SECRETARY-GENERAL REVIEWS REFORM PROCESS IN REMARKS TO ASSEMBLY'S WORKING GROUP ON STRENGTHENING OF UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

Press Release
SG/SM/6167

SECRETARY-GENERAL REVIEWS REFORM PROCESS IN REMARKS TO ASSEMBLY'S WORKING GROUP ON STRENGTHENING OF UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

Following is the summary of the introductory remarks by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the opening of the second substantive session of the open-ended high-level working group of the General Assembly on the strengthening of the United Nations system, on Monday, 24 February:

The Secretary-General expressed his pleasure at appearing before the working group and beginning a dialogue on the reform process. He indicated that he hoped to engage in similar dialogues with the other working groups of the General Assembly active in the area of reform.

Spirit of Partnership

The Secretary-General stated that he had committed himself to "taking personal responsibility within the Secretariat in leading the reform process, particularly in those areas within [his] direct authority, but also from a system-wide perspective on the basis of the responsibilities inherent in [his] office". He stressed that the process he was leading would be conducted in that spirit of partnership between the Secretariat and Member States about which the President of the General Assembly had spoken, and should fully dovetail with the intergovernmental processes on reform which had been put in place by the General Assembly. For that purpose he had established a close working relationship with the President of the General Assembly.

Two-Track Reform Process

The Secretary-General indicated that he had established a two-track reform process. The first track involved those managerial initiatives and decisions falling within his authority that could be taken within the first quarter of this year. The second track involved the preparation of a programme of reform which would incorporate: (a) those further measures within his authority, including those which he believed would benefit from consultations with and guidance from Member States; and (b) his proposals/recommendations in respect of the more fundamental issues which could only be decided by governments. This track would culminate in a report which he would submit in July of this year.

Structure for Reform

The Secretary-General indicated that he had established a structure for reform in order to support his initiatives. The main elements were the following:

-- First, the appointment of Maurice F. Strong as the Executive Coordinator for United Nations Reform.

-- Second, he referred to the establishment of his Policy Coordination Group, composed of the Heads of the Departments and Offices of the Secretariat, including the Heads of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). To complement the Policy Coordination Group, four Executive Committees had been set up in the sectoral areas of peace and security, humanitarian affairs, economic and social affairs, and development operations, each with its own designated convenor. Although the main functions of the Policy Coordination Group and Executive Committees were to deal with ongoing policy, managerial and operational issues, they would also be utilized to contribute to the reform process within their areas of competence.

-- Third, Mr. Strong would chair a Steering Committee on United Nations Reform whose membership would include a number of senior officials representing the span of activities of the Organization, including the convenors of the Executive Committees. The Steering Committee would be a principal vehicle for monitoring and coordinating the reform process within the Secretariat and for ensuring participation and involvement of all relevant United Nations Departments, Funds and Programmes in support of the Executive Coordinator for Reform.*

-- Fourth, a Management Reform Group, focusing on furthering management reform measures cutting across the Secretariat, would be established within the Department of Administration and Management, and would be complemented by reform groups to be established in each Department, Fund and Programme, to assist in pursuing internal reform reviews in each United Nations entity. The arrangement in the Department of Administration and Management would replace the Efficiency Board and its working group. These groups would constitute a network upon which the other reform mechanisms, particularly the Steering Committee, could draw.

The Secretary-General pointed out that the overall aim in the establishment of these mechanisms was to involve, on a continuing basis, all Secretariat entities in the United Nations in the challenge presented by reform while organizing and accelerating the reform process through the identification of a clear locus of action. His reforms would build on a substantial body of knowledge already existing in the form of various analysis and studies prepared by independent commissions and bodies and governments. He would take careful account of the work already accomplished by the various General Assembly reform working groups.

Transparency

In conclusion, the Secretary-General stressed that he was keen to ensure transparency in the reform process which should not be "a closed and mysterious one". He committed himself and his senior colleagues to reach out to seek views, receive inputs and exchange ideas about how best to proceed.

(*) The membership of the Steering Committee is as follows: Maurice F. Strong, Executive Coordinator for United Nations Reform (Chairman); James Gustave Speth, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Joseph E. Connor, Under-Secretary-General, Department of Administration and Management; Marrack Goulding, Under-Secretary-General, Department of Political Affairs; Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General, Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development; Yasushi Akashi, Under-Secretary-General, Department of Humanitarian Affairs; Hans Corell, Legal Counsel; Sadako Ogata, High Commissioner for Refugees; Gert Rosenthal, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

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