Mr. President
Madam Deputy Secretary-General,
Distinguished Excellencies, Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen

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

2. The Group thanks the Deputy Secretary-General, in her capacity as Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, for the presentation of the report on the Development Coordination Office and the Resident Coordinator system.

3. The Group reaffirms its strong commitment to a strengthened, accountable, transparent, effective and development-oriented United Nations development system that fully supports developing countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and nationally determined development priorities.

4. The Group reiterates that the repositioning of the United Nations development system, including the Resident Coordinator system, must remain firmly guided by the mandates provided by Member States, particularly General Assembly resolutions 72/279, 75/233, 79/226 and other relevant resolutions on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review.

5. We recognize the important coordinating role played by Resident Coordinators in supporting programme countries, including through enhanced coherence, integrated policy support, coordination of United Nations country teams, and support for countries in addressing complex and multidimensional development challenges.

6. In this regard, the Group takes note of the efforts outlined in the report to strengthen support to programme countries through more integrated cooperation frameworks, joint programming, pooled funding mechanisms, and enhanced coordination capacities at the country level. We also note the increased emphasis on data, digital transformation and policy support capacities within the Resident Coordinator system. These efforts should contribute to strengthening national capacities and supporting nationally identified development priorities.

7. The Group further notes the report's reference to the role of Resident Coordinators in supporting countries facing crises and multidimensional vulnerabilities. Prioritization of emergency responses must not come at the expense of immediate and long-term development investments, as this undermines the ability to address root causes of crises.

8. At the same time, the Group stresses that the Resident Coordinators must remain impartial, objective, transparent and accountable to Member States.

9. The Group underscores that the primary purpose of the Resident Coordinator system is to support sustainable development in programme countries. The system should therefore avoid mandate overlap, duplication and unnecessary reporting burdens, while ensuring that development functions are not diverted from their core objectives.

10. The Group takes note of the information contained in the report regarding the functioning and financing of the Development Coordination Office and the Resident Coordinator system. We reiterate our longstanding concern regarding the persistent funding challenges affecting the Resident Coordinator system and stress the importance of ensuring predictable, transparent and sustainable financing through the funding model established by the General Assembly, namely the coordination levy, cost-sharing among United Nations development system entities, and voluntary, predictable and multi-year contributions to the dedicated trust fund. Any financing arrangement should not be at the expense of developing countries

11. The Group notes the continued efforts to advance efficiencies across the UN development system, including through common business operations, shared services and common premises, as reflected in the report. While such measures may contribute to greater coherence and efficiency, these efforts should remain flexible, country-specific and driven by operational effectiveness, without creating additional burdens for programme countries or reducing the mandates and capacities of individual entities.

12. The Group stresses that the reform of the United Nations development system should contribute to more efficient and effective support to developing countries, including by reducing fragmentation, minimizing transaction costs, and strengthening system-wide coherence at the country level.

13. The Group further emphasizes that resources allocated to coordination must not come at the expense of resources dedicated to operational activities for development. Development resources must remain sufficient, stable and responsive to the needs and priorities of programme countries.

14. We underline the importance of enhancing the quality, effectiveness and accountability of Resident Coordinators, including through improved geographical representation and gender balance, particularly from developing countries, while ensuring adequate expertise and understanding of national and regional development contexts.

15. The Group also emphasizes the need for stronger transparency in the performance assessment framework of Resident Coordinators and greater clarity regarding the division of responsibilities among Resident Coordinators, United Nations country teams and the Development Coordination Office.

16. The Group recalls the importance of the Funding Compact as an instrument to strengthen the effectiveness and sustainability of the United Nations development system. In this regard, we stress the need for Member States and the United Nations system to fulfil their respective commitments, including the provision of adequate, predictable and flexible funding for operational activities for development.

17. We also reaffirm that operational activities for development must remain firmly focused on poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions as the overarching objective of the United Nations development system.

18. The Group remains concerned about the widening financing gaps faced by developing countries amid multiple and interconnected global crises, including debt vulnerabilities, climate change, food insecurity and growing inequalities. In this context, the United Nations development system must be adequately equipped to support developing countries in advancing sustainable development.

19. We reiterate the importance of preserving the intergovernmental oversight of the repositioning of the UN development system through the General Assembly and ECOSOC, and stress that all reform efforts must remain responsive to the guidance and priorities established by Member States.

Mr. President, Madam Deputy Secretary-General,

21. The Group of 77 and China remains committed to engaging constructively in discussions on strengthening the Resident Coordinator system and the Development Coordination Office, with a view to ensuring that the United Nations development system delivers concrete, effective and nationally owned support to developing countries.

I thank you.