The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026 was launched Sunday to contribute to a more resilient recovery from the pandemic and to the acceleration towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.

The UNSDCF was launched by the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and Planning Minister MA Mannan attended the online launch event.

The finance minister said the UN has been Bangladesh's longstanding and trusted partner since the country's independence and significantly contributed to its overall development achievements.

The planning minister said: "We are about to graduate out of least developed countries (LDC) status. It is our responsibility to ensure that at the threshold of graduation – as a developing country, and one that is aiming to become a developed country by 2041 – that the benefits of development are shared equitably."

He said this Cooperation Framework will contribute to making real and sustainable differences in the lives of Bangladesh's most vulnerable groups.

Fatima Yasmin, secretary at the ERD, and Mia Seppo, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, delivered opening remarks.

Fatima expressed her hope that this Cooperation Framework will create the ground for joint work between the Bangladesh government and the UN country team in Bangladesh to accelerate the implementation of the 8th Five Year Plan.

She said: "This is a very important Framework that will guide our cooperation with the UN on a broad range of areas from LDC graduation, to pandemic recovery and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

In her comments, the UN Resident Coordinator thanked the Bangladesh government and partners for their contribution to the formulation of the Cooperation Framework.

She reiterated the commitment of the UN family in Bangladesh to stand strongly with the government in key priorities like tackling climate change, ensuring that every child gets a quality education and a safe childhood, and enabling every woman and man to be able to participate in decision-making.

At the event, Ambassador Rabab Fatima, permanent representative of Bangladesh to the UN, and Robert Piper, assistant secretary-general of the UN Development Coordination Office in New York, also offered pre-recorded messages.

Fatima and Mia unveiled the Cooperation Framework.