STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) AND ITS IMPACT ON THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC GROUP OF STATES

As the Corona virus spreads across the globe, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States are taking preventive measures to contain the disease and many are showing a strong level of preparedness to counter its spread. However, the number of cases in our countries is increasing, and more countries are affected with each passing day.

Brussels, 10 March 2020/ACP: At the 9^th African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Summit of Heads of State and Government, ACP leaders endorsed the Nairobi Nguvu Ya Pamoja Declaration. The Declaration, which lays out the Group’s position on issues such as good governance, peace and security and environmental sustainability and climate change, among others, outlines commitments by ACP leaders for the next three years to revitalize the ACP Group to be more dynamic and focused on multilateralism, sustainable development and growth.

As the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States commemorates International Women’s Day, we remain steadfast in our resolve to attain Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 8.  In line with this year’s theme for Women’s Day, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women's Rights”, the ACP Group is committed to promote inclusion through gender equality.

Brussels, 2 March 2020/ACP: During a special sitting of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Committee of Ambassadors (CoA) to welcome the new Secretary General (SG) of the ACP Group of States, new SG, H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, in his inaugural address to the CoA and specially invited guests, laid out his vision for the next five years.

New Secretary-General (SG) H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti took up office today, 2 March 2020 at the start of his five-year tenure which will extend until 2025.

In his address to the staff, the new Secretary General delivered a message of hope and transformation, whilst acknowledging the challenges facing the ACP Group as a whole. Reminding staff of the far-reaching impact of their work to the people of the six ACP regions, he laid out his management principles and expectations and urged them to strive for excellence in their service; to take advantage of the opportunities and address the challenges.

Brussels, 28 February 2020/ACP: The Committee of Ambassadors (CoA) of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States will today bid farewell to Secretary-General H.E. Dr. Patrick Ignatius Gomes as he demits office at the end of his five-year mandate which began on 1 March 2015.

The Senior Management Team, which comprises the Assistant Secretaries-General and the Chef de Cabinet will also demit office.

Brussels, 25 February 2020/ACP/UNOSSC/: The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) are today collaborating on a joint meeting in a series of ACP Symposia on South-South cooperation. Under the theme “Building Alliances to Strengthen Multilateralism through South-South and Triangular Cooperation” the symposium closely follows on the success of the 9^th Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2019 which renewed the ACP Group’s commitment to multilateralism.