UNITED NATIONS
Statement by H.E. Mr John Dauth LVO
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of Australia
to the
ECOSOC 2004: Operational Segment
Operational Activities of the United Nations
for International Development Cooperation.
New York
9 July 2004
Mr President,
Firstly, Mr President, I would like to join others in thanking the Secretary General for his report on the Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review of Operational Activities for Development of the United Nations System.
The effective operation of the Funds and Programs of the United Nations at the country level is fundamental to the achievement of the UN’s objectives and to its reputation within the international community and the countries in which they operate. The implementation of the UN reform agenda is critical to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of UN agencies and the delivery of results by the system as a whole.
Australia continues to be a strong supporter of the UN system and values the complementary contribution it makes to our regional and bilateral aid efforts. Australia will provide over A$61 million in direct core support to UN development agencies in 2004/05. In addition to this, Australia provides substantial non-core funding in areas where our objectives intersect and effective program outcomes can be demonstrated.
We thank the Secretary General for the assessment of reform progress provided in his report. We agree that important steps forward have been made, particularly in improving the cohesion of operations at the country level and in aligning programs to enable achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration. Progress has been made in simplifying and harmonising processes, particularly administrative processes.
We applaud efforts to strengthen field level coordination and support, facilitated in part by the common platform provided by the UN Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAFs) and Common Country Assessments (CCAs) at the country level. The clear links developed between UNDAFs and CCAs, the MDGs and significantly, the development priorities of partner countries, are important. Also important is the development of results frameworks to monitor implementation. Continued efforts to strengthen coordination with actors outside the UN – the Bretton Woods Institutions, bilateral donors, NGOs and the private sector – are also positive.
These are all areas where the UN reform agenda is moving forward. We congratulate the Secretary General and agencies on achievements to date and initiatives underway. There is still however much to be done to effectively implement the reform agenda. The Secretary General himself highlights in his report areas where more effort is needed. I would like to mention a few of the issues that we see as critical (some of which are already identified in the Secretary General’s report).
• Delivery of a UN system that has a genuine “unity of purpose and action”, as the Secretary General describes in his report. This is fundamental to the effective functioning of the UN system, particularly at the country level. Each agency has its own mandate and comparative advantage. The challenge for the UN is to recognise and value these as the various agencies work together.
• Further development of joint programming initiatives where appropriate, the strengthening of the Resident Coordinator system and adoption of regional approaches where these make sense.
• Translation of the common purpose into concrete results on the ground – the ultimate indicator of success – and strengthening the results based management approach.
• Working to maximise the impact of the UN, playing to its comparative advantage, while recognising the important role of bilateral donors, regional organisations, the BWIs and NGOs, and working closely with them.
• Strengthening and further integrating the evaluation functions of the different UN agencies, to ensure a better focus on assessing the impact of the UN system on a country and to maximise the benefits of the lessons learned by different agencies.
• Increased focus on post-conflict regions and countries, leading to the development of a coherent, cooperative and effective response from the UN system as a whole to transition situations.
• Intensification of efforts by all UN agencies to ensure that gender considerations are mainstreamed into their work, building on the work undertaken to date.
• Consideration of funding issues for UN funds and programs, but alongside a clear recognition of the importance of the quality of assistance - its effectiveness and targeting - not just issues of quantity.
Mr President, we urge the Secretary General to consider all of these issues in the context of the TCPR. It is a critical opportunity for the General Assembly to assess how the UN reform agenda is progressing. Australia is fully supportive of the TCPR and will contribute actively.
We consider it essential that the UN system continues to enhance its relevance, effectiveness and impact. The UN cannot trade on its name. It needs to continue to respond to the international context, to further the reform process and to show it can deliver in order to maintain and strengthen its position as a critical development partner.