On 12 March 2025, Mr Buthelezi, delivered a powerful address at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Speaking at the 2025 Development Cooperation Forum, he participated in Panel 3, which focused on what drives quality, impact, and real country leadership in international development cooperation.

Mr. Buthelezi's remarks set the scene for the discussion, emphasizing the urgency of transforming international development cooperation from global dialogue to concrete action. He anchored his contributions in the UN Declaration on the Right to Development, reminding delegates that the true measure of progress lies not in commitments but in tangible changes that improve the lives of ordinary people.

 Addressing the Forum, Mr Buthelezi highlighted the irony of this era that, despite advancements in technology, resources, and political will, income inequality continues to rise within many countries. The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, global conflicts, and economic disruptions have further exacerbated poverty and unemployment, particularly in the Global South.

"More than half of the countries and close to 90 percent of advanced economies have seen an increase in income inequality," he noted, citing IMF data. "International development cooperation must be transformed into inclusive, sustainable action that directly addresses these pressing challenges."

 South Africa’s Vision and Agenda 2063

Mr Buthelezi reinforced South Africa’s commitment to Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, aligning the country’s national priorities with the continental vision of a prosperous, integrated, and peaceful Africa. He emphasized that South Africa’s Constitution mandates the improvement of all citizens' quality of life and the eradication of poverty through collaborative governance and partnerships. As a key institution in driving these efforts, the NDA plays a critical role in fostering partnerships between the government and civil society to achieve poverty eradication. Mr Buthelezi linked the NDA’s mission to Aspirations 1 and 6 of Agenda 2063, which advocate for inclusive growth and people-driven development, particularly empowering women and youth.

Turning Rhetoric into Action

A core theme of Mr Buthelezi’s address was the need to shift from rhetorical commitments to action-oriented cooperation that delivers real benefits. He outlined the NDA’s advocacy for development cooperation that:

 • Strengthens capacity-building for grassroots organizations

• Promotes inclusive and participatory development processes

• Channels funding directly to community-led initiatives tackling poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

He warned against the unpredictability of donor-driven models, citing instances where international funding was withdrawn without consideration for local realities. Instead, he argued for equitable partnerships that prioritize mutual benefit and sustainability. "Aid must evolve into partnerships," he stated. "Funding withdrawal should not disrupt life-saving programs but instead be managed through local empowerment and sustainability planning."

Bridging the Gap: From Policy to Implementation

The NDA Acting CEO further emphasized the need to bridge the gap between dialogue and implementation. To achieve this, he outlined key action areas:

 1. Strengthening South-South Cooperation – Enhancing collaboration among developing countries to share home-grown solutions and foster solidarity.

2. Leveraging Regional Networks – Creating platforms for African nations to exchange knowledge and best practices.

 3. Prioritizing Social Protection – Ensuring that social safety nets, such as South Africa’s grants and welfare programs, remain central to development efforts.

4. Ensuring Accessible Development Finance – Calling for concessional financing, debt relief, and fair-trade policies to enable developing nations to invest in their people.

 5. Harnessing the Digital Revolution – Investing in technology transfer to empower communities in education, healthcare, and social protection. To improve the effectiveness of global development efforts, Mr. Buthelezi called upon participants to:

• Ensure predictable, flexible, and long-term financing for development initiatives, particularly for marginalized groups.

• Strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to enhance impact measurement and accountability.

• Promote policy coherence between global frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and regional strategies like Agenda 2063.

He concluded his remarks with a call for solidarity, shared responsibility, and mutual respect in international development cooperation. He reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to working with global partners to translate development aspirations into tangible outcomes.

Quoting former President Nelson Mandela, he reminded the audience:

"Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life."

With these words, he urged the global community to take meaningful action in ensuring that no one, especially the poor and marginalized, is left behind in the journey toward sustainable development.

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Media inquiries may be forwarded to Mr Lonwabo Ganelo 073 295 0547 lonwabog@nda.org.za