2.The Group appreciates the information on UN80 Workstream 3 provided by the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina Mohamed, the Under-Secretary-General for Policy, Mr. Guy Ryder, the Under-Secretary-General of DESA, Mr. Li Junhua, the Acting Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Mr. Pedro Moreno, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Tom Fletcher, and the Special Advisor on Reforms, Mr. Jens Wandel.

3.The Group wishes to extend its appreciation for the pre-briefing materials received, while reiterating its request that presentations, as well as detailed information and analysis, be provided to Member States in advance of these briefings in order to facilitate more substantive exchanges.

4.Taking into account the potential long-term institutional and country-level consequences of Workstream 3 proposals, which entails 25 work packages, the Group of 77 and China wishes to stress that adequate time is needed to assess their implications. In particular, any proposal should not lead to the dilution of development mandates, should strengthen delivery on the ground, be guided by a data-driven, evidence-based approach, and be supported by cost-benefit analyses, comprehensive risk assessments, and appropriate risk mitigation measures.

5. Regarding work package 6, pertaining to the "Regional Reset", the Group of 77 and China takes note of the information provided, and appreciates the objective of improving responsiveness to the needs of host countries by reorganizing the regional capacities of the UN development system for more effective and impactful delivery on the ground. At the same time, the Group wishes to emphasize that further clarity is needed to fully understand the impact of this proposed reform on field presences and its interaction with other work packages, including work package 5 on the "UNCT Reconfiguration". In that regard, the Group wishes to highlight the value of UN national presence given their understanding of national realities and institutional frameworks. The Group of 77 and China also wishes to underscore that National Cooperation Frameworks and Country Programme Documents should remain the core guidance for country level work of the UN development system, while the various operational realities of field presences need to be respected. The Group looks forward to receiving a more detailed update and all relevant data during the ECOSOC's Operational Activities for Development Segment, including with regard to the human resources needed by the Regional Commissions.

6. The Group sees particular merit in work package 7, which addresses "Joint Knowledge Hubs", with a view to integrating data, knowledge and expertise so that Member States can count on more unified, coherent, practical and impact-oriented knowledge support across the system. The Group takes note of the three sets of pilot hubs and co-lead configurations identified and looks forward to receiving, as Member States, the implementation plans for each pilot hub, to be submitted to the Secretary-General in May.

7. With regard to work package 13, which entails the "Shared Platform Initiative", the Group of 77 and China takes note of the work undertaken, including with the aim of improving collaboration between humanitarian and development functions at the country level, and looks forward to receiving a more detailed update, together with all relevant data, through the ECOSOC's Operational Activities for Development Segment and the ECOSOC's Meeting on the Transition from Relief to Development.

8. While the Group considers the work undertaken by this Workstream as extremely crucial and important, it would welcome further engagement on how structural proposals will be developed and assessed, including in terms of cost implications, governance oversight, and the impact on the delivery of services on the ground. Avoiding disruptions to field-based support and service delivery is essential.

9. Finally, the Group of 77 and China wishes to reiterate that remains firmly committed to engaging actively and constructively in the discussions on the UN80 Initiative, with the aim of ensuring that all processes are transparent and inclusive to enable a more effective, efficient, equitable, and truly representative United Nations system, one that strengthens multilateralism, advances development, and delivers meaningful results for all peoples and nations.

Thank you.

The Group commends you and the Bureau for your leadership and assures you of our full support and commitment to the work of the Committee. We also express our sincere appreciation to the former Bureau for their dedication and leadership during the previous term.

We thank USG Ms. Melissa Fleming and the team at the Department of Global Communications (DGC) for the detailed reports on Campaigns and Country Operations, News Services, and Outreach and Knowledge Services.

As the penholder for both resolutions to be examined by this Committee, the Group looks forward to a constructive session characterized by open and constructive dialogue, with the ultimate goal of reaching a consensus resolution that strengthens the UN's communication mandate.

Mr. Chair,

The partnership between the DGC and this Committee is the cornerstone of strategic communications at the United Nations. In an era marked by rapid technological shifts and a fragmented media landscape, the UN must remain a "voice of reason" to promote the purposes and image of the Organization. The Group recognizes the DGC's essential role in conveying messages on peace and security, development, and human rights to a global audience.

We remain deeply concerned by the "information divide" that persists between developed and developing nations, which is exacerbated, among other things, by the continued application of unilateral measures not in accordance with international law. To bridge this gap, we emphasize the critical work of the United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) in our respective regions. These centers are vital for translating global mandates into local contexts, ensuring that the work of the UN reaches the grassroots level in a way that is culturally and linguistically relevant.

For the Group of 77 and China, multilingualism is not merely a technicality; it is a fundamental principle of equity. We reiterate that information must be disseminated in all six official languages to ensure maximum outreach and inclusivity. We encourage the DGC to continue exploring innovative financing and voluntary contributions to bolster these efforts and expand the UN's digital footprint in non-official languages whenever possible.

Mr. Chair,

The Group notes with alarm the profound challenges caused by the proliferation of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. These phenomena undermine the integrity of information and can exacerbate conflicts, xenophobia, and religious intolerance. We urge the DGC to take all necessary measures to ensure the public has access to factual, impartial, and reliable content.

Regarding specific mandates, the Group underscores the importance of the DGC's communication efforts on the Question of Palestine. Raising international awareness of the situation in the Middle East, especially the most recent escalations, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions, remains a priority for the Group to support the path toward a just and lasting peace.

Furthermore, we reiterate our unwavering commitment to the protection of journalists and media professionals. We strongly condemn all attacks on media professionals and civilian communications infrastructure, particularly in armed conflicts, as these actions constitute a direct assault on the right to information and freedom of expression.

Mr. Chair,

In conclusion, achieving Sustainable Development amid evolving global challenges requires a collective effort, underpinned by the dissemination of accurate and accessible information. The Group of 77 and China remains ready to engage actively and constructively during this session. We are confident that under your able stewardship, we will reach a successful and consensus-based outcome that ensures the United Nations remains a trusted source of information for all.

I thank you.

At the outset, the Group wishes to express its appreciation to the Co-facilitators for their efforts in steering the intergovernmental consultations, as well as the President of ECOSOC for his leadership throughout this process.

In this First Forum following the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment, we wish to highlight that transforming this document into a lived reality requires sustained political will. In this regard, the G77 and China is ready to be a constructive partner in shaping the post-Sevilla landscape.

We reaffirm that the Compromiso provides a renewed global framework for financing for development to realize sustainable development -in its social, economic and environmental dimensions- with concrete policies and actions. We underscore the importance of the timely and effective implementation of the Sevilla Commitment across its seven action areas, providing a renewed impetus for international cooperation and sustainable development.

Regarding the Global Financing Framework, we acknowledge that we meet at a moment where geopolitical tensions and conflicts threaten to deliver new shocks to an already fragile global economy. The Group is deeply concerned by the 23.1 per cent real-term contraction of Official Development Assistance in 2025, disproportionately impacting Least Developed Countries. To realize the 2030 Agenda, we must act with urgency to close the estimated 4 trillion US dollars annual financing gap.

Mr. President,

We recognize the relevance of this First Follow-up Forum as an opportunity to take stock of the progress made on the relevant Action Areas under in-depth review, as well as on issues of relevance to developing countries.

Regarding domestic and international private business and finance, the Group is heartened to see reflected specific pathways to increase private capital mobilization deriving from the mandates from the Sevilla Commitment, including ideas on how to deepen domestic capital and financial markets and references to concrete investment platform initiatives. We have heard this week from various panels, including from the private sector, on both the imperative and willingness to strengthen public-private partnerships and create enabling environments for the private sector participation to serve national priorities. We hope to build and further reflect on these concrete ideas when this section is again under in-depth review in 2028.

On international trade as an engine for development, the Group is pleased to see that the Document includes mentions both current challenges and emerging opportunities in the trading system. While we maintain that there should be a more detailed focus on the negative impacts of trade barriers and the increasing use protectionist measures that hinder trade flows, we appreciate the inclusion of references to the impacts of these measures, as well as to the growing role of regional and South-South trade in helping to offset these pressures. We also welcome the call to Member States to refrain from adopting unilateral economic, financial, or trade measures that are inconsistent with international law. We look forward to further building on these elements and deepening the treatment of these issues in future iterations of this section.

With regards to International Financial Architecture and systemic issues, the Group remains committed to the continuous adaptation of this architecture to ensure it is aligned with sustainable development and the evolving needs of developing countries. While we recognize ongoing institutional reforms, we stress the importance of making global economic governance more inclusive and representative, particularly by broadening the voice of developing countries in norm-setting and decision-making. We welcome the agreement on the Diriyah Guiding Principles for IMF quota reform and the decision to allow Special Drawing Rights to be used for hybrid capital instruments.

Concerning the Data, Monitoring and Follow-up section, the Group welcomes the reaffirmation of fundamental commitments. However, greater ambition with respect to implementation would be desirable. Nevertheless, the progress achieved in developing complementary measures of development, as well as in the submission of South-South Cooperation data, is welcomed and constitutes an important step forward.

On Debt, the Group recalls paragraph 50(f) of the Seville Outcome, which calls for an intergovernmental process on debt under the United Nations -involving all relevant stakeholders- as we look forward to the 2027 FfD Forum, where we will carry out a comprehensive review of the Debt and Debt Sustainability Action Area.

Mr. President,

Less than one year after the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment, the Group expected a more focused, impactful and action-oriented document that would help advance the implementation of the Compromiso while building on the progress already made.

Throughout the consultations, the Group remained ready to engage constructively and negotiated in good faith. We approached the negotiations with the objective of reaching an ambitious and meaningful document that addresses the urgent financing needs of developing countries, in particular through the in-depth review of the Action Areas mandated by the Sevilla Commitment.

The Group repeatedly requested line-by-line negotiations, or a similar approach, that would provide delegations with adequate time to introduce their proposals and respond to others, while allowing for sufficient consultations and coordination. This request was not accommodated, and insufficient time was allocated for substantive discussions. Combined with unexpected changes to the original timeline, this hindered delegations' ability to engage in the thorough and substantive deliberations that a document of this caliber requires.

A transparent, predictable, and inclusive process is not a mere formality, but a requirement for building the trust and consensus necessary to tackle the existing global financial challenges, and reach the level of ambition that the global economic situation demands.

Regardless, the Group of 77 and China has joined the consensus today for the adoption of this Outcome Document, based on a steadfast commitment to the Financing for Development process and the multilateral system.
 
Mr President,

While the Group can live with the text being adopted today, and recognizes the efforts made by the co-facilitators to address the Group's priorities, it is far from the outcome we had envisioned or hoped for, in order to effectively implement the commitments made last year in Sevilla.

In conclusion, Mr. President, we look toward the future milestones of the FfD process with the expectation that the promises made in Sevilla will be translated into tangible outcomes that leave no one behind.

I thank you.