Day 1-Tuesday, 28 February

"The future of the UN development system."

Building a stronger UN development system for delivering on the 2030 Agenda

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China I would like to thank the panellists for their presentations. We like to highlight the following aspects:

1. This segment is an opportunity to take stock of the key system-wide strategic policy orientations established by the General Assembly through the recently adopted QCPR resolution. The Group looks forward to discuss how to advance their implementation.

2. The General Assembly resolved that the QCPR should be the main instrument to better position the United Nations operational activities for development to support countries in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This and all other QCPR orientations and guidelines should be embedded in the activities of the entities of the UNDS as a whole, at all levels.

3. The Group looks forward to the upcoming recommendations of the Secretary-General requested by the QCPR, that we trust will reflect the ambition, complexity and the delicate balance of the resolution.

4. We take this opportunity to welcome the Deputy Secretary-General, Madam Amina J. Mohammed, and wish her success in her new role G77 and China will keep constructively engaged with the Office of the Secretary-General on this and other important issues for developing countries.

Dialogue with Executive Heads of UN Funds, Programmes and Specialized Agencies Functions and Capacities to improve the UNDS collective support to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China I would like to thank the panellists for their presentations. We like to highlight the following aspects:

1. G77 and China expect that the outline requested by the QCPR resolution for June shows clearly the contribution of each entity of the UNDS to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This contribution should be assessed against the backdrop of the Agenda itself.

2. In some areas of the Agenda, it will be possible to identify gaps in coverage that need to be addressed. This is crucial to ensure that the UNDS is ready to support States, at their request, in implementing the Agenda.

3. This does not mean that the UNDS should "do everything everywhere," or define itself priorities in the implementation of the SDGs. This means that the UNDS should build proper expertise on the SDGs in a balanced way and make it available for countries to access it, guided by their own priorities and national ownership.

4. Not all overlaps are necessarily bad; some may be needed when undertaking joint efforts. In this case, the outline will be a basis to ensure a good division of labor based on collaboration and synergies between entities, in line with their mandates. Therefore, it is also important to highlight and strengthen the Resident Coordinators System to achieve a more coherent and coordinated UNDS.

5. I would like to note that the QCPR resolution does not request the outline to be made "at all levels." It is crucial to avoid expanding the outline to issues that, however important, do not integrate the mandate given by States in paragraph 19 of the QCPR resolution, such as country presence, whose models may vary between entities, according to their mandates and business models, and should be kept flexible to address countries needs and priorities. The outline is also not expected to address funding issues.

6. The outline should be carried in the most objective, simple and clear way possible. Functions and capacities cannot be listed as a rigid and top-down straight jacket that could jeopardize the necessary programming flexibilities at country level. Nevertheless, it is crucial to make evident the comparative advantages and actual mandates of each entity to allow the UNDS to respond to national challenges in the best suitable way.

7. One word on the Strategic Plans: the Group expects the process of elaboration of the entities' Strategic Plans to be transparent and inclusive, providing the timely and universal dissemination of documents to all States, including observers of the Executive Boards. These plans should be aligned with the 2030 Agenda and capture the full range of the QCPR policy orientations, including the emphasis on poverty eradication, capacity development, south-south cooperation and national ownership. Finally, they cannot prejudge the results of the consideration of the upcoming Secretary-General reports by States.

Day 2- Wednesday, 1 March

Rethinking the funding and financing strategies of the UN development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda.

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China I would like to thank the panellists for their presentations. We like to highlight the following aspects:

1. The QCPR stressed the need for adequate quantity and quality of voluntary funding for the operational activities for development. Core resources remain the bedrock of the system. Non-core resources represent an important contribution as a complement, and not a substitute for, core resources.

2. G77 and China express our deep concern at the continuing and accelerated decline in core, as well as at the growing imbalance between core and non-core funding. The entities of the UNDS, through their governing bodies, must take concrete steps to address this negative trend.

3. G77 and China would like to express our concern with the emphasis given in this segment to "rethinking the funding architecture" by "taking the next steps to better align funding modalities with functions," with emphasis on the "normative function" as the one singled out as deserving "adequate funding." While the QCPR resolution expresses concern with the current funding trends, in particular, the decline of core contributions and the imbalance with non-core, and requests donor countries and the system to address them, it does not request a paramount shift in funding architecture.

4. The notion of "alignment of funding modalities with the functions of the UNDS", that made its way into paragraph 20, remains as controversial and unclear today as during the negotiations. The questions raised by the Group back then remain unanswered, particularly on the benefit (if any) of the proposed alignment; the criteria that would be used to implement it; its feasibility; and its impact on current programming in developing countries at country level.

5. As the Group has stated several times, the functions in support of capacity development mentioned in paragraph 21 of the QCPR resolution are illustrative and non-exhaustive, and do not relate with funding streams. We want the funding of the UNDS to be more flexible, not more fragmented in such a breakdown. For a simple reason: this would imply a complete change (for worse) in what we understand as operational activities for development, in how the entities operate, in how programming happens.

6. While the QCPR mentions, and I quote, "assisting countries through normative support, as appropriate, in the context of operational activities for development" as one of the functions performed by the UNDS in support of capacity development, it does not attribute to it a separate funding track, or any priority in funding. This emphasis in normative does not reflect the balance of the resolution.

7. Any options in funding issues to be proposed for consideration of States in 2018, in the context of paragraph 20, will be carefully assessed by the Group taking into account its consistency with the general guidelines of QCPR and with the needs and priorities of developing countries.

Improving the governance and coordination of the UN development system

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China I would like to thank the panellists for their presentations. We like to highlight the following aspects:

1. The General Assembly decided to improve the governance, accountability and overall coordination of the entities of the UNDS and their oversight by Member States. We expect the upcoming Secretary General's report to elaborate on all these elements, which go beyond the important aspects of coordination of coherence.

The issue is: the system must respond better to countries at all levels, including the more systemic discussions at headquarters, including in the Chief Executives Board.

2. In order to "work as a system," the UNDS needs a strong follow-up of the QCPR implementation by the ECOSOC and the General Assembly. This is the backdrop against which the ECOSOC should work to "improve its role in providing overall guidance to and coordination of the United Nations development system." This segment is a good beginning in that direction.

3. Great attention should be paid, across the UNDS, to the QCPR provisions on gender balance and on the principles of equitable geographical representation and no-monopoly regarding appointments and recruitment in the UNDS.

4. Developing countries look forward to engage with other States in the Executive Boards in discussions on how to operationalize the QCPR provisions on working methods. It is also important to take advantage of the Executive boards as scenarios to exchange good practices, based on the lessons learned from Member States. In this sense, it is considered pertinent that the exercises of monitoring and evaluation of the different Country Programs are carried out in a timely manner.

5. Moreover, the QCPR stressed the importance of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the resident coordination system to better coordinate the United Nations Country Teams and to work collaboratively toward the implementation of the UNDAFs, in order to better respond to national plans and strategies. We look forward for the comprehensive proposal to be prepared by the Secretary-General on further improvements the system.

Moving the QCPR forward at field level: Creating a common back office to function as a system

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China I would like to thank the panellists for their presentations. We like to highlight the following aspects:

1. The general guidelines established in the QCPR should be embedded in the activities of the entities of the UNDS as a whole, at all levels. We like to stress the importance of the full alignment of operational activities for development at the country level with national development plans and strategies to strengthen national ownership and leadership at all stages.

2. We will like to emphasis, that as stated in the QCPR resolution, there is no "one size fits all" approach to development; and that the entities of the United Nations development system have specific experience and expertise, derived from and in line with their mandates and strategic plans. Stresses in this regard that improvement of coordination and coherence at all levels should be undertaken in a manner that recognizes their respective mandates, roles and their unique expertise;

3. The QCPR stressed the importance of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the resident coordination system to better coordinate the United Nations Country Teams and to work collaboratively toward the implementation of the UNDAFs, in order to better respond to national plans and strategies. These provisions, together with others on the operational functioning of the system, have in common the focus on national ownership and leadership as the lynchpin for activities at the country level.

4. The QCPR requested the United Nations country teams, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, to present annual reports to the programme country Governments on the results achieved by the United Nations country team as a whole, structured around the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, or equivalent planning framework, and linked to national development results.

5. G77 and China would like to reiterate that the QCPR requests the United Nations development system to continue to support all programme countries, regardless of which modality for the delivery of assistance they prefer to adopt, in accordance with their development plans and priorities.

Day 3- Thursday, 2 March

From coordinated to integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda: the development, humanitarian and peacebuilding nexus

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly and the panellists for their presentations. We like to highlight the following aspects:

1. The QCPR calls the entities of the UNDS, in full compliance with their respective mandates, to enhance coordination with humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding efforts at the national level in countries facing humanitarian emergencies and in countries in conflict and post-conflict situations. When implementing this provision, the entities should respect the followings:

2. Firstly, the QCPR does not call for an integration between these activities. Coordination and synergies can and should be enhanced respecting the different mandates and frameworks under which they are carried out. The QCPR does not push forward the model "One Country, One Framework", per se in all situations.

3. Secondly, the QCPR highlights that this coordination is even more relevant in countries facing humanitarian and conflict situations, and that the UNDS should always act in accordance with their national plans and priorities.

4. Thirdly, the QCPR resolution treats separately the coordination between development and humanitarian and between development and peacebuilding. This distinction is justified in order to avoid politicizing the operational activities for development, in particular, Strategic Plans and Country Programmes Documents, and also humanitarian assistance, whose neutrality is critical.

5. In countries facing humanitarian emergencies, the QCPR highlights the need to work collaboratively to move beyond short-term assistance towards contributing to longer-term development gains, including by engaging, as appropriate, in joint risk analysis, needs assessments, practice response and a coherent multi-year timeframe, with the aim of reducing need, vulnerability and risk over time.

6. In countries in conflict and post-conflict situations, the QCPR acknowledges that the development work of the entities of the UNDS can contribute to sustaining peace. In other words, the QCPR retains the development focus of the UNDS and does not expand its mandate to peace and security aspects. Development - and by that, we mean all SDGs, not only SDG16 - is indeed a great contribution to peace, but it is not the only condition for peace. Peace and security are above all a political responsibility, and this endeavor belongs to the Security Council, not to the UNDS.

7. These complexities are better captured in paragraph 24 of the QCPR than in 14, in relation to which G77 and China have already expressed strong concern. This paragraph mixes all activities without the proper caveats, such as respect for national plans and priorities, international law, resolution 46/182 and different mandates within the United Nations system. Additionally, paragraph 14 refers to a "comprehensive whole-of-system response" that goes much beyond the scope of operational activities for development, which is the very subject of QCPR.

Integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda: the role of the UNDS in LDCs, LLDCs, SIDSs and countries emerging from conflict

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China I would like to thank the panellists for their presentations. We like to highlight the following aspects:

1. Diversity is an important feature of developing countries and of our Group. We are united in this diversity, and committed to overcome together, in solidarity, our development challenges, some of which were highlighted by the distinguished panelists.

2. The UNDS has a role to play in supporting these efforts in a tailored and flexible manner, responding to different national realities, capacities, and levels of development in developing countries.

3. The QCPR calls upon the United Nations development system to continue to support developing countries in their efforts to achieve internationally agreed development goals and their development objectives. The resolution also requests the system to address the special challenges facing the most vulnerable countries and, in particular, African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, the need for special attention to countries in conflict and post-conflict situations and countries and peoples under foreign occupation, as well as the specific challenges facing the middle-income countries, in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

4. In this regard, the QCPR urges the United Nations development system to continue to enhance its support for the implementation of relevant programmes of action.

5. We would like to highlight that, according to the QCPR, the UNDS must support countries and peoples under foreign occupation in overcoming development challenges, in line with the 2030 Agenda and its commitment to leave no one behind.

6. Finally, We would like to recall that UNDAFs and country programmes should be elaborated and implemented under each country's national ownership and leadership, and in line their individual needs and priorities.

Integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda: the role of the UNDS in addressing the needs and diverse challenges of Middle-Income Countries

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China I would like to thank the panellists for their presentations. We like to highlight the following aspects:

1. The QCPR resolution calls upon the entities of the United Nations development system, within their respective mandates, to mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals in their strategic planning documents and their work at all levels, taking into account that the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development and should, therefore, continue to be the highest priority for and underlying objective of the operational activities of the United Nations development system.

2. We reemphasize the need to address poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon. We stress the importance of using multidimensional indicators and developing transparent measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product in order to effectively reflect the reality of the populations of all developing countries in order to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, and reduce inequality everywhere, according to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We should recognize the multidimensional nature of poverty and the economic, social and environmental dimensions of domestic output and structural gaps at all levels.

3. Despite notable reductions in poverty, middle-income countries are still home to 73 percent of the world's people living in poverty and inequalities and gaps still remain. It is therefore important that the UNDS improve its support to different country contexts, including how to provide efficient, effective, more coordinated and better and focused support to middle-income countries.

4. As we stated in the previous panel, the QCPR calls upon the United Nations development system to continue to support developing countries in their efforts to achieve internationally agreed development goals and their development objectives. In this sense, the resolution also requests the system to address the specific challenges facing the middle-income countries, in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

5. Finally, I would like to recall that UNDAFs and country programmes should be elaborated and implemented under each country's national ownership and leadership, and in line their individual needs and priorities.