Sixty-first General Assembly

Second Committee

24^th Meeting (AM)

delegates to Second Committee stress need for more refined, timely statistics

to show funding needs of United Nations operational activities

Importance of Precise Data Highlighted in Anticipation of Comprehensive Review

In the run-up to next year’s comprehensive review of United Nations operational activities, more refined and timely data were needed to better pinpoint the funding needs of the Organization’s crucial development system, delegates to the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) stressed today as they began their consideration of that matter.

Committee members stressed that the more polished data should include a sharper distinction between contributions towards humanitarian assistance and long-term development cooperation, as well as a clearer definition between contributions channelled through United Nations funds, programmes and agencies and those sent through the Secretariat.  Precise statistics would help ensure that development remained a priority in deliberations on United Nations reform, as Member States prepared for the General Assembly’s 2007 Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review of Operational Activities for Development of the United Nations system next year.

South Africa’s representative, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, recalled that during the Economic and Social Council’s meeting on operational activities, held in Geneva earlier this year, Member States had discussed the need to help developing countries advance themselves according to their own national capacities.  The Group of 77 looked forward to ensuring that next year’s comprehensive review reflected the sentiments expressed at that meeting.  It also wished to strengthen the coherence, efficiency and effectiveness of United Nations operational activities.

He stressed that operational activities for development should be evaluated on the basis of their impact on recipient countries, especially the way in which they enhanced the ability of those countries to erase poverty and hunger, and sustain economic growth.  Operational activities depended directly on adequate, sustainable, timely and predictable funding.

China’s delegate added that regular, comprehensive reviews of operational activities for development were a prerequisite for the United Nations development system as it planned ahead.  In preparing for the upcoming comprehensive policy review, China supported an early assessment of the way in which United Nations operational activities helped recipient countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable social and economic development goals.

Finland’s representative, speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said accurate data were essential for good policy planning and decision-making.  The European Union was encouraged by the efforts of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to establish a common standardized humanitarian assistance reporting system, since standardization was a way to render data more comparable and helped to save resources.

She said the European Union also welcomed the Department’s efforts to work closely with all other United Nations entities, as well as the World Bank and the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), given the essential importance of adequate, regular resources to the flexibility and predictability of operational activities.

Switzerland’s delegate said the Economic and Social Council had fulfilled his country’s expectations in overseeing implementation of the last triennial review, using a matrix prepared jointly by the United Nations Development Group and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.  Switzerland also welcomed the Council’s work in delineating a set of tasks to prepare for next year’s review.

He noted, however, that efforts by the United Nations Development Group to harmonize evaluation systems and unify accounting standards had been marred by administrative delays, which were evidence of institutional or psychological resistance.  A majority of United Nations staff were under constant pressure to seek additional financing at any cost, a problem to which the directors of each fund and programme in the system must pay heed.

Ukraine’s representative, speaking on behalf of the GUAM States (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Republic of Moldova), said the group was satisfied with the number and quality of strategic planning instruments, such as the Common Country Assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.  But, even though those mechanisms helped link national priorities with the programme activities of United Nations operational agencies, more attention should be paid to their economic content, perhaps through more collaboration with the Bretton Woods institutions.

Cuba’s delegate said it was absolutely necessary that donour countries grant indispensable core resources for operational activities in a permanent, steady and predictable manner.  Non-core resources could by no means be a substitute for core resources.

Indonesia’s representative pointed out that disasters often prompted the re-routing of funds to rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, a trend that should be factored into the development process.  Future reports should reflect such costs.

During today’s meeting, the Committee also considered the report of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and heard its Executive Director detail the Fund’s activities in five pilot countries that had successfully “engendered” the Millennium Development Goals by linking gender with poverty reduction strategy processes.  Among UNIFEM proposals for helping them achieve national development goals was the creation of a more consolidated United Nations gender entity that could push the system to take on emerging issues.

Other speakers today were the representatives of Brazil (on behalf of the Southern Common Market, or MERCOSUR), Russian Federation, Colombia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Mozambique.

ANWARUL CHOWDHURY, High Representative of the Secretary-General for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, also made a statement.

The Director of the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination introduced the Secretary-General’s report on Comprehensive statistical data on operational activities for development for 2004.

In other business, Committee members heard the introduction of eight draft resolutions, including four relating to sustainable development:  the International Year of Forests, 2011; the International Year of Sanitation; follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States; and the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its ninth special session.

Two other texts were on globalization and interdependence:  the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence; and preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption.  The remaining two drafts were on international trade and development and implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

Introducing those texts were the representatives of South Africa (on behalf of the Group of 77 and China), Japan and Croatia.

The Second Committee will meet again at a time to be published in the Journal.

Background

As it took up operational activities for development of the United Nations system, the Committee had before it the Secretary-General’s report on Comprehensive statistical data on operational activities for development for 2004 (document A/61/77), which concludes that United Nations bodies need to standardize data and statistical practices so as to reach a greater understanding of trends in the system’s development and humanitarian work.  That would improve the quality, timeliness and comparability of system-wide data on operational activities for development.

The report suggests the Economic and Social Council may wish to recommend that the Secretariat work closely with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), other system entities and the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to improve the coverage, quality and comparability of data on operational activities for development.  Particular attention should be paid to statistics on technical cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

Included in the report is a summary analysis of data on resources received and spent by United Nations system entities on their operational activities for development in 2004 and previous years.  The coverage has been broadened to include data and analysis on humanitarian assistance, and has been refined to harmonize as much as possible with the conventions of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, in extensive consultation with United Nations system bodies.

In response to a request by the Economic and Social Council, the report’s section on humanitarian assistance analyzes, for the first time, the contributions and expenditures of the United Nations system.  It includes a discussion of consolidated appeals for humanitarian assistance, funding distribution, the problem of underfunding and the ongoing activities of the lead agencies in humanitarian operational activities.  The value of contributions received for development cooperation activities totalled $12.3 billion in 2004, a 17 per cent rise, in nominal terms, over contributions in 2003 and a 7.6 per cent increase in real terms.

According to the report, no common standardized reporting system has been established for the humanitarian activities of all concerned United Nations agencies.  Each agency reports its contributions and expenditures according to its own differing sources, practices and definitions.  Extensive use has been made of information from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on the activities of the Consolidated Appeals Process.

The statistical report has been an annual document since 1980, without much updating of the underlying concepts.  There is a need to make the data more representative and transparent, as well as to bring it up to date with the United Nations system and its mandates and operational activities.  It is important that statistical standards and practices reflect current operations and permit a comprehensive and reliable overview of the United Nations system’s future operational activities as it proceeds through the reform process.

Also before the Committee was a note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) on activities of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (document A/61/292), which provides an update on the Fund’s activities, including its support for legislative and policy changes on gender equality, violence against women, the gender dimensions of HIV/AIDS policies and discrimination laws in more than 30 countries, strengthening gender equality in the process.

One UNIFEM-supported project was the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, which has been ratified by 182 countries, the report states.  The Fund also tracked the number of mainstream institutions around the world that demonstrated leadership commitment, technical capacity and accountability mechanisms to support gender equality and women’s empowerment; kept gender-equality advocates informed and well-positioned to spearhead and transform policies, programmes and resource allocations; and helped change discriminatory attitudes and practices so that they promoted the rights of women.  To enhance its effectiveness, UNIFEM would work on its five performance goals, among which was development of a more diversified and reliable resource base to fund its commitments.

Introduction of Draft Resolutions

The representative of South Africa, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, introduced a draft resolution on international trade and development (document A/C.2/61/L.14), appealing for the support of Member States for its adoption.

The representative of Japan then introduced a draft resolution on the International Year of Sanitation (document A/C.2/61/L.16), on behalf of its co-sponsors, saying that the lack of tangible progress in sanitation was a major stumbling block to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

The representative of Croatia then introduced a draft resolution on the  International Year of Forests, 2011 (document A/C.2/61/L.21), on behalf of all its  co-sponsors, pointing out that the sustainable management of forests was crucial in combating land degradation and improving food security.  Hopefully, multi-stakeholder dialogue on such issues would be strengthened as a result of the resolution.

Another delegate from South Africa introduced a draft resolution on Follow-up to and implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (document A/C.2/61/L.18) on behalf of the Group of 77, reiterating the call made in previous years for effective implementation of related programmes and targets, especially in terms of providing financial and technical support.

She also introduced draft resolutions on the Report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on its ninth special session (document A/C.2/61/L.19), and on Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) (document A/C.2/61/L.17).

A third delegate from South Africa introduced, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, a draft resolution on the role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence (document A/C.2/61/L.15), saying the text resolution was focused and targeted on one particular aspect of globalization:  science and technology.

Introducing also a draft resolution on Preventing and combating corrupt practices and transfer of assets of illicit origin and returning such assets, in particular to the countries of origin, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (document A/C.2/61/L.20), he said it was a procedural text, since the Convention had only just entered into force, and the first Conference of the Parties had not yet taken place.  The Group of 77 had requested a report on the outcome of that conference next year, upon which a substantial resolution would be tabled.

Introduction of Reports

NIKHIL SETH, Director of the Office for the Economic and Social Council Support and Coordination, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, introduced the Secretary-General’s report on Comprehensive statistical data on operational activities for development for 2004 (document A/61/77), saying the data had been refined to better reflect funding for operational activities, including a clearer distinction between contributions for humanitarian assistance and those for long-term development cooperation.  UNDP, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) accounted for more than three quarters of the $12.3 billion total contributions to operational activities for development in 2004.

He said the funding picture was complicated by different movements in core and non-core funding.  In 2004, the share of core resources had fallen to only 41 per cent of total resources.  Preliminary figures for 2005 indicated an overall increase in core funding in absolute terms.  While non-core resources were an important supplementary resource, the General Assembly had repeatedly highlighted the need to enhance regular or core contributions.  The least developed countries had received about 40 per cent of total annual expenditures between 2000 and 2004, which was considerably higher than the figure for the previous decade and reflected growing international concern for the plight of the poorest countries.

The distinction between humanitarian assistance and long-term development was very blurred, he said, noting that the data showed 20 per cent of contributions allocated under humanitarian assistance going to agriculture, infrastructure, health and other building blocks of long-term development.  The practices of reporting on what constituted humanitarian assistance differed so widely among entities that without serious harmonization and alignment, the quality of data would be insufficient for good analysis.

NOELEEN HEYZER, Executive Director, UNIFEM, introduced the report on the Fund’s activities (document A/61/292), stating that its programmes took a holistic approach to bringing concrete change to women’s development, operating across sectors to build strong partnerships.  At a high-level conference in 2001, UNIFEM had taken the lead in a campaign for the establishment of gender-responsive budgets in 45 countries by 2015.  It was currently tracking progress in 30 of those countries.

She said that in Morocco, the Fund had begun working with women’s leaders and the Ministry of Education to secure additional allocations for on-site services to increase girls’ school enrolment, and with the Ministry of Agriculture to increase women’s access to vocational training and credit.  In India, the work of UNIFEM with the Finance Ministry had resulted in the inclusion of gender budget analysis in the Economic Survey accompanying the presentation of the annual budget.

Concrete results could also be seen in the UNIFEM two-year programme with the UNDP to showcase the Fund’s holistic strategies, she said.  For instance, three out of five pilot countries had “engendered” their Millennium Development Goals reports and were linking gender with poverty reduction strategy processes.  One of them had started localizing development planning at the district level, stimulating an increased use of analysis and data in reporting.  Working through gender theme groups in United Nations country teams, UNIFEM had been able to influence national planning frameworks, including the Common Country Assessments, United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers of several countries.

She went on to say that the issue was not lack of good practices or effective strategies, but rather to implement strategies on a scale large enough to turn the tide for gender equality and women’s rights towards the achievement of national development goals.  UNIFEM had identified three priorities:  strengthening a coherent and integrated approach across the United Nations system; strengthening gender equality in national development strategies; and strengthening monitoring and accountability by women on the ground.  An “Action Learning” process with a number of United Nations country teams and “Accounting for Gender Equality” scorecards were among the Fund’s proposals for achieving those three goals.  Indeed, a more consolidated gender entity was needed within the United Nations to push the system to take on emerging issues.

Questions and Answers

A delegate noted that although more resources had been channelled to the least developed countries over recent years, the 40 per cent of annual expenditures cited in the report as having been allocated to them should be higher.  Another delegate wondered about the one-and-a-half-year lag in collecting data, asking whether technology would enable the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to provide more recent data.

Mr. SETH said in response that the Department was moving in the direction of providing more immediate data in an analytically useful format.  It was to be hoped that the next report, to be released in the middle of next year, would provide more recent data in a more useful format.

Statements

ANWARUL K. CHOWDHURY, High Representative of the Secretary-General for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, said the United Nations’ field presence played a critical role in the full and effective implementation of the Programmes of Action with respect to the three most vulnerable groups of countries -- the Brussels and Almaty Programmes, and the Mauritius Strategy.  The motor of operational activities was the United Nations Resident Coordinator system, whose responsibility for 50 least developed countries had been reiterated in the five-year review process of the Brussels Programme, which had culminated in the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly this year.  Greater engagement by the United Nations Resident Coordinators in those countries, in addition to those in landlocked developing countries and Small Island Developing States, would be essential in the remaining five years.  Those countries must be given enough support to expand their national capacities.

He said the paucity of core resources was a matter of serious concern for the least developed countries, which were minimally equipped to attract non-core supplementary development funding.  Their inherent economic and social conditions, as well as lack of capacity, made their reliance on core funding by agencies, funds and programmes absolutely crucial.  Development partners, especially those whose governing bodies had taken decisions to mainstream the Brussels Programme into their work programmes, were called upon to increase their allocation of resources to least developed countries.  It was heartening to see that those countries had received around 40 per cent of total annual expenditure on operational activities for development in the past five years, as that was considerably higher than observed in previous decades.

Looking forward to regular reporting by those entities to their governing bodies on the implementation of the Programme of Action, he said he was encouraged by the sectoral reports of the United Nations system entities and other multilateral organizations for the mid-term review of the Brussels Programme.  So far, 19 of them had mainstreamed the Brussels Programme into their work programmes, and the Office of the High Representative had undertaken close consultations with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, civil society, the private sector, intergovernmental organizations and others to implement the Programme.  Indeed, the Office was a member of the United Nations Development Group.

Noting that the number of focal points in the 50 least developed countries had increased from 9 to 45, and the number of National Forums from 9 to 18, he said a workshop of the National Focal Points had been held in New York last May, providing an opportunity to exchange information on country-level activities.  But, there was a need for better coordination of the activities of local organizations with those of United Nations entities, especially in the “extra-vulnerable” group of countries covered by the Brussels, Barbados and Almaty Programmes.  The United Nations Resident Coordinator system must put in place a mechanism to monitor progress and report to Headquarters when there was a lack of progress.

In terms of contributions, he said there had been an increase of 7.6 per cent in 2004, which was small compared to the 28.3 per cent real increase in official development assistance.  Contributions to the core resources of the United Nations system had played a rather modest role in international financing for development and were becoming weaker.  During 2004, the ratio of core to non-core resources had deteriorated significantly.  In light of that, a plea had been made to increase the level of core funding devoted to least developed countries, which already faced a dwindling of international development assistance.  Spending by specialized agencies had also been very low.

Finally, he commended UNIFEM for its tireless efforts to empower women so as to make their contribution more effective.  Motivated by the same spirit, the Office of the High Representative had issued a publication, Breaking Barriers -- Gender Perspectives and Empowerment of Women in Least Developed Countries, which analyzed the situation of women in 50 least developed countries, covering the feminization of poverty, women and HIV/AIDS as well as other subjects.

PETER LE ROUX (South Africa), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said the Group had repeatedly reiterated over the years the importance of operational activities for development, particularly in ensuring that development remained a priority in deliberations on United Nations reform.  The need for reform had been highlighted in a special resolution adopted by Heads of State at the 2005 World Summit, as well as in the adoption of the follow-up resolution to the Development Outcome of the 2005 World Summit.  In addition, operational activities for development depended directly on adequate, sustainable, timely and predictable funding, and data in the Secretary-General’s future reports must be refined so they better reflect the funding needs of those activities.  Such refinement must include a better distinction between contributions made for humanitarian assistance and for long-term development cooperation, as well as between contributions channelled through United Nations funds, programmes and agencies and those going through the Secretariat.

He said operational activities for development should be valued and assessed on the basis of their impact on recipient countries, especially in enhancing their capacity to eradicate poverty and hunger, and in sustaining economic growth and development.  In the Economic and Social Council’s debate on operational activities this year in Geneva, Member States had discussed the need to help developing countries develop themselves according to their own national capacities.  The Group of 77 looked forward to next year’s debate, to ensure that discussions during the triennial comprehensive policy review discussions reflected the sentiments expressed at the Geneva meeting, and to further improve the coherence, efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities.

TARJA FERNÁNDEZ ( Finland), speaking on behalf of the European Union and associated States, said accurate data was essential for good policy planning and decision-making, and the European Union was encouraged by the efforts of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to establish a common standardized humanitarian assistance reporting system.  Indeed, standardization was a way to render data more comparable and helped to save resources.  The Department’s efforts to work closely with all other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as the World Bank and the OECD Development Assistance Committee were also encouraging.  Adequate, regular resources were essential to the flexibility and predictability of the activities of those organizations.

On gender issues, she said the European Union recognized that both men and women were able to play an equal role in all areas of life.  Gender equality in public life and political decision-making was a prerequisite for democracy; therefore, gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment must be a part of all operational activities of the United Nations.  The work of the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality, as well as that of UNIFEM was to be commended.  The UNIFEM strategy on mainstreaming gender equality into aid effectiveness was especially laudable.

PIRAGIBE DOS SANTOS TARRAGÔ (Brazil), speaking on behalf of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and aligning himself with the Group of 77, noted the progress in data collection, but pointed out that operational data could be further refined to reinforce an important pillar in the governance of the multilateral system.  The data showed a concentration of operations by agency, by sector and by region, which seemed to risk compromising the very purpose of the United Nations system’s activities.

Noting that humanitarian assistance featured for the first time as a special theme of the Secretary-General’s report, he said underfunding and inadequate timing could be found in all agencies, especially WFP and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which were responsible for more than half, or 56 per cent, of total contributions.  The concentration of expenditures in the UNDP and the WFP, and in one specific modality of technical cooperation could render the system biased to the detriment of many vulnerable areas in the developing countries.  The Americas had received 16 per cent of total expenditures in 2004, yet, 90 per cent of the region’s poor lived in pockets of poverty within the middle-income countries.

DENIS PIMINOV ( Russian Federation) said that data tracking the outcome of humanitarian assistance confirmed the need to increase funding for operational activities.  Countries should continue contributing funds on a voluntary non-conditional basis.  For its part, the Russian Federation had doubled its own contributions for 2006.  He congratulated UNIFEM for demonstrating a certain independence in conducting its gender-mainstreaming work, noting that it had made a significant contribution in countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).  Regarding the reform of operational activities, any action should be universal and impartial, and the triennial policy review of operational activities should guarantee the effectiveness of those activities.  Indeed, resolution 59/250 on reviewing operational activities was the only legitimate basis for future reform measures.  The challenge facing Member States was to ensure faithful implementation of that resolution.

The regular triennial review planned for 2007 should be balanced, taking account of all stakeholders, and should use existing agreements as a starting point, he said.  Reforming operational activities was a means to an ends:  to ensure that United Nations social and economic activities were effective, not just to ensure their “cost-effectiveness”.  In addition, any proposals to that end must be accompanied by a detailed cost-benefit analysis and preserve the flexibility of existing programmes.

CLAUDIA BLUM (Colombia), aligning herself with the Group of 77, said that by giving special emphasis to factors that encouraged development over the long-term, developed countries would be in better position to generate their own know-how as a guarantee, so as to implement activities that promoted sustainable development.   Colombia was concerned that long-term development components were being assigned 20 per cent of contributions destined for operational activities for development.  It was in the country’s interest that financing for operational activities depend, to a greater extent, on basic resources in order to reduce dependency on less predictable funds, which should be of a complementary nature.  It was important to balance the use of resources for administrative functioning and infrastructure against those destined for the central programmes of the different entities.  It was also important for middle-income countries, like Colombia, to be the object of new approaches and treatment, so they could access international cooperation resources.

NOR EDDINE BENFREHA ( Algeria), aligning himself with the Group of 77, said United Nations operational activities should help to build the capacity of developing countries to achieve their development goals.  The review process should use data to measure progress in a systematic way, in order to judge the effectiveness of United Nations activities in that regard.  Also, data on funding should be fine-tuned to differentiate between official development assistance (ODA) and humanitarian aid, and to help calculate more accurately how to make operational activities more resource-oriented.  Indeed, Algeria believed firmly that those suggestions should be taken into consideration at the triennial review of operational activities in order to introduce more coherence in the process, particularly in light of the numerous overlaps in United Nations system mandates.

LLANIO GONZÁLEZ (Cuba), aligning himself with the Group of 77, said the critical economic and social situation in the world showed the special significance of the activities carried out by United Nations funds, programmes and agencies in each country.  The field work they performed in different areas of development gave them a unique position to understand the real needs of developing countries, hence, the key importance of preserving the valuable contribution of the development funds, programmes and agencies.

He said his country favoured preserving the separate identity of each and every fund, programme and agency, including their specific mandates and functions.  Cuba rejected the idea of their possible “merger”.  Regarding funding, it was absolutely necessary that the donour countries grant the indispensable core resources for operational activities in a permanent, steady and predictable manner.  Non-core resources could not, by any means, be a substitute for core resources.

IFTEKHAR AHMED CHOWDHURY ( Bangladesh), aligning himself with the Group of 77, said the need to simplify and harmonize United Nations activities could not be overstated.  The complex rules and procedure must be streamlined.  Programmatic coherence could reduce duplication and transaction costs, and release more resources for operational activities.  United Nations activities at the country level should be coherent with national development strategies.

The credibility and effectiveness of the United Nations development system depended greatly on a stable, predictable, long-term and expanding resource base, he said.  Core resources were the bedrock of operational activities and there must be a better balance between core and non-core contributions, as well as closer scrutiny of spending to ensure that United Nations bodies operated effectively.  The current trend of insufficiency in core resources for both administration and programme development represented the single most important constraint to the performance of development entities.

SHATRUGHAN SINHA ( India), aligning himself with the Group of 77, said core resources were the foundation of country programmes of cooperation.  They were necessary for UNICEF and other agencies organizations to perform their core functions at the optimal level and contribute towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.  Core resources allowed United Nations funds and programmes to respond quickly to emerging crises and distribute resources on the basis of on need and long-term objectives.  The availability of adequate, sustainable, timely and predictable funding was the primary requirement for enhancing the capacity of the United Nations system to achieve development results.

He emphasized that the United Nations system’s operational activities should respond to the development needs of developing countries in a flexible manner.  India agreed that there was a need to make the data more representative and transparent.  Regarding the report on the activities of UNIFEM, the Fund had been able to make a contribution in several areas in a large number of countries, including India, despite its small size.  Enhanced core funding would help UNIFEM pursue its mandated activities.

ADE PETRANTO (Indonesia), aligning himself with the Group of 77, said the United Nations concept of “one team, one leader and one programme” had trickled down to the country level, as reflected in the lining up of the Organization’s operational activities with national development frameworks.  In addition, national capacity-building was being undertaken to ensure the long-term sustainability of programmes.  Combined, those measures would go a long way towards creating momentum in recipient countries to achieve their development goals, an approach that should be reinforced by reducing “donour competition” at the country level.  Cooperation between recipient and donour countries should be determined through national development priorities, and through policy dialogue between nations.

He said that, along with improvements in management, adequate resources should be made available on a continuous, predictable and assured basis.  The value of South-South cooperation to operational activities should not be overlooked, in that regard.  Natural and man-made disasters also had serious implications for operational activities, by causing funds to be re-routed to rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.  Indeed, they must be factored into the development process as costs, and data displayed in future reports should be detailed and refined enough to reflect those costs.

LIU ZHENMIN ( China), supporting the Group of 77 statement, said adequate, steadily increasing and predictable core resources made up the foundation of the United Nations development system.  While the total resources of that system had seen some increases in recent years, they were mainly realized in non-core resources, leaving core resources more or less on the same level, or even with decreases in certain years.  The increasing dependence on non-core resources by certain programmes and funds had created a challenge to the basic principles of universality, neutrality and multilateralism that the United Nations development system followed when providing technical assistance.

He said the regular comprehensive review of operational activities for development was a prerequisite for the United Nations development system to plan for the next step.  China advocated the reform of operational activities for development and improving their efficiency and quality, which was important for their ability to effectively help developing countries strengthen their own capacity to respond to development challenges and realize the Millennium Development Goals at an early date.  Operational activities for development should also intensify support for national capacity-building and South-South cooperation, as well as help developing countries obtain advanced technology.

THOMAS GASS ( Switzerland) highlighted the work of the United Nations Development Group in harmonizing evaluation systems and unifying accounting standards and joint programming.  However, those efforts had been marred by administrative delays, which were evidence of institutional or psychological resistance.  In addition, a majority of United Nations staff were under constant pressure to seek additional financing at any cost.  The directors of each fund and programme must pay special attention to that problem.

He said the Economic and Social Council had fulfilled his country’s expectations in terms of overseeing the implementation of the triennial review, using a matrix prepared jointly by the United Nations Development Group and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.  That matrix was central to enabling all actors, including Member States, to monitor their own progress.  The Council’s work to define a set of tasks, in preparation for the next triennial review in 2007, was also welcome.

TIRTHA RAJ WAGLE ( Nepal), aligning himself with the Group of 77, said strengthened data and statistical practices could ensure a better reporting system, thereby enhancing the coordination and harmonization of development efforts and improving accountability and monitoring mechanisms.  Additional improvement in the quality and comparability of data would be useful in the context of preparing for the forthcoming triennial comprehensive policy review.  With their vulnerability, the least developed countries deserved a greater mobilization of resources for operational activities by the United Nations and other development agencies.  The Organization’s specialized agencies had spent less than 15 per cent of their total annual operational activities expenditure on least developed countries, which suggested a clear need for enhanced and harmonized activities by all resident and non-resident United Nations agencies to ensure the timely achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

YURIY TYRKUS (Ukraine), speaking on behalf of the GUAM States (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Republic of Moldova) called for the full implementation of the resolution on the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development, noting that, so far, inter-agency and field-level coordination in the United Nations system had progressed well.  It was also encouraging that the United Nations Development Group had stepped up its efforts to streamline programming procedures, including through its thematic task force and other simplification and harmonization tools.  However, simpler procedures should be developed to improve services to recipient countries and enhance their respective capacities to manage development programmes and projects.

He said the GUAM States were satisfied with the increase in the number and quality of strategic planning instruments like the Common Country Assessment and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.  Both those mechanisms had proved effective in linking national priorities with the programme activities of United Nations operational agencies, although there should be more focused attention on their economic content.  Perhaps they should collaborate more closely with the Bretton Woods institutions.  More balance was needed in allocating core and non-core funding, while preserving the voluntary nature of contributions to core activities.  On the UNIFEM activities, the GUAM States supported, its work to engender national policies and legislation, and on building the capacity of women’s organizations and networks.

FILIPE CHIDUMO (Mozambique), aligning himself with the Group of 77, said the credibility of United Nations operational activities remained dependent on their universal, voluntary and grant-based nature; their neutrality and multilateralism; and their ability to respond to the development needs of developing countries.  The system’s credibility and effectiveness also depended on the availability of resources that could ensure predictable, stable and adequate funding for development assistance.

Noting that the volume and quality of United Nations aid had fallen short of the expectations of recipient countries, he expressed the hope that the High-level Panel on System-Wide Coherence, of which his country’s Prime Minister was a Co-Chair, would come up with substantial recommendations to strengthen the United Nations system’s response.  The effectiveness of its assistance would remain limited, if that aid did not mesh with assistance provided by non-United Nations multilateral agencies.

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For information media • not an official record