United Nations, Nov 4 (IANS): UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has warned against fragmented approaches to global challenges of conflict and insecurity.

"Conflict, climate change and stalled progress on development reinforce each other. But too often, our efforts to address them are fragmented," Mohammed told a Security Council high-level debate on "contemporary drivers of conflict and insecurity", Xinhua news agency reported.

The Covid-19 pandemic has already shown that rapid change is possible, as millions of people adopt new ways of working, learning and socializing, she said on Tuesday.

"As we recover, we cannot go back to the failed frameworks and systems that created the fragilities and inequalities that are being exploited by the pandemic. We must build forward better."

The pandemic has highlighted the necessity of investing in inclusive, equitable governance and institutions, as well as tackling the root causes, in order to address the drivers not only of conflict but of crises and shocks of all kinds.

Covid-19 has reinforced the need for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development -- the ultimate prevention tool, she said.

The recovery from this pandemic must prioritize resilient, inclusive and accountable institutions that try to foster the rule of law, good governance, gender equality, environmental sustainability and human rights.

Partnerships, including those with international financial institutions are more important than ever for a global response to this global crisis, she said.

The recovery must also put in place solutions to prevent and protect communities from climate-related causes of conflict.

Member states and development banks should invest in early warning systems and resilience measures, particularly in states affected by conflict.

Countries at greatest risk should now be able to use new technologies and remote sensing to help them with forecasting and prevention, said Mohammed.

"We can only address these multifaceted challenges through an integrated and coherent whole-of-UN approach -- the system and member states."

She recalled UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' appeal for a new push by the international community to make a global cease-fire a reality by the end of this year so that the world can focus on the fight against the coronavirus.