Mr. President,

I take the floor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset I wish to thank the UNDP Administrator for her statement on the work of the UNDP and all the relevant matters associated.

Let me reaffirm that the Group of 77, as the largest single gathering of developing countries at the United Nations, attaches the highest importance to the work of the United Nations Development Programme and its activities in programme countries. We are firmly committed to ensuring that the Vision of the Strategic Plan "eradication of poverty and inclusive growth" is now taken to a logical implementation through UNDP's programmes and policies in developing countries.

As we collectively embark on giving the final shape to the post 2015 Development Agenda, it is extremely critical that as the largest developmental arm of the United Nations, UNDP remains firmly anchored on issues of development alone.

Both the QCPR and the vision of the UNDP Strategic Plan, gave an explicit mandate to give THE highest priority to poverty eradication as the overarching objective of all UNDP's activities. We therefore hope that in pursuance of the Strategic Plan, this objective would not be lost sight of, and that UNDP would continue to implement programmes that focus on capacity building, employment generation, education, vocational training and rural development, all of which were explicitly listed in the QCPR for implementation by UNDP.

Subsequent to the Annual Session in Geneva in June this year, the Group of 77 and China had submitted a letter on behalf of its 133 member states to you Mr. President, highlighting a few issues for follow up.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work prompt response on our submission, and do hope that both our submissions including on the IRRF contents and scheduling of Executive Board Sessions at non New York locations, would be addressed by the Executive Board. We count on your leadership to ensure that appropriate steps are undertaken to address those two specific concerns.

In addition, we would also like to express our concern at the recent revamping conducted by UNDP to streamline its offices, which has adversely targeted representation of developing country personnel in its ranks. We are deeply concerned that if a development agency chooses to selectively ignore developing country representation in its ranks and that too, at the cost of selecting only donor country representatives, then its perhaps not the right signal to send to the developing countries, who look up to UNDP as an egalitarian and transparent organization.

The G77 and China look forward to the further strengthening of transparency, accountability and governance of the United Nations Development System. The inclusiveness of its governance structures, reflecting equitable representation of each region of the world, is of extreme importance. Therefore, we note that the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in its last resolution on the QCPR, has decided to convene a dialogue on its longer-term positioning, taking into account the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including the issue of its governance structures. In this regard, we reiterate the willingness of the G77 and China to engage constructively and further emphasize that according to the ECOSOC resolution this should be reflected in the Secretary General's report for consideration and action of the General Assembly in 2016.

Turning our focus on the Agenda Items, we note with appreciation the continuing dialogue with Member States on the funding of the Strategic Plan pursuant to paragraphs 39 - 47 of UNGA Resolution 67/226. While we recognize the need to address the critical mass issue both from the institutional and programmatic perspective, it should not be undertaken to the detriment of programming activities in developing countries.

In addition, we would request UNDP to give a high priority to implementing projects of South South cooperation, and in facilitating transfer of technology towards developing countries, which is of critical importance. We also call upon UNDP to give the UN Office for South South cooperation increased human and financial resources to carry out its mandate effectively.

Finally, Mr. President, since this Executive Board Session also includes the agenda item of implementation of QCPR in the context of funding issues, we would like to seek an update from UNDP on the implementation done by UNDP flowing from the mandate given by QCPR - of giving the "highest priority to poverty eradication" and I quote from the QCPR: "poverty eradication should continue to be the core focus area for the United Nations development system and that ALL its development programmes and projects should attempt to address this greatest global challenge as their underlying objective" unquote.

Now that we are nearly two years down the line at the cusp of the 69th UNGA, with the stage nearly set for the post 2015 development agenda, it would be important to hear from the UNDP the concrete steps and programming changes undertaken in the last two year by UNDP to implement this overarching mandate of the QCPR.

The Group of 77 and China looks forward to constructive discussions during this Executive Board session.

I thank you Mr. President.