ECOSOC OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT SEGMENT: HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND UN MEMBER STATES
Statement delivered by H.E. Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
20 May 2025
Thank you, Vice-President, and thank you Secretary-General. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
The UN was created not only to prevent conflict, but also to promote and create the conditions for peace.
That is why sustainable development is a core pillar of our work.
There can be no sustainable development without peace, and no peace without sustainable development.
Chair,
We cannot be blind to the pressures facing the UN development system.
As you, the Secretary-General, has warned, we are on the precipice of a development emergency and we face difficult choices.
Now is the time to be open to bold reforms and our efforts must be rooted in our shared commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its pledge to leave no one behind.
CANZ wishes to highlight three key priorities for reform:
First, while we acknowledge the progress on efficiencies already made we must renew our commitment to agreed reforms and redouble our efforts to maximise dividends, in line with the recently agreed QCPR.
UN agencies need to deliver on commitments to embrace shared services and common offices – especially at country level.
But the circumstances demand more.
The Development System must focus on functions the UN is uniquely able to deliver, including through structural reform, while safeguarding its essential normative role, particularly on gender equality and human rights.
UN leaders cannot make siloed reform decisions and must work together to ensure coherence, linked to UN80, and we as Member States must also work together to stop mandate proliferation.
Second, development bodies should not be competing for resources.
At the country level, we need a unified effort and greater use of pooled, flexible funding.
The right incentives for collaboration need to be set out and reiterated by UN leaders.
We, as donors, need to provide high quality funding consistent with our Funding Compact commitments.
We must better integrate critical cross-cutting priorities – including gender equality, and disability, access and inclusion, as well as preventing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
These objectives ensure effective service delivery, enhance trust, transparency, accountability, and should be embedded in our thinking and programming.
Third, we should ensure the Resident Coordinator (RC) system is equipped to lead a sharper, more unified United Nations at the country level.
Resident Coordinators have brought much needed coherence and coordination.
And with fewer resources, we need to enhance our efforts to strengthen the RC system and ensure it is fit for purpose in an extremely challenging context.
Chair,
We should remain pragmatic and flexible – while ensuring no region of Member States is left behind in any reform process.
CANZ stands ready to work to ensure future generations benefit from the UN System – just as we all have.