Mr Chair,

1. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 141, entitled Joint Inspection Unit – Change management.

2. The Group welcomes the report and wishes to thank Ms. Simona Petrova, Director of the Secretariat and Secretary of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination and Inspector Sukai Prom Jackson of the Joint Inspection Unit for introducing the related reports.

3. The Group attaches great importance to the work of the Joint Inspection Unit as the sole independent, external oversight body of the United Nations system. Over the years, the Unit has presented valuable reports on systemic issues that are relevant and beneficial to the participating organizations and Member States. We also believe that the Fifth Committee can and should continue to benefit from the quality input provided by the Unit. The Group thus congratulates the Joint Inspection Unit for making continuous improvements in areas under its direct purview, with an emphasis on quality control and knowledge management and sharing.

Mr Chair,

4. The Group recognizes that the United Nations has been going through a comprehensive set of organizational reforms. We believe that assessing the results and impacts of such reforms is of the utmost importance, for learning from past experiences is key to improvement. The JIU review is a useful tool to inform and guide United Nations system organizations undertaking or planning to undertake organizational reforms or major management initiatives. Staff members and managers should be fully engaged with the changes taking place. We should also make sure that the numerous administrative reforms undertaken in the past few years are effective and their results beneficial to the organization before we take further steps towards new reforms.

5. Furthermore, the Group believes, that as stated by the Unit`s report, the role of staff, at all levels, is essential for any reform, change in management or policy to be successful. We urge the Organization`s leaders to engage in the reforms and to encourage the staff under their supervision to do the same. We are of the opinion that that the United Nations has from its founding been a people-centered Organization and that the contribution by the staff to the Organization is very much intrinsic to the aspirations of the Charter of the United Nations.

6. The Group believes that the legislative organs of all participating organizations should fully consider and discuss JIU reports and their Secretariat entities should fully implement the accepted recommendations and we appreciate that, according to the Secretary-General relevant note, some of the recommendations are already being implemented.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.