Madam Deputy Secretary-General,
Distinguished Delegates

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

2. The G77 and China would like to thank you, Madam Deputy Secretary-General, for convening this virtual briefing. Your presence and engagement today, despite the very difficult situation we are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic – underscore your personal commitment and that of the Secretary-General to deliver on the repositioning of the UN Development System.

Madam Deputy Secretary-General,

3. We acknowledge receipt of the background materials circulated yesterday and we thank you and the Secretariat team for circulating them. They are useful and substantive documents. However, we are still in the process of studying them and will not be able to provide detailed comments today. In this regard, we would appreciate if future documents could be circulated well in advance of the briefing, so that the G77 and China will have time to consult, coordinate and present our views to you and the wider membership. The G77 and China would therefore like to request a follow-up meeting, beyond today’s briefing, so that we can provide detailed feedback on the documents. We believe that such substantive consultations will better inform the preparation of the relevant reports in the lead-up to the Operational Activities Segment, including the Secretary-General’s report on the QCPR. Nonetheless, the G77 and China would like to use this opportunity to reiterate several key positions on the repositioning and the QCPR.

4. First, the G77 and China remains concerned about some aspects of the repositioning of regional assets. While we appreciate the work of the Secretariat to provide more details about several region-specific workplans to guide the work of the Regional Collaborative Platforms and the Issue-Based Coalitions, we look forward to receiving the mandated options for the reorganization of the United Nations presence at the regional level for our consideration and approval. We would like these options to be available on a region-by-region basis, as this is important to address region specificity and for the full and effective functioning of the UN System as a whole.

5. Second, on the MCO review, the G77 and China wishes to reiterate the call to the Secretary-General to continue consultations with the concerned countries at all levels. Further monitoring and reporting of the new arrangements will be required subsequently and any agreed recommendations must better meet the needs of the countries under MCO arrangements in a sustainable and effective manner. These arrangements must be based on clear, predictable and adequate financing in order to bolster their effectiveness and stability. It would also be helpful for us to have a clearer idea of the criteria for establishing an MCO.

6. Lastly, the G77 and China believes that any agreement or endorsement by Member States of the recommendations for the repositioning of regional assets and the MCO review must conclude in the General Assembly after full discussion at the ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment. Notwithstanding ECOSOC’s role in providing technical guidance, support and accountability, we wish to reiterate the central role of the General Assembly in discussing and deciding on matters pertaining to the QCPR and Operational Activities for Development. We view the General Assembly as important for developing key system-wide strategic policy orientations and operational modalities for the UN Development System, as well as for the formulation and approval of policy matters.

Madam Deputy Secretary-General,

7. The G77 and China wishes to reiterate our commitment to work closely and constructively with you and the Secretary-General to deliver all the outstanding mandates in the repositioning process. As we start the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, an effective and demand driven UN Development System will be crucial to support programme countries in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda. As we stated at your last briefing, the G77 and China remains available for a dedicated briefing by the Secretariat. Such a briefing will facilitate stronger and more detailed engagement between programme countries and the UN Development System.

I thank you.