平和構築委員会（PBC）年次会合における石兼大使ステートメント
令和4年11月22日
Thank you, Chair, for convening this meeting to allow us to engage directly with regional development banks. I also thank today’s briefers for giving us insight into their work and priorities in their respective regions.
Today, I would like to share three thoughts on how the roles and strengths of the regional development banks can be maximized in cooperation with the UN to advance the cause of peacebuilding.
First, in order to ensure adequate, predictable, and sustained financing for peacebuilding, we should seek to create synergies between all sources of available resources, such as international financial institutions (IFIs), including regional development banks, UN agencies, funds and programmes, and bilateral donors. The PBC is an ideal forum for these entities to create a spirit of transparency and openness, just as today’s meeting has given regional banks the chance to share their activities. As a next step, these entities can advance their work to deepen, coordinate, integrate, and ultimately institutionalize their efforts based on shared priorities and desired outcomes, and avoid needless duplication.
Second, let us utilize the flexibility and agility of the Peace Building Fund to provide seed money to catalyze resources for peacebuilding. The PBC can serve as a venue to review PBF projects, present further needs and supports, and engage with regional development banks to make development financing sustainable. The PBSO can also utilize donor visits to assist regional development banks as well as other entities as they consider whether and how to further invest in PBF projects.
Last, but not least, a regional perspective and regional expertise and connections are critical to building resilient societies, which is one of the most important aspects of peacebuilding. Given their strong regional focus and unique position, regional institutions, including regional development banks, can play a significant role in helping to analyze and address financing gaps and technical difficulties on the ground. For example, in September, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen their partnership in promoting sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in Asia and the Pacific. The PBF also has much to learn from regional development banks, which hold resources, knowledge, and connections to help mobilize funds from private sector as well as public sector. For example, the ADB has successfully mobilized financing resources in its projects through successful partnerships with government organizations, international institutions, and private companies. These sorts of partnerships provide great potential to maximize our collective efforts.
To conclude, let me reiterate Japan’s continuous engagements towards the effective and coherent cooperation with all related stakeholders in peacebuilding, including regional development banks.
I thank you.
Today, I would like to share three thoughts on how the roles and strengths of the regional development banks can be maximized in cooperation with the UN to advance the cause of peacebuilding.
First, in order to ensure adequate, predictable, and sustained financing for peacebuilding, we should seek to create synergies between all sources of available resources, such as international financial institutions (IFIs), including regional development banks, UN agencies, funds and programmes, and bilateral donors. The PBC is an ideal forum for these entities to create a spirit of transparency and openness, just as today’s meeting has given regional banks the chance to share their activities. As a next step, these entities can advance their work to deepen, coordinate, integrate, and ultimately institutionalize their efforts based on shared priorities and desired outcomes, and avoid needless duplication.
Second, let us utilize the flexibility and agility of the Peace Building Fund to provide seed money to catalyze resources for peacebuilding. The PBC can serve as a venue to review PBF projects, present further needs and supports, and engage with regional development banks to make development financing sustainable. The PBSO can also utilize donor visits to assist regional development banks as well as other entities as they consider whether and how to further invest in PBF projects.
Last, but not least, a regional perspective and regional expertise and connections are critical to building resilient societies, which is one of the most important aspects of peacebuilding. Given their strong regional focus and unique position, regional institutions, including regional development banks, can play a significant role in helping to analyze and address financing gaps and technical difficulties on the ground. For example, in September, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen their partnership in promoting sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in Asia and the Pacific. The PBF also has much to learn from regional development banks, which hold resources, knowledge, and connections to help mobilize funds from private sector as well as public sector. For example, the ADB has successfully mobilized financing resources in its projects through successful partnerships with government organizations, international institutions, and private companies. These sorts of partnerships provide great potential to maximize our collective efforts.
To conclude, let me reiterate Japan’s continuous engagements towards the effective and coherent cooperation with all related stakeholders in peacebuilding, including regional development banks.
I thank you.