Director General/Executive Director
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to thank Thailand, Germany, Austria, Colombia, Peru and the European Union for co-hosting this important event with UNODC.
Enabling sustainable livelihoods away from illicit crop cultivation is widely recognized as a fundamental pillar of the global response to drug challenges.
The drivers pushing farmers to engage in illegal crop cultivation are many, including poverty, food insecurity, and access to land.
To be successful, alternative development must therefore go beyond just crop substitution, and be built into broader development policies, addressing infrastructure, health, education, economic growth and social inclusion.
Such comprehensive, integrated approaches to alternative development are outlined in the UNGASS outcome document, which along with the 2009 Plan of Action, provides a solid foundation for effectively supporting sustainable, licit livelihoods.
Many of the countries represented here today have made a vital contribution to advancing on alternative development.
The Governments of Thailand, Germany and Peru, along with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, partnered with UNODC last July to host the final of a series of expert group meetings on the future of alternative development.
The details of that discussion are elaborated in a Conference Room Paper presented at this session of the CND. I would like to thank all the countries that engaged in this important process with us.
UNODC's experience in implementing alternative development programmes with our partners has made it clear that in order to be successful, alternative development must be comprehensive and backed by political will, long-term planning and sustainable funding.
Market demand for products, access to markets and support for entrepreneurship are crucial.
Evidence-based interventions encouraging South-South cooperation should be prioritized, and interventions should promote land tenure and ensure environmental conservation.
Above all, it is essential to gain the trust and confidence of the communities involved.
UNODC has been supporting alternative development projects for many years, and our successful programmes in Colombia and Peru, Afghanistan and South-East Asia are well-known.
Soon, in association with the French coffee company Malongo, UNODC will launch a speciality coffee from our alternative development project in Shan State, Myanmar, in another demonstration of public-private partnerships for development.
These examples also show how UNODC's work directly links to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Going forward, UNODC is as committed as ever to support integrated, comprehensive alternative development as we work together in tackling the global drug problem. Thank you.