues of importance to my country and our region. Given our smallness and limited capacity, it only makes sense that the UNICEF Pacific MCP for 2018-2022 will focus on a holistic approach to quality service delivery where the UNICEF and the other United Nation agencies in the Pacific and our Regional Organizations will support and integrate the United Nations Pacific Strategy, 2018-2022, the Framework for Pacific regionalism, the Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway into our Strategic Development Plan.

The six components of the UNICEF MCP a) child and maternal health and nutrition; (b) water, sanitation and hygiene; (c) education; (d) child protection; (e) policy, evidence and social protection; and (f) programme effectiveness are aligned to the priorities of the FSM strategic development plan particularly in areas of environment, health, education and gender. The MCP will help the States of Micronesia to address low rates of immunization and improve early childhood education, address high rates of newborn mortality, malnutrition (including stunting and overweight) and improve access to safely managed water and sanitation and child protection at homes, communities and in schools. We welcome the increase and timeliness of UNICEF support to the FSM in the new MCP to strengthen the capacities of relevant sectors to deliver quality services for children and women to improve their livelihood. UNICEF’s support is particularly important given the central issue of climate change and its adverse impacts on our efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the scheduled 2023 conclusion of the financial provisions of the Compact. We would like to endorse and support UNICEF’s multi-country programme document and look forward to our continued partnership.

Thank you.