When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the United Nations Country Team in Sri Lanka developed a socioeconomic response strategy within months, allowing for targeted support both on immediate and longer-term measures. The UN will maintain this adaptive approach in 2022 as Sri Lanka faces mounting macro-economic pressures in terms of debt sustainability, foreign exchange reserves, inflation and shortages in essential imports. The impact of these challenges on the population, especially the most vulnerable, is already tangible and risks negatively affecting progress towards the 2030 Agenda. The UN will focus on a response effort that bridges immediate protection concerns with longer-term strategies for inclusive and sustainable growth.

In addition to supporting recovery efforts through technical advice aligned with national priorities, the UN will continue to be a champion of the "Leave No One Behind" approach, especially during times of increased need. We will advocate for disadvantaged groups most likely to be impacted by the emerging crisis—whether due to geographic location, migratory status, age, ethnicity, religion, gender, education level, occupation, or socioeconomic status. A more responsive social protection system is a crucial component of meeting our collective commitments to the most vulnerable. Ensuring adequate access to quality nutrition will be another important focus area, along with strengthening mechanisms for social cohesion, dealing with the past, community engagement, and human rights for all.

Leveraging synergies between the UN Country Team, IFIs, regional entities and development partners will be crucial to understanding and responding to the emerging crisis in a coherent and effective way, both in the immediate term and beyond. The UN will also work with partners from Government to civil society, academia and private sector, building alliances that can rise to the challenges ahead of us. We will continue to play our value-added role as a provider of technical expertise and transformative policy advice, while building local capacities where necessary.
A key highlight in 2022 will be working alongside Sri Lanka on its 2nd Voluntary National Review, supporting an inclusive and evidence-based SDG data gathering process. The United Nations will also look to further support ambitious national commitments on climate action and sustainable food systems.

Together with our Government partners and other stakeholders, the United Nations in Sri Lanka is developing the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027, our collective workplan for the next five years. During 2022 we will finalize the Cooperation Framework at the strategic level, while at the same time setting the groundwork for its implementation through Joint Workplans around collective outputs that consider the economic challenges ahead. The four Strategic Priorities that will guide our future work, developed through a collaborative process, comprise inclusive and equitable human development and well-being; resilient and green growth for shared prosperity and environmental sustainability; social cohesion and inclusive governance, justice, and human rights; and gender equality.