Economic and Social Council
12 July 2007 (Geneva)
Statement by Ms Natasha Smith, Counsellor Development, Australian Mission to the United Nations on Item 3 (a) Operational activities of the United Nations for international development
As delivered
Mr President, let me begin by joining others in thanking USG Sha Zukang, the UNDG, DESA and UNDGO for the SG’s Report on the implementation of the Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review (TCPR) and the other documents provided.
We welcome the progress that has been made in implementing the TCPR 2004. We congratulate the operational system on achievements, such as the evolution of the CCA/ UNDAFs, work on simplification and harmonization (for example on cost recovery rates, monitoring and evaluation, and audit), and - as we heard at the excellent briefing by the UNDG Gender Task Team on Tuesday – on aspects of gender mainstreaming. But we also know that alongside these achievements, there are still areas where progress has not been made. There is still much to do in these and other areas to fully implement TCPR 2004.
Mr President, as we enter the TCPR 2007 Australia has a very clear and strong priority. We want a UN operational system that delivers. A system that delivers real, measurable and measured results in supporting the achievement of country-owned and -led development objectives in the most efficient and effective way possible. In looking to TCPR 2007 is important to ensure that the commitments and expectations of TCPR 2004 are not forgotten. We must reaffirm all the elements of 59/250, consolidate the advances that have been made and then go beyond them, taking steps to further strengthen the UN operational system.
With this objective in mind we are looking forward to the Secretary General’s Report to the General Assembly on the TCPR that will be prepared after our meeting this week. We look forward to a synthesis of the systems’ achievements and an honest account of where more needs to be done and clear, concrete and ambitious recommendations of how to do it.
Mr President, there are many important elements in the current TCPR and in the SG’s Report. There are also issues that are critical to improving the operational activities of the UN that are not highlighted. I will today outline a few key issues that we consider important for TCPR 2007.
Mr President, while there have been advances in the UN operational systems’ work on gender mainstreaming, there is much that remains to be done. The recommendations in the briefing by the UNDG’s own Gender Task Team earlier this week clearly outline where further action is required.
The second area that we consider key is coherence of the UN operations at the country level. Central to this is one common UNDAF that incorporates all UN funds, programs and agencies. We applaud the work that countries and UN country teams are doing in this area and call for further steps to make a common UNDAF the norm not the exception, and to strengthen the analysis and focus that underpin the Framework. We welcome the fact that some countries are building on their common UNDAFs to develop one UN programs at the country level. This is a logical next step along the path to greater coherence and one that should lead to more efficient delivery and more effective development outcomes. We applaud for example the one UN program in Papua New Guinea that has been developed, at the request of the PNG Government. Mr President, I would emphasise that for Australia this move to coherence does not mean that there is ‘one UN’ at a country level, rather that the UN is delivering as one – harnessing all the necessary available expertise and capacity, be it resident or non-resident, to address the priorities of national partners.
In this context we also welcome the work that our colleague from South Africa briefed us on yesterday with regard to the evaluation of the UN – not as component parts but as a whole – in South Africa. We look forward to the outcome of this process and the evaluation and replication of the methodology elsewhere, and reflection of such innovation in the TCPR.
A third area of priority is capacity development. Mr President, to quote the Assistant Administrator, capacity development is ‘front and centre’ of the work of the UN. Strengthening the planning, management, performance and accountability for results of partner government departments so that they can better implement and coordinate both their own national development process and external assistance is essential to support national ownership and leadership. Capacity development is also critical to ensure that development results are sustainable and enduring. The UNDG has outlined a clear statement on the role of the UN in capacity development – operationalising it is essential.
Mr President, the fourth issue I would like to highlight that requires further work and therefore strengthening in the TCPR process is transition from relief to development. Some progress has been made in this area – but it is very clear that more needs to be done to address this challenging area. Transition requires strong leadership, effective coordination (including especially with the World Bank), appropriate capacities and approaches, and the timely and adequate resources. The system and we as donors must do better in this critical area.
Finally Mr President, we wish to highlight two critical issues that are not currently in the TCPR framework but should be for TCPR 2007. These are aid effectiveness and accountability. Mr President, more effective aid means better ‘bang for our buck’, reduced transaction costs for partners and ultimately more and better development results. This is in all our interests. Aid effectiveness also embodies a strong focus on national ownership and use of national systems where possible. Accountability must also be a shared interest. The system must be accountable to its oversight bodies, to donors, to partner governments, and most importantly to the people of developing countries. We must find better, more efficient ways to ensure accountability, including through reviewing governance arrangements.
Mr President, as I said, these are a few of the key elements for TCPR 2007. Others have highlighted other important issues - such as south-south cooperation, strengthening of the RC system, funding issues and the link between funding and effectiveness, simplification and harmonization, and business practices - that we also look forward to seeing properly addressed in the SG’s report and recommendations on the TCPR that will inform our work in the General Assembly.
Thank you