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

Therefore, the Group of 77 and China stresses that operational activities for development constitute the core development function of this system. We also reaffirm that operational activities for development must remain firmly focused on poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions as its overarching objective of the United Nations development system. Therefore, these activities must remain country-driven, grant-based, universal, and voluntary, and must fully respect the national ownership, leadership, and policy space of programme countries. The activities should also be carried out for the benefit of recipient countries at their request.

Madam Chair,

The widening financing gaps faced by developing countries amid multiple and interconnected global crises, including debt vulnerabilities, climate change, food insecurity and growing inequalities, continues to weaken developing countries' ability to advance sustainable development and achieve the sustainable development goals.

We remain deeply concerned by the persistent funding challenges including the declining share of core resources and the growing dependence on earmarked funding, which undermines the coherence, neutrality, and effectiveness of the UN development system. The Group therefore continues to call for adequate, predictable, and flexible funding including through the funding arrangements model established by the General Assembly, such as the coordination levy, cost-sharing among United Nations development system entities, as well as voluntary, predictable and multi-year contributions to the dedicated trust fund. Any financing arrangement should not be at the expense of developing countries.

The Group reiterates that the primary purpose of the Resident Coordinator system is to support sustainable development in programme countries. Therefore, the Group urges that the Resident Coordinator system and country teams be equipped with the necessary skills and resources to deliver coherent, demand-driven support aligned with national priorities. We underline that efficiency gains achieved through system-wide coherence must be redirected to strengthen operational capacities for development on the ground.

Item 22 (b): South-South Cooperation for Development

Madam Chair,

The Group reiterates that South-South cooperation is a vital and growing pillar of international development cooperation. Rooted in solidarity and mutual benefit, it promotes the exchange of experiences, technologies, and resources among developing countries.

Therefore, we look forward to the forthcoming intergovernmental review of the implementation of the Buenos Aires outcome document of the second High-Level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation to be held next year. We call on countries to use it as an opportunity to assess progress achieved, identify gaps and challenges and provide strategic guidance on its future direction in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
At the same time, while recognizing its increasing impact, the Group stresses that South-South cooperation is not a substitute for North-South cooperation, but a complement that must be supported by strengthened means of implementation, particularly in financing, capacity-building, and technology transfer.

The Group calls for enhanced institutional support from the United Nations system to maximize the contribution of South-South and triangular cooperation toward the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, national priorities, and the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions.

Madam Chair,

The Group will table two resolutions under this agenda item discussed today. The Group stands ready to engage actively and constructively in the discussions and negotiations of these resolutions.

In closing, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with countries in special situations and its firm commitment to a reinvigorated, equitable, and development-oriented United Nations system that leaves no country and no one behind.