Remarks H.E. Francis M. Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leonne, Chair of g7+
Instituto Superior of Sociais and Political Sciences (ISCSP)
Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa
Thursday, 2 December 2021
Excellency Prof. Dr. Ricardo Ramos Pinto, President of Higher Institute for Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP)
Eminent Person of g7+, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão
Excellency, Dr. Luis Amado, President of the g7+ Foundation
Excellency, Dr. Carlos Moedas, President of the Chamber for Lisbon
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
A very good evening to you. As Chair of the g7+, I would like on behalf of the g7+ family to express my thanks and appreciation to the President of Higher Institute for Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP), University of Lisbon, for inviting me to be part of this public lecture and launch of the Study Centre on Fragile and Conflict-affected countries. This is indeed welcome news for us at the g7+ as understanding “fragility” and its drivers and pursuing ways to address this is one of our key objectives as a group. As a respected institute that has existed for more than 100 years and has significantly contributed to the body of knowledge, we are confident that this study center will play a great role in enhancing our understanding of fragility in our various countries through the training that will be provided to our member states. This could not have come at a more opportune time as our member states of Afghanistan, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Yemen continue to experience instability.
It is also our hope that this study centre will open an opportunity for collaboration between the Higher Institute for Social and Political Sciences, University of Lisboa the g7+ group.
As an organization that obtained Observer Status at the United Nation in December 2019, we will step up our advocacy for reforms in the ways the international organizations including United Nations engage in our member states. We will continue to bring this to the fore in our various engagements including high level side events we organize during the United Nations General Assembly and the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).
Through our Fragile-to-Fragile (F2F) Cooperation initiative of the g7+, we have been promoting the sharing of experiences and peer learning among our member countries in different thematic areas relating to peacebuilding and statebuilding. We have also expanded our collaboration with other non-g7+ countries such as Rwanda and Cambodia, to learn from their experiences on how to moving out of conflict and fragility into peace and stability. Our attaining Associate Observer at the CPLP (Community of Countries for Portuguese Language) has added to the success of our outreach to non g7+ states and a recognition of the important work we do as a group in promoting peace and stability in fragile states. With Portugal being one of the active members in CPLP and having provided an office space for the g7+ European Hub here in Lisbon, the partnership with ISCSP will provides further areas of cooperation between the g7+ family and Portugal and the opportunity to work together to support our member countries and increase our visibility in the European region.
This event today symbolizes our bond of trust and dedication to our common interest. We are honoured to continue with this partnership in the future, leveraging our collective strength so that together, we can prevent conflict sand proffer solutions to problems that no one country organization can solve alone
Let me conclude by reiterating my hope that this space will serve as means to connect with our member countries in exploring root causes of conflict and fragility and how to address those issues, as part of supporting our member countries in moving out of conflict and fragility.
I will be remiss in my duty if I fail to extend my thanks and best wishes to all academic at ISCSP who will be at the agents of delivering this initiative.
I thank you and wish you all merry Christmas and Happy and 2022.