NATIONAL STATEMENT – INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH UNDP ADMINISTRATOR
Agenda Item 4
Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS
Annual Session
Statement by H.E Ambassador James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
4 June 2025
Thank you, President, and thank you Administrator for your longstanding positive contribution remarks, and for your thoughtful remarks this morning.
Australia is proud to have supported UNDP objectives and achievements under the current Strategic Plan.
The distinctive strengths of UNDP are highly valued in our region, particularly on governance and climate.
President,
Australia has three key priorities for the next UNDP Strategic Plan.
First, Australia sees the Plan as a vital tool to reinforce effective delivery of UNDP’s mandate to protect and improve the lives of people around the world.
We expect unwavering adherence to the norms and values of the United Nations and Australia would like to see the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs strongly reflected in the Plan, which must also be rooted in a steadfast commitment to leaving no one behind.
The Strategic Plan must not stray from this central purpose – it is in the DNA of UNDP.
Second, the Plan should build flexibility into forward years.
The Plan must demonstrate pathways towards resilience, setting out how UNDP can manage the uncertain financial and structural outlook for the UN system. This includes a clear sense of what is critical to UNDP’s core mandate and operations, and what is not.
Third, and fundamentally, the Plan should emphasise how UNDP will continue to implement existing reforms, including the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review, the Pact for the Future, and the landmark resolution 72/279 on repositioning the UN development system.
UNDP must continue to support the Resident Coordinator system financially, and politically. And of course, Administrator, we heard your remarks on that issue this morning. UNDP teams stationed at headquarter, regional and country levels must get behind the Resident Coordinator system.
These reforms remain important even as we contemplate and encourage bold changes to the UN system through the UN80 process.
President,
Let me conclude by once again commending Achim Steiner for his leadership. We wish you the very best for your next endeavours and thank you for your contribution.
Thank you.