Reforming how the UN approaches making sustainable development a reality, will allow the world body to transform a “cacophony” into a “symphony”.

That’s the pledge from Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on Thursday, as the General Assembly adopts a landmark resolution the UN chief says will place sustainable development “at the heart” of everything the Organization does.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the mandate to create a “new generation” of development teams in countries around the world, gives “practical meaning” to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, starting with poverty-eradication, by 2030.

Matt Wells spoke to UN deputy chief, Ms. Mohammed, ahead of the adoption, and began by asking her why the development system needed reform in the first place.