Statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China by Ms. Aleena Majeed, Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Pakistan, at the Economic and Social Council in explanation of position on the adoption of the draft resolution "Progress in the implementation of General Assembly resolution 75/233 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system" (New York, 22 July 2022)
Mr. Vice President, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
2 The Group would express appreciation to the facilitator, Mirka Wendt, from the Permanent Mission of Finland. The Group would also express appreciation to Margot Sebastian from the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda for representing the Group in the negotiations.
3. The Group has joined consensus on the resolution but would like to make the following statement in explanation of its position.
4. As programme countries, the members of the Group count on the support, in various degrees, of the UN development system and its entities as we strive to follow our national development priorities and needs and to implement the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and other development frameworks and goals.
5. Hence, the Group is strongly committed to the repositioned UN Development system and its reinvigorated RC system.
6. We appreciate the reports, annexes and addendums prepared for our consideration during the ECOSOC OAS session. However, we would highlight that reports need to be furnished in a timely manner to help facilitate more meaningful discussions in the OAS and also for the resolution.
7. The Group remains gravely concerned about the state of the funding of the RC system, particularly with regards to the financial shortfalls observed in the budget since the start of its functioning. Hence, we appreciate the reference in the resolution with regards to the need to ensure adequate, predictable and sustainable funding of the RC system.
8. However, the Group would take this opportunity to express its disappointment that there was an unwillingness to accept a bare mention of the updates given on the Funding Compact. The international community must be consistent in our approach and messaging to the UNDS as a whole. This is of special importance at a time when recent trends of major cuts in core allocation for development, as well as the pervasive imbalance between core and non-core resources, are threatening the long-term viability of the UN development pillar.
9. In conclusion, the Group would stress the following with regards to the repositioned UN Development System:
a) First, the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions must remain the system’s overarching objective;
b) Second, development itself must remain the focus, bearing in mind the different development levels and realities on the ground in all developing countries. c) Third, national ownership and leadership in all matters pertaining to the repositioning of the UN Development System is critical for the delivery of effective results. This includes effective and timely reporting from the Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams to host governments.
10. The Group would stress that the delicate balance achieved in the QCPR must be maintained and the mandates set by the General Assembly in GA Resolution 75/233 must be fully implemented by the UN Development System.
