Mr. Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the review of the funding and governance of the Resident Coordinator system.

The Group thanks the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed and the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Ms. Juliana Gaspar Ruas, for introducing their respective reports.

The Group reaffirms the central role of a reinvigorated Resident Coordinator system within the repositioned United Nations development system. Effective coordination is essential to aligning United Nations capacities with national priorities, facilitating access to expertise and mobilizing partnerships and resources for sustainable development. Its value must ultimately be measured by the support it provides to programme countries in advancing towards the Sustainable Development Goals and eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions. The Group also underscores the importance of equitable geographical representation among Resident Coordinators and other staff within the system.

National ownership and leadership must remain at the centre of these efforts. The United Nations development system must respond to the priorities identified by programme countries, in full consultation with their Governments and in accordance with nationally agreed cooperation frameworks. Adjustments to coordination arrangements should strengthen national capacities and the ability of countries to draw upon the collective expertise of the United Nations system.

The Group underscores that there can be no one-size-fits-all approach. Coordination capacities must reflect the diverse needs, circumstances and development challenges of programme countries. Particular attention must be paid to the specific needs of least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, while also addressing the challenges faced by middle-income countries. For countries served by multi-country offices, geographical dispersion and limited access to specialized expertise make responsive and sustained support particularly important.

Mr. Chair,

The Group remains concerned about persistent funding shortfalls and their implications for the continuity and effectiveness of development coordination. We reiterate the importance of providing the adequate tools to the United Nations Development System and its resident coordinator system, in particular the necessary funding to deliver better in support of the needs and priorities of programme countries.

Despite the decline in funding, the Group emphasizes the continuing importance of voluntary funding within the broader financing of the United Nations development system. Any changes to the established hybrid financing model, including the use of assessed contributions, should not diminish the responsibility of major donor countries to sustain and strengthen their support. Efforts to broaden the funding base, including through innovative mechanisms and creative solutions, should complement, rather than substitute for, the fulfilment of these responsibilities. The Group urges developed countries to fully implement their official development assistance commitments. It also urges donor countries and encourages other contributors to maintain and substantially increase their core contributions to the United Nations development system through predictable, sustained and multi-year funding, consistent with the full implementation of the commitments made in the Funding Compact.

Against this background, the Group will examine the proposed funding and governance arrangements in an open, inclusive and comprehensive manner. Our consideration of a revised financing model, country-specific office configurations and strengthened accountability arrangements must be guided by the requirements of effective mandate delivery and the needs of programme countries. Clear and timely information on the proposed reforms, including their operational implications, financial sustainability and expected contribution to results, will be essential to enabling Member States to make informed decisions.

Funding must also be accompanied by transparency, accountability and effective oversight. The Group attaches importance to clearly defined roles and responsibilities at the global, regional and country levels, accountability to programme countries, and transparent reporting on performance, results and the use of resources. In this regard, the relationship between ECOSOC's review of performance and the General Assembly's consideration of resource requirements through the Fifth Committee and other appropriate relevant committees merits particular attention, with a view to strengthening accountability and demonstrable results.

Mr. Chair,

Our shared objective must remain a United Nations development system that provides coherent, reliable and effective support in accordance with national priorities. The Group of 77 and China stands ready to engage constructively in the consideration of these reports, with a view to advancing arrangements that strengthen development coordination, safeguard accountability and serve the long-term interests of programme countries.

I thank you.