Mr. Vice President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

From the onset, I wish to thank you for your efforts in the preparations thus far for the forthcoming 2026 ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment (OAS), noting that it is the only designated segment in ECOSOC to discuss and address the challenges and gaps the UN development system faces, while providing oversight on that system.

Firstly, the Group of 77 and China reiterates the need for the focus of the OAS to be development-center, with the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions as the guiding light of the development agenda, and therefore the programme should reflect this, especially, considering the immense challenges currently facing the development agenda.

Mr. Vice President,

We also continue to call for the panels to be smaller and more focused, so that they allow for more interactive engagement with the Member States, and to be able to provide responses to any questions and clarifications posed.

With only four years remaining to our 2030 deadline, it would be important that some discussion center around those programme countries that are most likely to be left behind and the way forward.

Mr. Vice President,

The Group attaches great importance to the need to provide sustainable, predictable, and adequate funding to the United Nations Development System and its Resident Coordinator system. We cannot expect the system to operate and deliver the type of service we require to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda with inadequate resources.

In the same vein, we must address other significant obstacles such as debt, climate change and the imposition of unilateral coercive measures, which disproportionately affect developing countries and hinder the work of UN country teams on the ground.

Noting the current geopolitical and financial situation, especially affecting the development pillar, it is crucially important that we discuss this in the context of how the UN development system can implement its mandates from the 2024 QCPR, and therefore, it would be critically important that Member States receive the reports of the Secretary-General and the Chair of the DCO in a timely manner to inform and enrich our discussions.

The Group reiterates its support for the UN80 Initiative and its objectives of enhancing efficiency, coherence, and responsiveness across the UN system. At the same time, we stress that reform efforts must not undermine development mandates, institutional expertise, or equitable geographical representation across all pillars of the United Nations, nor pause or interrupt on the ground delivery. It would therefore be valuable to have a specific dialogue to hear the views and receive detailed information from relevant UN Entities and Resident Coordinators on the UN80 Initiative proposals, including the proposed mergers and alternative options, the UNCT Reconfiguration and the Regional Reset and other major reform proposals, to inform our intergovernmental negotiations.

The Group also calls for a dedicated segment to receive an update on how the relevant UN entities and main stakeholders are implementing the mandates arising from the Sevilla Commitment and supporting efforts by developing States in that regard, while underscoring the importance of its full and timely implementation.

Mr. Vice President, the Group looks forward to receiving your proposed draft programme, and calls for adequate time for it to be reviewed and feedback given before its finalization.

Please be assured, Mr. Vice President, of the Group of 77's constructive, full, and meaningful participation in this matter. You can also be assured that the Group stands ready as the penholder of the draft resolution for the Segment to work with our developed partners to have an action oriented and concise resolution, and calls on them to cooperate to make this year's operational segment a success.

I thank you.