Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The Group thanks the Secretary-General for his report on the implementation of General Assembly resolution 79/226 on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system. We also thank the Deputy Secretary-General, and through her, the ASG for Development Coordination and all entities of the United Nations development system for their continued engagement with Member States in advancing the implementation of the QCPR mandates.

The Group reiterates that the QCPR remains the primary policy instrument through which the General Assembly provides system-wide guidance to the United Nations development system. We reaffirm the central role of the General Assembly in setting broad policy orientations for operational activities for development, while ECOSOC serves as the principal platform for coordination, guidance, oversight and accountability in the follow-up to QCPR implementation.

The Group recognizes the efforts undertaken across the United Nations development system, since 2018 in the context of the implementation of resolution 72/279 and during the first year of implementation of the current QCPR cycle through resolution 79/226, particularly in supporting programme countries in advancing the 2030 Agenda and national priorities in a context marked by multiple and interlinked global crises, constrained fiscal space, growing debt burdens, climate impacts, and persistent inequalities.

At the same time, the Group agrees with the report that major challenges remain in ensuring that the United Nations development system, including the Resident Coordinator system, is adequately funded, responsive to national priorities, and fully aligned with the principles established by Member States in the QCPR.

The Group reiterates that eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, remains the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. In this regard, the United Nations development system must continue to support programme countries, upon their request, in accordance with national development plans, priorities and needs.

The Group stresses that operational activities for development must remain objective, transparent, accountable, non-conditional and free from politicization.

The Group takes note of the progress reported in strengthening coordination at country level, including through the resident coordinator system and the implementation of the National Cooperation Frameworks. We recognize the important contribution of Resident Coordinators in supporting coherent and responsive assistance to programme countries in line with national priorities and needs. The Group also underscores the importance of addressing the financial sustainability of the resident coordinator system in a transparent, predictable, adequate and equitable manner, without negatively affecting developing countries and resources available for programme activities at the country level. The resident coordinator system should continue to strengthen support to programme countries while preserving effective country-level coordination capacities. The resident coordinator system and the wider United Nations development system must operate in full conformity with national development priorities and mandates established by intergovernmental bodies.

The Group remains concerned about the persistent imbalance between core and non-core resources of the United Nations development system. The continued decline in predictable and flexible core funding undermines the multilateral nature, effectiveness and strategic coherence of operational activities for development. In this regard, we reiterate the need for Member States to substantially increase core contributions to the United Nations development system and to improve the quality, predictability and adequacy of funding. We further stress that earmarked and tightly conditioned funding should not distort mandates, priorities or governance processes established by Member States.

Mr. President,

The United Nations development system should continue enhancing its tailored and differentiated support to developing countries, including countries in special situations, consistent with their national circumstances and priorities. The Group stresses the importance of determining the presence and composition of UN country teams based on national priorities, country needs and the Cooperation Framework, in line with General Assembly resolution 72/279.

The Group also notes the need of ensuring access to the full range of expertise available across the UN development system, including through strengthened complementarities between country, regional and global capacities, in support of national priorities and needs.

As we approach the final years for implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Group stresses that the United Nations development system must intensify its support to programme countries to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and national priorities. This requires strengthened multilateral cooperation, fulfillment of official development assistance commitments, enhanced access to concessional financing, debt sustainability measures, technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, and capacity-building support.

The Group further stresses the need to strengthen the development dimension throughout the United Nations system and to ensure that development remains a central pillar of the Organization's work. Efforts aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness across the system must fully respect intergovernmental mandates and the distinct mandates of individual entities.

The Group notes the report's references to system-wide efficiency efforts and ongoing discussions related to the future functioning of the United Nations system. In this regard, we reiterate that all reform initiatives, including in the context of the UN80 initiative, must be Member State-led, transparent and inclusive, and must deliver greater impact on the ground for Member States and the people we serve, and preserve the development focus and operational capacities of the United Nations development system, particularly at the country level. The Group will continue to engage constructively in all relevant UN80 deliberations, while wishes to reiterate that any reform proposal should put the views, needs, and priorities of programme countries at the centre nor jeopardize long-standing country-level work carried out by UN development entities.

The Group also reiterates the importance of adequate representation of developing countries in the staffing of the United Nations development system, including at senior levels, and calls for enhanced geographical diversity and gender balance throughout the system.

Mr. President,

The Group remains committed to engaging constructively in the ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment and in all intergovernmental processes related to the implementation of the QCPR. We look forward to continued dialogue with the Secretary-General and the entities of the United Nations development system to ensure full and timely implementation of resolutions 72/279 and 79/226 in accordance with the priorities and concerns of developing countries.

I thank you.