United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), held from 14 to 23 July 2025 in New York, Dr Ahmat Mbodou Mahamat, president of Chad’s Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Council (CESCE), led the country’s delegation and made a compelling call for enhanced international financial support to help Chad meet its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Speaking during the forum’s ministerial segment on 21 July, Dr Mahamat highlighted Chad’s significant progress in implementing the SDGs. Yet he underscored the urgent need for increased funding to keep pace with global targets.
“The gaps in the current global system and its inability to effectively address worldwide crises remain a major challenge,” he warned.
The forum, organised under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), serves as a central platform for reviewing progress on the 2030 Agenda. This year’s theme, “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda,” emphasised leaving no one behind.
Dr Mahamat reiterated Chad’s firm commitment to the UN Charter, advocating for revitalised multilateralism and adherence to recommendations from the 4th UN Conference on Financing for Development. He urged the adoption of innovative and inclusive strategies to accelerate SDG implementation amid emerging challenges.
Since 2015, Chad has demonstrated political will by submitting three Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) in 2019, 2021, and 2024. The forthcoming national development plan, PND Chad 2030, scheduled for a resource mobilisation roundtable in Dubai this September, aims to be inclusive and realistic, addressing the aspirations of all citizens.
Under the visionary leadership of the late President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, Chad plans to double food production through agricultural mechanisation, value-added processing of local products, and rural electrification using green energy.
Dr Mahamat also highlighted Chad’s political stability following a peaceful transition in 2024. “Today, Chad enjoys stability and remains a refuge for populations from neighbouring countries beset by security crises,” he noted.
Despite Chad’s vulnerability to climate change and adaptation efforts, the country has yet to access key international climate funds. An expert in environmental engineering and water resource mobilisation, Dr Mahamat’s experience lent authority to Chad’s voice at the forum.
Accompanying him were high-ranking diplomats and government officials, reflecting Chad’s inclusive approach to international cooperation and sustainable development. The country’s commitment to fostering partnerships and addressing social vulnerabilities remains central to its strategy for building a resilient future.
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