Statement on Behalf of the Group of 77 and China by H.E. Ambassador Kingsley J.N. Mamabolo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations, Chair of the Group of 77, at the Executive Board Of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS Annual Session
1 September 2015
Mr President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
At the outset, the Group of 77 and China would like to congratulate you on your able leadership in steering the Executive Board. Indeed, we trust that through your leadership and guidance, the Board will arrive at decisions that would be acceptable and relevant to all concerned and to also assist in unblocking any bottlenecks that affect progress in further strengthening the United Nations Development System. The Group would also like to thank the Administrator for her comprehensive report and statement. The UNDP remains important for making sustainable development a reality to many countries, particularly developing countries. The role of the UNDP is even more applicable as we move towards the Summit to formally adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
Mr President,
The last QCPR resolution contains several mandates of which the UNDP and the relevant inter-governmental bodies have the obligation to implement and follow up in a proper and timely manner. We regret that to date, several QCPR mandates have not been fulfilled, such as the critical mass concept and how to address the imbalance between core and non-core resources.
The Group of 77 and China remains concerned about the growing imbalance between core and non-core resources. We have raised concerns previously regarding the developed countries continued prioritization of non-core resources which are, in the main, earmarked. Non-core resources tend to skew the overall mandate of various United Nations Funds, Programmes and Agencies, in terms of the implementation of their operational activities for sustainable development. We should not forget to improve funding for the core resources of the United Nations System, as interventions emanating from these mainly conform with governments' respective national priorities.
The funding report indicates that the decrease in core resources in 2014 was at an astonishing 11%. This makes, as the same report highlights, the functioning of the UNDP work and efforts at risk. The decrease in core resources challenges the principle of universality of the United Nations Development System (UNDS). The current trend indicates that core resources continue to shrink, which by implication makes the capacity of the UNDP to properly deliver and achieve its mandates contained in its Strategic Plan approved by Member States to be adversely affected. The UNDP that is non-core dependent would not be fit in its mandate to deliver a universal purpose of development.
We urge the need to further democratize the participation of developing countries in the Executives Boards, as well as an equitable geographic representation in the UNDP governance structures. The utilitarian model based mainly on contributions has led to an over-representation of the donor-countries and the institutions more susceptible to the non-core leverage.
The Group would also like to request the UNDP to further report on its programmes on poverty eradication as poverty continues to be a stumbling block to development. The Group of 77 and China cannot over-emphasize the fact that the eradication of poverty in all its forms should be the overarching goal in achieving sustainable development. Reports on tangible results that have been achieved, indicating progress on this issue, will greatly assist developing countries in our quest for inclusive and sustainable development . Talk without appropriate action would not assist any of us, as poverty has significant spill-over effects. This is all the more true, as we continue to witness millions of migrants leaving their countries of origin to settle in other countries, particularly in developed countries, in search of a better life and opportunities for decent employment.
Mr President,
The Group of 77 and China would like to reiterate a number of additional points that we raised during the June 2015 Annual Session of the Executive Board. The Group raised concerns with regard to our proposals that were not incorporated by the UNDP in the draft Integrated Results and Resources Framework (IRRF). The Group would like to reaffirm the Executive Board Decision 2013/12, when it took note of the structure and approach of the draft IRRF of the 2014-2017 Strategic Plan. We would also request the deletion of the three indicators that we have mentioned previously from the draft of the IRRF document. We would like to urge the Board Decision to approve the amended IRRF document during the current session. Issues of national policy space need to be respected when finalizing the language of this important policy framework.
Mr President,
Furthermore, the Group of 77 and China calls for a speedy solution to be reached on the revised UNDP evaluation policy.
With regard to the operational independence of the Evaluation Office and the process of the appointment of its Director, the Group has consistently emphasized the importance of ensuring the operational independence of that Office as being critical to its credibility.
Mr President,
We had previously put forward our request for the UNDP to convene informal consultations for Member States to deliberate on these proposals, with a view of arriving at a final solution by end of June 2015. In our understanding this proposal was not taken into consideration and, as such, the current evaluation policy remains incomplete.
It is our belief that the current Session will be in a position to expedite the finalization of this issue.
Mr President,
Furthermore, the Group of 77 and China would like to put on record an important issue relating to organizational matters of the Annual Sessions of the Executive Board. This focuses entirely on the venue of these Sessions. It should be noted that this issue has nothing to do with the frequency and timing of these regular Sessions. The Group would like to reiterate its position that the Executive Board's Annual Sessions should take place only in New York, instead of alternating between New York and Geneva, so as to broaden participation of developing countries in the decision-making processes of these deliberations. The Group has tabled a draft resolution for consideration by the General Assembly to resolve this issue.
The Group would like to thank the President of the Executive Board for his untiring attempts to find ways and means to assist in finalizing this issue.
Mr President,
The Group of 77 and China would like to reiterate its support for you and trusts that the current Session of the Executive Board would play a significant role to assist in strengthening the United Nations Development System. It is of critical importance that we work together in an open and transparent manner in order to bring about progress in all what we do during this important Session. This is all the more important as we move towards adopting the post-2015 Development Agenda.
I thank you.