1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. From the onset, I wish to express our thanks and appreciation, Madam Deputy Secretary-General, for the briefing you have given us today and for the timelines and other important information relevant to the consultative process for the review of the functioning of the reinvigorated Resident Coordinator System, including the structure, performance and funding arrangements as mandated by resolution 72/279.

3. As always, Madam Secretary-General, the G77 and China continues to appreciate your willingness to engage with us in an open and transparent manner, on the processes you lead, we believe this is critically important especially on the UNDS, which is of highest priority to programme countries in our realization and implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs.

4. I would like, also to seize this opportunity to congratulate HE. Sofiane Mimouni, Permanent representative of Algeria and M. Martin Bille Hermann, Permanent representative of Denmark for their appointment as cofacilitators of the intergovernmental consultations.

5. Before speaking to the review itself, the Group wishes to highlight a few key principles regarding the repositioned UN development system, and its reinvigorated RC system.

– Firstly, we believe the reinvigorated resident coordinator system lies at the center of the repositioned UN development system, that the UNRC System must maintain its development focus and that the eradication of poverty should remain its overarching objective.

– Secondly, the RCs must serve the purpose of the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), under national leadership and ownership with a developmental and non-politicized perspective. They should be fully accountable to the host governments and should periodically report back to them on their implementation of the UNSDCF. In this regard, the Group is of the firm belief that the Resident Coordinators and United Nations country teams should contribute their expertise, tools and platforms in line with their respective mandates and strategic plans as agreed in the Cooperation Frameworks or equivalent planning framework. In addition, the RCs’ role should be facilitative and must ensure that it is in line with national priorities, plans and policies.

– Thirdly, we reiterate the need to have adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for the Resident Coordinator system, and therefore look forward to hearing more about the current three funding sources as outlined in paragraph 10 of resolution 72/279.

6. The Group notes the progress made in the repositioning of the UNDS, especially as it pertains to the reinvigorated RC System. We continue to call for the enhancement of representation of the developing countries in the system, especially on the selection of RCs and recruitment of UNDCO staff. The G77 and China is of the view that the entities of the United Nations development system should provide Resident Coordinators with adequate training and support by UN, including in particular to Resident Coordinators who also serve as Humanitarian Coordinators or Deputy Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, to ensure that they are well-prepared and equipped to work and support Governments in countries facing humanitarian emergencies and countries in conflict and post-conflict situations.

7. The Group commends the establishment and the operationalization of the online portal that reflects real-time contributions and expenditures related to the reinvigorated resident coordinator system, and in addition to reporting on the portal, we look forward to hearing your recommendations to further improve the Special Purpose Trust Fund portal to better report contribution data by donor and United Nations entities in order to ensure further transparency.

8. We also look forward to hearing about the work of the Resident Coordinators in the field in the various country settings, such as inter alia countries experiencing humanitarian emergencies, multi-country offices, including the challenges, gaps and recommendations to ensure that the RC system remains relevant on the ground and are fully equipped to facilitate the hosting countries governments in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In connection with this, we would also like to hear on the implementation of the relevant elements of the regional review that pertain to the RC system, in particular those that involve the work of the RC Offices.

9. Also important to be reflected in the review is how the entities of the UNDS is providing support to the countries in special situations, in accordance with the mandates outlined in OP 10 of resolution 75/233.

10. Finally, the Group believes that the review must be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the bottom-up approach of the 2030 Agenda and that it must adhere to the mandates as stipulated in paragraph 16 of resolutions 72/279 and paragraph 87 of resolution 75/233.

11. In concluding, the Group reaffirms its continued support and constructive engagement in this process to ensure that the UN Development System remains fit-for-purpose in its facilitation to countries in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in this Decade of Action and Delivery for Sustainable Development, as well as recover from and build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you.