Assistant to the Administrator Michele Sumilas at the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting Session on Fighting Inequalities and Promoting Trilateral Cooperation

ASSISTANT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR MICHELE SUMILAS: With gratitude to Brazil for focusing our attention today on the fight against inequality as a central tenet of their G20 presidency, the United States is pleased to endorse the "Leaving no one behind: G20 Development Ministerial Declaration." We congratulate Brazil for the first G20 Ministerial Declaration in three years. We are also pleased to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20.

Global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, fragility, and conflict exacerbate inequality everywhere. We must address these challenges to sustainably reduce poverty and inequality, and achieve sustainable, inclusive, resilient growth. The United States is committed to take joint action to achieve the SDGs [Sustainment Development Goals].

One of the primary ways the United States, through USAID, works to fight inequality, empower marginalized and under-represented groups, and strengthen local systems is to advance locally led development. For the United States, this effort is about shifting the decision making power in our relationship with partner countries, and including all members in a community including government, civil society, faith based organizations, and the private sector, in the dialogue and decision making.

Experience shows that local leadership inclusion in developing, implementing and evaluating development, and humanitarian programming is important for local ownership, equity, effectiveness, and sustainability.

For the United States, working toward the full inclusion of all people is an important priority both domestically and globally. Systemic marginalization and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, or any other social category inflames conflict, erodes justice, and stymies economic growth.

When we speak of leaving no one behind, we also must not lose focus from last year's agreement by G20 Leaders on a historic goal to cut the gender digital divide in half by 2030. To that end, the United States has partnered with the Gates Foundation, and many of you here today, to create the Women in the Digital Economy Fund to focus on this fundamental challenge. As of now, seven members of the G20 have joined us in this initiative, including a direct contribution to the fund by the Republic of Korea. We welcome other G20 countries joining us in this effort to maximize our impact for women and girls around the world.

The United States is committed to the 2030 Agenda which envisages a world with universal respect for human rights. That vision should be central to the work of the G20, especially to the G20's Development Working Group. The United States also seeks to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth - growth that improves the lives of all members of society, especially those in the most vulnerable situations.

We are working to accelerate investment in critical infrastructure, including digital infrastructure, as a key driver of sustainable and inclusive economic growth, through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

We are also working with many of you to modernize the work of multilateral development banks, or MDBs, which drive development around the world. In 2022, the United States launched our MDB Evolution initiative which is set to enable over $200 billion in additional MDB lending that will help countries address global challenges that drive inequality. For example, last month, the United States convened leadership of regional MDBs, the World Bank, and key bilateral aid agencies to discuss how to increase financing for climate resilience with a focus on extreme heat. This kind of global gathering can spur new and innovative action.

Extreme heat kills more people than any other type of climate disaster, but programming and financing for extreme heat is not nearly commensurate with its devastating impacts. The United States is prioritizing helping communities and workers adapt to the impacts of extreme heat.

We are also taking steps to advance action towards achieving a lead-free future. Globally, lead kills at least 1.6 million people every year - more than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined - and in low and middle income countries, one in two children have elevated levels of lead in their blood. The damage that lead is causing to children's brains is limiting their potential and their contributions and their futures, and perpetuating inequality around the world.

And, finally, we remain concerned that Russia's continuing war against Ukraine is exacerbating global inequality. Russia's war of aggression has created significant global food, energy, and economic insecurity with the most vulnerable hardest hit. The United States remains committed to supporting partner countries in efforts to address these inequalities through partnership and collaboration.

The United States again expresses appreciation to Brazil for your leadership of the G20 and looks forward to working with South Africa when it assumes the G20 presidency next year.

Thank you.

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