UN DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM IN PERIOD OF CHANGE AMID SHRINKING RESOURCES, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL IS TOLD

Press Release
ECOSOC/5658

UN DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM IN PERIOD OF CHANGE AMID SHRINKING RESOURCES, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL IS TOLD

As it discussed the Organization's operational activities for development, the Economic and Social Council this morning was told by the Director of the Division for Policy Coordination and Economic and Social Council Affairs that the United Nations development system was in a period of change amid shrinking resources.

This morning's meeting marked the continuation of the operational activities for development segment -- one of four which comprise the Council's substantive session. During the segment, the Council will focus on the follow-up to policy recommendations of the General Assembly and coordination of system-wide operational activities for development. The operational activities segment held its first meeting on 28 June, when the Council had a high-level discussion on strengthening collaboration between the United Nations development system and the Bretton Woods institutions.

The Director of the Division for Policy Coordination and Economic and Social Council Affairs, Miles Stoby, said that the Secretariat had endeavoured to structure the next three days of the segment as follows: today, there would be general discussion among delegations; tomorrow, there would be an opportunity to hear from representatives of country teams from Egypt and Malawi; and the day after, dialogue would be held with the executive heads of the United Nations development funds and programmes.

Discussions this morning centred on the need to expand the use of common premises and shared services in order to avoid duplication. The representatives of Ireland (speaking on behalf of the European Union), China and the Russian Federation called for progress in setting up common premises, while the latter recommended the establishment of a task force for that purpose.

Describing progress achieved so far in the area of common premises, a representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said that, currently, 82 per cent of the Fund's country offices shared premises with the

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Fund and the Programme also shared a number of administrative and financial services, both at headquarters and at the country level, he added. A representative of the World Food Programme (WFP) said three quarters of that organization's country offices were located in common premises.

The complex reporting procedures required during the implementation of operational activities were also discussed this morning. The representative of Ghana said the diversity of rules and procedures militated against effective collaboration and created considerable constraints in respect of government time and efforts, and weakened the aim of strengthening national capacity. Tunisia's representative concurred with that position, stating that resident coordinators had described the reporting requirements as cumbersome. At the same time, governments were obliged to devote too much energy and time to bureaucratic procedures, he added.

The representative of the United States also addressed what he termed the "long-standing problem of burdensome reporting requirements", and praised the Secretary-General's report for frankly addressing the difficulties involved in that matter. The representative of Ireland, on behalf of the European Union, asked for more information on the difficulties experienced by field representatives in revising procedures devised at the headquarters level.

A representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) emphasized that, as the United Nations system introduced revised practices in the field, they must be continually assessed. Collaborative mechanisms needed to be truly system-wide in action and reality. She also said reform should not be viewed as a one-time undertaking or an exercise in automatic downsizing.

The Economic and Social Council will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its operational activities for development segment.

Secretary-General's Report

For its consideration, the Council had before it a report of the Secretary-General (document E/1996/64) on progress on the implementation of Assembly resolution 50/120, on the triennial policy review of United Nations operational activities for development. The report devotes special attention to simplification and harmonization; common premises and administrative services; and monitoring and evaluation.

Introducing the report, Mr. Stoby, the Director of the Division for Policy Coordination and Economic and Social Council Affairs, said there were now 15 countries utilizing the country-strategy note -- one more than listed in the report. The country-strategy note process was now being reviewed in

Economic and Social Council - 3 - Press Release ECOSOC/5658 24th Meeting (AM) 8 July 1996

consultation with national officials. Field-level assessments would also be undertaken with a view to guiding field teams. The concern was to avoid burdening the field teams with bureaucratic requirements.

An addendum to the report (document E/1996/64/Add.2) contains information on contributions from governments and other sources to United Nations operational activities; expenditures on those activities; and procurement of the United Nations development system.

In addition, a note by the Secretary-General (document A/51/124- E/1996/44) contains the comments of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) on the report of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) on United Nations system common premises and services in the field. Those comments should be read in connection with the JIU report, which is contained in document A/49/69, according to another note by the Secretary-General before the Council (document E/1996/43).

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