Mr. Chair,
Madam President of ECOSOC
Secretary-General

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

2. The Group welcomes this opportunity to share our views at the start of this crucial Operational Activities for Development Segment. Given the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, we appreciate the hard work and the resolve to continue the Segment using a virtual platform.

3. We thank the Secretary-General for his report on the Implementation of General Assembly resolution 71/243, which provides a thorough update on the implementation of the 2016 QCPR. We also thank the Deputy Secretary-General and her team for their continuous engagement on the repositioning of the UN Development System and commend the Development Coordination Officer for organizing several briefings for Member States during this process. We also acknowledge the work of DESA and of OHRLLS in advancing our consideration of the issues.

4. For our part, the Group will engage and provide focused interventions on the Secretary-General’s report during this segment. We will circulate a more detailed statement setting out the Group’s perspectives on the issues to be taken up in this segment. We also envisage further dialogue beyond this Segment on certain aspects of the UN Development System with a view to further improving the System.

Mr. Chair,

5. Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is our highest priority and the overarching objective of the UN Development System. Development should therefore be the strategic focus of the repositioning of the System while fully respecting national sovereignty, independence, ownership, and leadership and bearing in mind the different development levels and realities in developing countries.

6. This OAS Segment brings gives us an opportunity to fully consult and resolve outstanding questions on specific aspects of the reform. The Group of 77 and China is committed to moving forward with the remaining mandates, particularly at this time when our countries are grappling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

7. We recognize the role of the Regional Commissions, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The UN Development System must be able to respond to the pandemic without compromising the developmental gains achieved thus far. And to do so, it must enhance coherence and coordination among its entities, avoid duplication, and make greater use of the rich trove of data and analysis produced by the Regional Commissions and by DESA.

8. To move the process forward, The G-77 and China will put forward a short, concise and focused draft resolution that treats specifically with the remaining repositioning mandates of the UN Development System that will require the endorsement by Member States, i.e., the Regional Review and the Multi-Country Office Review. All other issues contained in the Secretary General’s report will be addressed in the QCPR process in the General Assembly.

I thank you