STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. MOHAMED FOUAD, COUNSELOR AT THE PERMANENT MISSION OF EGYPT TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 142: REPORT OF THE JOINT INSPECTION UNIT FOR 2017, PROGRAM OF WORK FOR 2018, AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE DURING THE FIRST PART OF THE RESUMED SEVENTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 14 March 2018)

Mr. Chair,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on Agenda item 142: Joint Inspection Unit.

Allow me first to thank Mr. Jorge Flores Callejas Vice-Chair of the Joint Inspection Unit, for introducing the Report of the Unit for 2017 and program of work for 2018. I would like also to thank Ms. Simona Petrova, Director, Secretariat of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, for introducing the Secretary-General's related notes.

I would like to commend in this regard the contribution of the JIU to our endeavors for an efficient, well-functioning United Nations and international organizations, capable of discharging their mandate and serve humanity.

Mr. Chair,

The Group has thoroughly examined the reports submitted by the JIU and would like to highlight the following points in this regard:

1- The Group pays special attention to the need to maximize benefits and efficiencies of the auditing and review activities carried out by the three oversight bodies of the system namely the JIU, OIOS and BoA. It reiterates in this regard the importance of enhancing coordination especially with respect to program of work and avoiding overlap among these bodies. The Group will be interested in seeking more clarifications regarding efforts exerted to achieve these objectives.

2- The Group takes note of the filling of the key position of Executive Secretary after a long gap as well as the two vacant senior posts in the secretariat of the Unit and hopes that this will further enable the Unit to better discharge its mandate. The Group is also pleased with the increase in number of women inspectors as well as the number of women at the level of professional posts supporting the work of inspectors almost achieving gender parity.

3- Furthermore, the Group takes note of the conclusion of 11 reports in 2017 that addressed various areas of the work of a wide array of organizations. Each of which includes specific actionable recommendations that would help enhancing the effectiveness of the entities being appraised in discharging their respective mandates. We especially commend the review carried out by the Unit of UNIDO, which highlighted, among other things, two emerging trends frequently encountered in other agencies, namely the decline in regular budget resources and the rise in earmarked voluntary contribution. Both have risk implications for governance, financial sustainability, and management functions, which necessitate thorough reflection of the committee.

4- The Group will also be interested to examine the review of the acceptance and implementation of JIU's recommendations by organizations. It underscores in this context the importance of achieving maximum benefit realization of the valuable work of the Unit. Furthermore, the Group looks forward to considering various issues contained therein in order to explore ways and means to improve the efficiency of the work of the Unit and its impact on the overall UN wide system. The Group is particularly concerned with the low rate of acceptance and implementation of recommendations by some organizations and will seek clarification regarding the background thereof as well the precipitating factors that led to that outcome and how to reverse that trend.

5- With respect to the 2018 program of work of the Unit, the Group appreciates the diversity of the projects that will be undertaken as well as the focus on issues of special importance to the whole membership such as the organizational and managerial changes in the United Nations system. The Group emphasizes in this regard the need to enhance the capacity of the United Nations system in managing change. This is particularly pertinent taking into consideration the various reforms and restructuring proposals of the secretariat and the imperative to reposition the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda.

Mr. Chair,

6- The Group commends the progress achieved in implementing relevant GA resolutions regarding maintaining a well-functioning web-based system for tracking up-to-date information on the status of the implementation of recommendations of the Unit. It looks forward to the completion of the migration of the web-based tracking system and the Unit's website to platforms managed by the Secretariat in 2018.

7- In conclusion, Mr. Chair, the Group of 77 and China would like to assure you of its readiness to engage constructively in the upcoming discussions with the aim of concluding this important agenda item in a timely fashion.

I thank you, Mr. Chairperson.