Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 134: Programme Budget for the biennium 2016-2017 in particular on the progress in the implementation of the organizational resilience management system.

2. The Group of 77 and China wishes to thank Mr. Stephen Cuts, Assistant Secretary-General for Central Support Services, for introducing the Secretary-General's reports on progress in the implementation of the organizational resilience management system contained in document A/70/660. We would also wish to thank Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, for introducing the related report contained in document A/70/7/Add.41.

Mr. Chairman, 3. The Group of 77 and China has taken note on the progress made so far on the implementation of the ORMS initiative pursuant to provision of Section III of General Assembly resolution 68/247 B.

4. The Group welcomes the development of the key performance indicators as a tool for measuring the progress made in the implementation of the organizational resilience management system which covers five key areas namely policy; governance; maintenance, exercise and review; risk management and planning. We look forward for detailed information on these elements during the informal consultations.

5. The Group has also taken note on the information related to the implementation of the ORMS in the offices away from Headquarters, regional commissions, field missions of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat and the participating specialized agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system.

6. The Group will be interested to learn to what extent the harmonization and rationalization of the initiatives have been explored in particular to those different entities working under common/same environment/facilities.

7. Our Group also notes with encouragement, the efforts made by the Secretary-General in assessing and managing risks as an essential part of emergency management framework to ensure preparedness, prevention, response and recovery in case of disruption in the regular functioning of the organization. In this regard, our group emphasizes the importance of including the involvement of host country in respect of emergency planning at the country level.

Mr. Chairman,

8. Turning to the cost of the implementation of the initiatives, the Group recalls that by paragraph 6 section III of its resolution 68/247 B the Assembly requested, among others, that future reports on the subject include the detailed accounting of the cost of the organizational resilience management system initiative.

9. The Group of 77 and China is disappointed that current report does not fully respond to that request and information provided lack clarity for decision making process. Like the Advisory Committee, the Group believes that there are many activities that support organizational resilience which remain important for underlying costs. We will be interested to learn the details of the full cost of the initiative during informal consultations.

10. The Group will also be interested to receive updated information on the cost sharing arrangement including by funds and programmes as well as roles and involvement of the host country authorities in the implementation of initiatives during our informal consultations.

11. With regard to the implementation of the recommendations from the after-action review of storm Sandy, the Group has taken note of the information provided and we will be interested to learn in detailed a number of elements including those related to the insurance coverage during our informal consultations.

Mr. Chairman,

12. In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China would like to reaffirm its commitment to engaging constructively in the Committee's discussions on this important agenda item.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.