Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Next Secretary-General
Financing for Development Week
Financing for Development
Indigenous People
UNIFIL
Lebanon
Gaza
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Middle East Envoy
Security Council
Haiti
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Exhibitions
Chinese Language Day
Financial Contribution
Guest
NEXT SECRETARY-GENERAL
On Tuesday and Wednesday, candidates for the position of Secretary-General will take part in interactive dialogues in which they will outline their vision for the United Nations and answer questions from Member States and civil society. Discussions will focus on their leadership experience and qualifications, reform of the UN as well as the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, development, and human rights. These dialogues represent a pivotal moment in the selection process for the next Secretary-General.
Interactive dialogues with Michelle Bachelet [10 am to 1 pm] and Rafael Grossi [3 pm to 6 pm] will be held on Tuesday while the dialogues with Rebeca Grynspan [10 am to 1 pm] and Macky Sall [3 pm to 6 pm] will be on Wednesday. All interactive dialogues will be webcast on UN WebTV.
Ahead of the start of the dialogues, the President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, is expected to deliver a press statement at the GA Hall stakeout tomorrow morning at 9:45 a.m.
Some candidates will participate in media stakeouts shortly following the conclusion of their dialogues.
FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT WEEK
The Financing for Development Forum this morning was also the opening event of the Financing for Development Week.
The Financing for Development Week will feature several events, including a Special High-Level meeting with Bretton Woods Institutions tomorrow, and the SDG Investment Fair from 21 to 23 April.
FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
This morning, the Secretary-General addressed the opening session of the ECOSOC forum on Financing for Development – the first major gathering on this topic since Member States adopted the Sevilla Commitment last year.
He told participants that the task before us is steep. The financing gap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals now stands at over $4 trillion annually — and it is growing fast.
Mr. Guterres said it is up to us to keep pushing to translate the promises made in Sevilla into concrete progress for people and countries that need it most.
He highlighted three broad areas of focus to bring them to life.
First, the Secretary-General said it’s time to rev-up the machinery of finance.
By increasing the assets housed in Multilateral Development Banks, by combining public and private finance in new and expanded ways to support development. And by mobilizing domestic resources and channeling them to the areas of greatest need — including by tackling illicit financial flows.
And finally, the Secretary-General renewed his call to reform the international financial architecture.
Global economic governance must become more inclusive, representative, equitable and effective, he said.
Also speaking at the forum today, Amina Mohammed, our Deputy Secretary-General presented the 2026 Financing for Sustainable Development Report.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-04-20