Remarks by Dennis Zulu Resident Coordinator in The Bahamas at the 'Building Back Equal through Innovative Financing for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Joint Programme' Closure Event

This initiative has been a significant example of how partnerships—across sectors, institutions, and borders—can reduce inequalities and empower women, youth, and in deed all Bahamians – wherever they live on this beautiful archipelago. 

I am especially pleased to have arrived at this stage, given the integral role my office – led by Aneesah Abdullah – played in brokering the relationship between UN Women (in the first instance) and The Bahamas Development Bank (BDB). We’ve come a mighty long way since then. Today we are recognizing the power of persistence advocacy resulted in The Bahamas benefitting from one of the concessional financing opportunities for high-income Small Island Developing States.  

With coordinating support from Maxsalia Salmon, the programme saw four UN Agencies and partners – FAO, UNESCO, UNDP and UN Women – working together for a common cause. 

Without a doubt, the results we celebrate in this joint programme would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of the people, partners in civil society and private sector as well as the Government of The Bahamas, particularly the Ministries of Agriculture,  Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture, Small Business Development Centre (SBDC Bahamas), The Bahamas National Commission for UNESCO, Ministry of Education, Department of Gender & Family Affairs.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your dedication and commitment to this important cause. 

Chairman Cassar, I want to especially recognize The Bahamas Development Bank and Sumayyah Cargill for her active leadership throughout the implementation of the programme and for working with us, hand in hand, even in challenging times to ensure the overall success of this project. The collaboration we’ve witnessed throughout this programme has been inspiring and demonstrates the collective impact we can have when we work together towards a shared goal. Together, we have also proven that the vulnerabilities faced by high-income island nations can be addressed in tailored ways.

At its core, the Build Back Equal Joint programme was driven by a recognition that gender equality is not just a matter of fairness—it is an essential foundation for achieving social and economic growth in sustainable ways. By addressing the structural barriers that hinder the meaningful engagement of women and youth in economic, social, and political life, we are creating pathways for inclusive growth and resilience. 

This journey would not have been possible without the support of the Joint SDG Fund and the generous contributions of its donor partners. Their vision and investment in gender equality and sustainable development have been instrumental in turning this initiative into a reality. I wish to extend our deepest gratitude to the Fund for its belief in the power of partnerships and innovation to drive change.

Friends, as we close this chapter, and open new ones, I use this opportunity to reiterate the commitment of The United Nations to support the Government and people of The Bahamas as we work together toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Gender equality is not just one of the goals—it is a cross-cutting priority that touches every aspect of development, from health and education to economic growth and environmental sustainability. Together, we will continue building on the momentum created by this programme, ensuring that the gains made for women and youth are sustained and scaled for future generations. The United Nations stands with you. 

On behalf of the entire UN family, thank you once again to all our partners. I look forward to our continued collaboration as we strive to create a more equal, resilient, and prosperous future for all. There’s much to do, but you know best that we can get there when we move Forward, Upward, Onward, Together.

Thank you.