Madame Vice President,I have the honour to deliver the following remarks on behalf of the European Union.
We thank the Chair of the UN Development Group for her thoughts on the RC-system which demonstrate how critical it is to have a high performing RC who is empowered to deliver a coherent, effective and accountable UN development assistance at the country level. The role of the empowered Resident Coordinator is central, for the UN in working with national stakeholders to shape and manage common UN programming, as well as common reporting on results achieved.
The Secretary-General highlights, in his report on the Resident Coordinator system, achievements made to further improve the RC system in this regard. The Management and Accountability System is a particularly important internal management tool to enhance the functioning of the RC system for the UN provide better support to national development efforts. We congratulate the system on this major achievement. This will allow the Resident Coordinator to hold members of the country team accountable to agreed goals, as well as ensuring that the Resident Coordinator is also accountable to the members of the UN Country Team. We now look forward to its implementation. It will be important to ensure that the RC is properly resourced to deliver in a range of different environments, including in crisis and post-crisis situations. Regional Directors Teams are an important part of this process and they must also perform to a high standard. We look to the UN agencies to contribute to and support the RC offices.
Madame Chair,
The EU also underlines the importance the RC-system holds for the Humanitarian Coordinators. “Double-hatting” in humanitarian crises is today the norm. A strong RC is therefore crucial also for a competent and efficient humanitarian leadership.
Finally, the EU join the Chari of the UNDG in her call on the UN agencies to support efforts to attract, develop and retain high performing leaders for RC positions in this regard. What is today the main reason for the difficulties to attract the best candidates for this important job? How can we incentivise better candidates to apply and to stay?
Madame Vice President,
Let me now turn to the issue of Business Practices.
The European Union welcomes the progress towards simplification and harmonization of business practices. We know this is critical for a more effective and efficient UN delivery of development results. We have discussed this issue at many occasions. Now is the time for action.
In furthering of these efforts, it is important to prioritise those practices which are going to yield the greatest efficiencies at country level, and contribute to the delivery of better programmatic results. There are urgent calls from within the UN system in the field to accelerate the modernization and reform process. As we hear today, this includes improving processes for common services, including resource planning, human resources, and system-wide evaluations. It is important to ensure that UN country teams are allowed the necessary flexibility to move forward on common services. Changes at global level should be fully informed by and compatible with the harmonisation efforts at country level. In the same vein, Harmonized human resources procedure across the UN system is needed to provide opportunities for staff mobility.
The EU Member States stand ready to support necessary decisions in the different boards of the UN agencies and consider contributing financially in order to implement this crucial agenda. We would like to know what else member states could do to support action now?
Thank you.