AUSTRALIAN STATEMENT - UNDP EXECUTIVE BOARD, FIRST REGULAR SESSION
Intervention by H.E. Mr. James Larsen, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
3 February 2026
Thank you very much indeed, President, and a very warm welcome to Administrator De Croo. It’s great to have you on board.
It’s obvious that we meet in an especially challenging time, but Administrator I particularly liked your reference to what works – innovation, private investment and delivery that you can see – and you have Australia very much on board as a partner in pursuing those priorities.
I have two key messages.
First, UNDP’s role and function is critical and held in the highest regard by Australia.
We have a particular interest in continuing to see UNDP as an active partner in the Indo Pacific. Your work, and UNDP’s work on governance, poverty reduction, climate resilience and crisis recovery has – and continues to make – a seminal difference. So, my message is that we value – and need – UNDP’s leadership in our region.
Second, I want to reinforce the criticality of UNDP’s continued work in smaller and more remote member states – especially Pacific Island countries. We all know that remoteness, climate vulnerability, and high operating costs pose very real challenges to such countries.
If I may, can I warmly encourage you, Administrator De Croo to visit the Pacific region and see for yourself both the challenges along with UNDP’s vital work and the importance of UNDP’s continued presence and engagement in this region.
Let me finish with two questions, if I may.
First, with the planned relocation of multiple personnel, including to Madrid and Bonn, how can we be assured of UNDP’s ongoing ability to service the Indo Pacific and particularly, of course, remote island states in the Pacific?
And second, in thinking to the future, can I reiterate the importance of timely and comprehensive information on the proposed UNDP/UNOPS merger, and we would very much welcome information on how that proposed merger will impact on operations, especially in our region?
Thank you so much.