Ms. Tinai Kepa, First Secretary and Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Tuvalu to the United Nations, delivered Tuvalu’s intervention today on the Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2026, noting that while some progress has been made since Seville, overall advancement remains slow and uneven. She underscored that macroeconomic headwinds, conflict, fragmentation, and climate-induced disasters continue to erode development gains, with SIDS and LDCs facing widening financing gaps for the SDGs and climate action.

Today at the IMF-World Spring Meetings, Amb. H.E Dr Tapugao Falefou represented Tuvalu at the Small States Forum that was officially opened by the World Bank President Ajay Banga. In his remarks, Mr. Banga reflected on his historic 2024 visit to Tuvalu and graciously acknowledged the constructive and inspiring engagement he had during his time in the country.

On Day 2 of the IMF/WB Spring Meeting in Washington DC, Amb Dr. Tapugao Falefou, on behalf of Tuvalu, made an intervention at the 16th CVF–V20 Ministerial Dialogue, highlighting the urgent realities facing climate‑vulnerable economies. He underscored how repeated climate shocks continue to erode fiscal space, strain public services, and heighten risks to stability and security across communities in Tuvalu.

Today, at the second informal consultation on the UN Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Tapugao Falefou delivered a joint statement on behalf of the Coalition on addressing Sea-Level Rise and its Existential Threats (C-SET), followed by Tuvalu’s national statement.