President Jokowi and Five Other World Leaders Have Been Chosen to Serve on the Global Crisis Response Group’s Champion Group or GCRG

Written by: Ditria Nabila

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, revealed that Indonesian President Joko Widodo, as one of the world’s leaders, has been chosen as a part of the Global Crisis Response Group’s Champion Group or GCRG. The President of Senegal, the Chancellor of Germany, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Prime Minister of Denmark, and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh are among those participating. The GCRG was established on March 14, 2022 (Kemlu RI, 2022). The UN Secretary-General said the issuance of his first proposals of the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy, and Finance, formed in response to the famine crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (UN, 2022). Supply networks have been interrupted, and prices have risen, not only for food, but also for energy and fertilizers. Mr. Guterres recognized that, in the near term, this policy may help relieve the current situation, noting that several nations have indicated plans to release strategic stores of fossil fuels in order to lessen their reliance on Russian resources (UN, 2022).

Following the formation of the GCRG, Antonio Guterres also urged governments to come up with innovative methods to support growing humanitarian and development recovery needs throughout the world, as well as to provide generously and promptly release committed monies. He also said that member nations and international financial organizations should make reserves accessible to countries facing hunger and famine, and that protectionism should be avoided (UN, 2022). The GCRG is a manifestation of the UN’s concerns about the crisis in Ukraine having a wider impact on other vulnerable nations. While much emphasis is concentrated on the repercussions of the war on Ukrainians, the secretary general pointed out that it is equally having a catastrophic effect, in a world that is already experiencing rising poverty, famine, and social upheaval (UN, 2022).

Regarding the GCRG discourse, President Jokowi has also called the UN Secretary General. The problem of Ukraine and Indonesia’s G20 chairmanship, as well as the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, which will be hosted in Bali in May 2022, were also discussed (Michaella, 2022). It is envisaged that the framework of the GCRG would result in political cooperation that will aid in the reduction or eradication of the food, financial, and energy crises.

Ditria Nabila is a member of the Research and Development division of FPCI UGM. This article expresses her own views and not necessarily those of FPCI UGM

References

Kemlu RI, 2022. Presiden Ri Joko Widodo Dipercaya Menjadi Anggota Champions Group Pbb Guna Mendukung Upaya Atasi Krisis Pangan Energi Dan Keuangan Global | Portal Kementerian Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia. [online] Kemlu.go.id. Available at: <https://kemlu.go.id/portal/id/read/3516/berita/presiden-ri-joko-widodo-dipercaya-menjadi-anggota-champions-group-pbb-guna-mendukung-upaya-atasi-krisis-pangan-energi-dan-keuangan-global> [Accessed 15 April 2022].

Michaella, S., 2022. PBB Pilih Jokowi Jadi Anggota Grup Tangani Krisis Pangan. [online] IDN Times. Available at: <https://www.idntimes.com/news/world/sonya-michaella/pbb-pilih-jokowi-jadi-anggota-grup-tangani-krisis-pangan/3> [Accessed 15 April 2022].

UN, 2022. Guterres unveils first recommendations of UN crisis group, set up in wake of Ukraine invasion. [online] UN News. Available at: <https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115622> [Accessed 15 April 2022].

UN, 2022. Ukraine war unleashing a ‘perfect storm’ of crises, warns UN chief. [online] UN News. Available at: <https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1116152> [Accessed 15 April 2022].