A/72/PV.91 General Assembly

I invite the attention of the General Assembly to draft resolution A/72/L.52, circulated under sub-item (a) of agenda item 24, entitled “Operational activities for development of the United Nations system”. Members will recall that at its second plenary meeting, on 15 September 2017, the General Assembly decided to allocate sub-item (a) of agenda item 24 to the Second Committee. To enable the General Assembly to take action expeditiously on draft resolution A/72/L.52, may I take it that the Assembly wishes to consider sub-item (a) of agenda item 24 directly in plenary meeting and to proceed immediately to its consideration?

As we meet here to consider draft resolution A/72/L.52, on the repositioning of the United Nations development system, allow me to make four very brief points. First, I would like to express my thanks to our co-facilitators, Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum of Algeria and Ambassador Ib Petersen of Denmark. They took on that role knowing it would not be easy. They have spent many hours in negotiations, listening, facilitating, responding and analysing. They have spent many outside them, too, looking for middle ground. The fact that we are here today, considering the draft resolution, means that they have done a terrific job. We all owe them a great debt. Secondly, the process to get here has belonged to the Member States. They were in the driving seat from start to finish, and it is their work that has brought us all here. They came to the table day after day. They asked for clarifications, requested more information, suggested counterproposals and worked to find common ground. I therefore thank them all. Thirdly, I would like to acknowledge something, on which I will be very clear. The draft resolution is not viewed by everyone as the perfect document, but it is a legitimate outcome of a multilateral process. It shows what we are capable of. We can achieve compromise. We can come together to find new opportunities and ways ahead, and we can take steps to move the Organization forward. Fourthly and finally, I would like to say that our work does not end today. There is a lot left to do. That will mean considering the Secretary-General’s implementation plan, which is due before the end of the session. It will also mean turning our attention to funding arrangements and coming together to mobilize badly needed resources. We cannot see our actions today in a vacuum. We must create forward momentum into the ongoing Economic and Social Council review and alignment process, into our discussions on the two other pillars of reform — management and peace and security — and, lastly, into our daily work. Before I conclude, I want to again thank our esteemed and overworked co-facilitators, Ambassador Boukadoum and Ambassador Petersen; our committed Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General; and all of those present as they followed up on the commitments we made in adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, drove the process forward and showed what we are capable of when we use our multilateral system and work together. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/72/L.52. In connection with draft resolution A/72/L.52, I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

This statement is made in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. In order to implement the provisions of draft resolution A/72/L.52, requirements amounting to approximately $255 million would be needed on an annual basis, as communicated in paragraph 80 of the report of the Secretary-General (A/72/684) entitled “Repositioning the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda: our promise for dignity, prosperity and peace on a healthy planet”. The major portion of those requirements would necessitate extrabudgetary resources. As requested in paragraph 11 of the draft resolution, the Secretariat hopes that front-loaded voluntary contributions will be received in 2018 in order to expedite the inception of the reinvigorated resident coordinator system as of 1 January 2019. Under the provisions of paragraph 10 of the draft resolution, relating to funding through the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) cost-sharing arrangement, the Secretariat’s share would be assessed to the programme budget. It is estimated that the Secretariat’s share of the UNDG cost-sharing arrangement relating to 2019 would be in the range of from $13 million to $16 million. The Secretariat is not in a position to provide a detailed statement of programme budget implications prior to the finalization of the implementation plan, as the operationalization of the funding arrangements requires consultations with the United Nations development system entities, as indicated in paragraph 13 of the draft resolution. Should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/72/L.52, in accordance with the established procedures, the requirements relating to the Secretariat’s share of the UNDG cost-sharing arrangement will be submitted to the General Assembly for approval at its seventy-third session as revised estimates for the programme budget for the biennium 2018-2019, in relation to the repositioning of the United Nations development system in the context of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review.

I call on the representative of Algeria in his capacity as first co-facilitator.

In my capacity as first co-facilitator, allow me to sincerely thank all Member States, from the Permanent Representatives to the committed representatives who so firmly and constructively stood in support of an ambitious outcome of our consultations. I am grateful for their resolve to pursue ambitious change and their spirit of compromise to find ways to reach consensus. I am also heartened by their support to Ambassador Petersen and myself as co-facilitators throughout that very complex process. Allow me also to thank Secretary-General António Guterres and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed for their vision and unwavering support along the way. Together with their teams, they have been instrumental in helping Member States to chart the best way towards change. They have been able to translate the calls of the Member States for a more strategic, effective, efficient and accountable United Nations development system into ideas and options for the consideration of Member States. I commend their leadership, and I am truly grateful for their continuing commitment to serving the Governments and peoples of the world. I also take the opportunity to express special thanks to the President of the General Assembly for being a crucial ally and supporter in that process. Your commitment to ensuring a successful outcome and your engagement in brokering consensus, Mr. President, enabled us to agree on the final draft resolution, A/72/L.52. The draft resolution marks the beginning of a new era — a new generation of United Nations country teams, a reinvigorated resident coordinator system and revamped regional support in line with needs at the country level and changes at the global level, for a more integrated and accountable United Nations development system and for Member States to better support that system in its efforts. The draft resolution is a first step in making bold new decisions that require collective work for a smooth transition. We look forward to a regular exchange of ideas throughout the implementation process, refining it as we move ahead, particularly with regard to the implementation plan for the reinvigorated resident-coordinator system, including its funding arrangements. The technical note provided by the Secretariat explaining parts of the draft resolution will be a key contribution to the implementation plan. We are encouraged by the fact that the whole United Nations development system, through the United Nations Development Group, will be fully and constructively engaged in this implementation process. The reviews of the reinvigorated resident-coordinator system during the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly will also be a milestone on the way to building a strong, impartial and empowered system supported by adequate and sustainable funding. With your permission, Mr. President, I would like to express my warmest gratitude to my co-facilitator, Ambassador Petersen of Denmark, and his team for the excellent and constructive cooperation we have enjoyed during the past month. I also wish him a full recovery.

I call on the representative of Denmark in his capacity as second co-facilitator.

I thank Mr. Boukadoum for his kind words. I fully share his view of our excellent cooperation, so I offer my most sincere thanks to him and his team for a a very productive collaboration. This is also not an explanation of vote, but I too would like to reiterate our profound gratitude to all States members of the General Assembly for the active engagement and construction spirit they showed during our recent consultations. I also wish to thank President Lajčák for entrusting us with the task of co-facilitating these negotiations and for his tireless support. We also thank the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary- General, along with their teams, whose tireless efforts to adapt the United Nations development system to today’s needs and challenges in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development have been truly admirable. This has been a unique opportunity, and we feel lucky to have had it. I believe everyone rose to occasion presented. If not a historic day, today is indeed a very important step forward on the long journey towards 2030, which started with our agreement on the Sustainable Development Goals. The draft quadrennial comprehensive policy review resolution before us (A/72/L.52) is another important step on that path. The ambition for change that we adopt today matches the ambition of the new development agenda. We must join forces now to support the implementation of the new draft resolution, in order to ensure that the United Nations development system reaches its full potential so as to provide the best possible support for Member States in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The system we need must be collaborative, coherent, responsive, effective, efficient and accountable. As we know, the clock is ticking. We are already three years into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Through this draft resolution, Member States are calling on the United Nations development system to act on the provisions of the draft resolution as soon as possible. We are confident that with the strong commitment of the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General’s leadership of the United Nations Development Group, and with the resolve of all entities of the United Nations development system, we will be able to live up to the challenges ahead of us. I therefore believe that I speak on behalf of all delegations in committing to supporting the United Nations development system in its efforts. As President Lajčák mentioned, multilateral cooperation is always a balance between optimal efficiency and optimal or maximum legitimacy. While there may be different opinions on the efficiency of these recommendations, I believe we can say that they do indeed have maximum legitimacy because they are supported by all Member States. That gives us the best platform for forging ahead. I also join my co-facilitator in underlining the importance in this process of using the technical notes as guidance in the implementation of the plan for the reinvigorated resident-coordinator system in the context of the reform as a whole, and we look forward to actively participating in those endeavours with all Member States. Let us join forces in making the great ambitions of the 2030 Agenda and of this draft resolution a reality.

I shall now call on those delegations wishing to speak in explanation of position before the adoption. May I remind delegations that explanations of position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Over the past year, one of the United States Government’s highest priorities has been to shine a light on the United Nations and let the American people decide for themselves about the value of the Organization. I know many participants in this Hall feel the same way. Whether their country contributes $1 or 22 per cent of the United Nations budget, we all have to show our citizens that their investment in the United Nations yields results. This is especially true for the United Nations development system, in which the United States is the world’s largest investor. Every year, we contribute $1.7 billion to everything from improving education to empowering women and girls to promoting human rights and the rule of law. The American people do this because we want to work with the United Nations to help make the world a more stable and prosperous place for all of us. Today we are taking an important step towards achieving that goal through the development of a more effective, accountable, responsive and efficient United Nations platform that is fit for purpose. The draft resolution before us (A/72/L.52) changes the way the United Nations organizes and runs its development activities. Member States are giving the Secretary-General new and important responsibilities for overseeing and coordinating the United Nations development work around the world. It now will fall to the Secretary-General to ensure accountability for a more effective and more efficient development system. The United States expects that the reforms we adopt today will lead to less bureaucracy, less overhead, better performance and improved flexibility on the part of United Nations agencies so that they can act quickly when necessary. Implementing these changes will not be easy, especially when we are talking about dozens of United Nations entities with different structures, mandates and funding sources. Moving forward, United Nations agencies will need to focus on their core mandates and comparative advantages and make tough choices about low-priority activities. Completing these reforms will require a commitment on the part of Member States and United Nations staff to seeing this process through to completion. If we are successful, though, we will not just save money; we will create a system that is more responsive to those who need it the most. Today’s draft resolution limits increases in assessed contributions for States Members of the United Nations. This is critical, since it enables us to avoid a more than $200 million increase in the Organization’s regular budget compared to what was first on the table. In Government it is often easy to think that more money is the way to fix a problem, especially when we create something new to solve it, but when we looked closer and got creative, we found that there were other ways to fund the work of the United Nations rather than by asking our taxpayers to shoulder more of the burden. The fact that we came together to adopt this draft resolution by consensus sends a strong positive signal. For that I must take a moment to express our deep gratitude to our co-facilitators, Ambassadors Sabri Boukadoum and Ib Petersen. Together we have committed to empowering the Secretary-General to make important changes. Getting development reform right is a goal that should unite us. The United States appreciates the work of the Secretary- General, the Deputy Secretary-General, their staffs, the co-facilitators and all the Member States whose constructive efforts have brought us this far. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Secretary-General and his team and other Member States to fully realize the value of these changes.

Today we are going to adopt a landmark draft resolution (A/72/L.52) that has the potential to significantly enhance the efficiency and efficacy of the United Nations system’s development outreach efforts. As a developing country and a founding member of the Group of 77, India has long engaged in pursuing the development agenda at the United Nations, including through South-South cooperation. We therefore have a keen interest in ensuring the success of those efforts. The United Nations development system reform is the first of the three sets of reform proposals put forward by the Secretary-General in his first year in office, which began last year. We thank the Secretary- General for presenting the reform proposals, and we also thank the Deputy Secretary-General and her team for their tireless efforts to build consensus. On the one hand, the United Nations development system reform proposals flow from our collective desire to strengthen the United Nations system’s capability to improve its delivery, especially in the context of the much more comprehensive understanding of the global challenges we face, as reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. On the other hand, those proposals have come at a time when the United Nations is staring at a scenario of severe resource constraints. That stark contradiction in required resources versus potentially available resources has been a major fault line in the debate leading up to today. From the start, we have strongly supported the Secretary-General’s proposal to reform the United Nations development system. His proposals for delegating authority and increasing accountability within the United Nations system in line with national priorities were intended to be supported by much enhanced, non-earmarked funding. However, draft resolution A/72/L.52 had to be substantially modified, despite enjoying strong support from an overwhelming majority of the membership of the Assembly. The modalities of the funding envisaged in the current text are very different from the Secretary- General’s original proposal. We are also conscious that the volume of funding and the timetable for its availability remain unclear and uncertain at this stage. The proposed enhancement of cost-sharing by various agencies, levies on earmarked funding and voluntary contributions are all likely to involve considerable uncertainty and possible shortfalls. In that context, we welcome the assurances made on the record by the co-facilitators just now with respect to the technical note that was provided earlier by the Secretariat and forwarded by the co-facilitators in their letter dated 30 April 2018, with a view to serving as a basis for the amended modalities of the funding envisaged in the draft resolution to back the changes in the United Nations development system structure. We have also noted the explanation provided by the United Nations Department for General Assembly and Conference Management just a short while ago. We support the draft resolution and look forward to the implementation report to be presented by the Secretary-General in that regard. We also note that a comprehensive review of the United Nations development system reform will be presented during the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly. We remain committed to constructive engagement with the Secretariat and all our partners in order to see those reforms move ahead. Sustainable development remains the key to collective peace and prosperity in a globalized world, and we hope that the entire membership and the Secretariat will work together to make the United Nations development system stronger so as to assist developing countries in achieving the entire range of the Sustainable Development Goals.

We shall now take a decision on the draft resolution entitled “Repositioning of the United Nations development system in the context of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system”. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/72/L.52?

I now give the floor to the Secretary-General.

I have just arrived from Mali, but I wanted to be here personally to thank everyone here for their leadership, engagement and constructive spirit as representatives of all the States Members of the United Nations. I would like to pay a special tribute to the co-facilitators, Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum, Permanent Representative of Algeria, and Ambassador Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark. Their tireless efforts were absolutely essential to the shared success of the Member States in this intergovernmental process. The adoption today of resolution 72/279 ushers in the most ambitious and comprehensive transformation of the United Nations development system in decades. It sets the foundations for repositioning sustainable development at the heart of the United Nations, and it gives practical meaning to our collective promise to advance the Sustainable Development Goals for everyone, everywhere, with poverty eradication as its first goal, leaving, as we always say, no one behind. That is what this is really about. In the end, reform is about putting in place the mechanisms to make a real difference in the lives of people. The General Assembly has been clear in its mandates to establish a new generation of United Nations country teams and strengthen our investments in our peoples and our planet, in peace and prosperity. National ownership and a strong focus on accountability and results will guide the system every step of the way. Our teams on the ground will now be better able to tailor their presence, capacities, skill sets and overall responses to the priorities of the membership. We will reach out and build stronger partnerships with Governments, but we will also engage with civil society, academia, the private sector and beyond in order to take actions to scale. Our joint planning instruments in countries, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, will better reflect country priorities and needs. Members will be able to count on impartial and empowered resident coordinators with development as their DNA, fully devoted to the needs that must be met to fulfil the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by drawing on experience, skills and knowledge across the system. I am extremely proud of the 129 resident coordinators working hard around the world in 165 countries and, in some cases, against all odds. Being a resident coordinator is one of the most challenging jobs in the United Nations, but the structures we have today at the country level are excessively reliant on personalities and goodwill across a system that does not always reward cooperation. We can now resolve a historic deficit in our coordination function and institutionalize what works, across the board. I count on the support of Member States to adequately and predictably fund the reinvigorated nationally driven, people-centred resident-coordinator system. As representatives know, my preference would have been to fund the resident-coordinator system through the regular budget of the United Nations so as to ensure predictability, sustainability and the ownership of all Member States. The hybrid funding solution put forward by the co-facilitators is the best possible alternative. By combining different sources, it diversifies the funding base and enhances the prospect of adequate and predictable funding. I am very grateful for their work on that. Members can count on the Secretariat and my personal commitment to doing our utmost to ensure the successful implementation of that model. But let us also bear in mind that success will rely heavily on Members’ generosity and sustained commitment. I therefore appeal to them for their immediate support so that we can hit the ground running on 1 January 2019. I am aware that now we need to work on the modalities by which the reinvigorated resident-coordinator system will be operationalized, including its funding arrangements. Before the end of the current session, I will present an implementation plan addressing those questions. We will consult closely with the membership as we develop the implementation plan and move to the transition phase. We will soon enter the fourth year of the 2030 Agenda. We do not have a moment to lose. We are committed to fast-tracking transformation and working closely with the Assembly, and for its members, on behalf of people. Change is never easy, but it can be well- managed and inclusive to ensure smooth transitions and tangible outcomes. That is our commitment. Those present can rely on my leadership and the United Nations development system to step up to meet their ambition. I ask delegations to carry forward their resolve by supporting change through the governing bodies of agencies, funds and programmes, and through their capitals, in their bilateral relationship with each entity. I will move immediately to put in place a transition team, under the leadership of the Deputy Secretary-General, to implement their decisions. The team will work in the same open, transparent and inclusive way we have conducted this process thus far and ensure the inclusion of our funds, programmes and specialized agencies. I thank representatives for their determination and resolve. They have shown that consensus and ambition can go hand in hand. They have done so because a stronger United Nations development system is in our common interest. It means more results for people, and more value for money. Let us build on that achievement. Let us see our efforts through for all those who look to us with hope to better their lives in our increasingly complex world.

I thank the Secretary-General for his statement. Before giving the floor for explanations of position, may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I thank and welcome the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary-General. I have the pleasure of delivering this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China (G-77). The reform of the United Nations development system has now become a matter of necessity that can no longer be delayed. For it to succeed, however, an equally important process of changing the mindset of the working culture within the United Nations system must be initiated. For in order to attain system-wide coherence, we have to build system-wide confidence and mutual trust together. At a time when the international community is facing profound collective challenges, the centrality of development ought to be emphasized. In December 2016, the General Assembly adopted its landmark resolution 71/243 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system. The resolution outlined a road map for Member States to improve the United Nations development system so that it is more strategic, accountable, transparent, effective, efficient and coherent, thereby making it better positioned to support countries in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In that regard, the Secretary-General presented his vision and concrete proposals in his July and December reports (A/72/124 and A/72/684) on the repositioning of the United Nations development system. The President of the General Assembly subsequently appointed two co-facilitators, Mr. Sabri Boukadoum, Permanent Representative of Algeria, and Mr. Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark, to lead the intergovernmental consultations. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the co-facilitators for their strenuous efforts to steer the general membership towards a consensus text. During the course of the past few weeks, the G-77 and China engaged actively and constructively in these negotiations in order to ensure that the draft resolution reflected the best spirit of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review. In that regard, it is important to note that the review is the guiding framework for the implementation of resolution 72/279, including with regard to those issues that have not been explicitly addressed in it. The Group is satisfied with the outcome of these negotiations, as many of our concerns have been incorporated into the text. The resolution retains of the resident-coordinator system’s development focus and the eradication of poverty, in all its forms and dimensions, as its overarching objective. It further guarantees that the purpose of the resident coordinators is the effective and coordinated implementation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) under national ownership. In that regard, we would like to note that the resolution explicitly states that the UNDAFs should be prepared and finalized in full consultation and agreement with national Governments through open and inclusive dialogue between host Governments and the United Nations development system, and in accordance with national development policies, plans, priorities and country needs. It requests the Secretary-General to work through the United Nations Sustainable Development Group and in consultation with the Member States concerned to determine appropriate criteria for the presence and composition of the United Nations country teams, based on countries’ development priorities and long-term needs. In that regard, we would like to note that the criteria to be developed at Headquarters must inform and support, not jeopardize, the essence of the Secretary-General’s proposal, which is to establish a needs-based system. It also states that resident coordinators should report to the Secretary-General and the host Governments on the implementation of the UNDAFs, thereby guaranteeing accountability to national Governments, ensuring national ownership and leadership of development processes, and supporting developing countries in pursuing development paths suited to their own national conditions. Yet it is also important to take this opportunity to raise some of the Group’s concerns. We all have a vested interest in the successful implementation of the resolution, and it is our view that flagging these concerns now and reaching a common understanding on what they entail would facilitate the proper and timely translation of the resolution into actionable commitments for all the governing bodies across the United Nations development system. We note that the States members of the Group will bear the brunt of the costs if the resolution is poorly implemented, with those costs especially felt by the smallest and most vulnerable countries. Throughout this difficult process, we have lived up to our responsibilities. That is our duty. In times to come, we will be emphasizing the need for guaranteeing reciprocal accountability. That is our right. Please allow me to highlight some of our concerns about the implementation of the resolution. First, we must guarantee transparency and inclusiveness when formulating the implementation plan for the inception of the reinvigorated resident- coordinator system. In that regard, the Secretary-General should undertake periodic consultations and provide regular briefings to Member States when formulating the plan, respecting the ideas and thoughts of Member States, especially developing countries. Member States must also have access to the implementation plan and give their input to the Secretary-General. Secondly, we must ensure accountability to Member States. In that regard, the G-77 and China requests the Secretary-General to closely monitor the plan’s implementation on the ground and report back to Member States with regular updates on the progress made. Thirdly, the implementation of the plan should be data-driven. Data needs to be presented to Member States by the Secretariat at every stage of the process. Fourthly, the Fifth Committee procedures must not be bypassed and must be respected at all times. The cost-sharing arrangement envisages that the contributions of the Secretariat will come from the United Nations regular budget. That component of the cost-sharing arrangement must be thoroughly considered in the context of the Fifth Committee within the established rules. Fifthly, the resubmission of the strategic document must be done in alignment with the original mandate of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review. Finally, the Group believes that the technical note circulated to Member States pertaining to the funding of the reinvigorated resident-coordinator system constitutes an integral part of the understanding achieved relating to the adoption of the resolution. In that regard, the technical note should guide the implementation process. The implementation plan must retain the exclusions of the levy on South-South cooperation and local Government contributions, and should not overestimate the potential role of efficiency gains as a source of funding. In conclusion, we would like to note that today’s adoption of resolution 72/279 is the beginning of our collective work on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review process this year. We need the active engagement of all delegations so that we can guarantee the successful implementation of both the review and the resolution to ensure that the United Nations system is better positioned to meet the development needs of us all. We are well aware that the arduous journey that we have embarked on to reposition the United Nations development system is an ongoing reform process, one that requires close cooperation between the Group of 77 and China, along with our partners and the Secretariat. With the adoption of resolution 72/279, we have shown our solidarity in support of enhancing the capacity of the United Nation development system to implement the 2030 Agenda, and we believe that the Secretariat will act according to the letter and spirit of the resolution in supporting developing countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals while fully respecting their national ownership and leadership. Now is the time to deliver on promises. After having delivered that statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I should like to make a brief note that is neither a group position nor a national statement. It is simply a personal remark. Today is 31 May. By fortunate or unfortunate coincidence, I was born on this day, 31 May. The successful implementation of this resolution would be a most precious and appreciated gift.

At the outset, I would like to wish Ambassador Edrees a happy birthday. The Group of African States wishes to align its statement with that just delivered by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The African Group would like to commend the remarkable efforts of the co-facilitators, Mr. Sabri Boukadoum, Permanent Representative of Algeria, and Mr. Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark, who led the intergovernmental consultations on resolution 72/279, on the repositioning of the United Nations development system in the context of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review. The Group also acknowledges the unflinching commitment of the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General to ensuring that the process of reform begins. The African Group also wishes to congratulate all parties, Member States and the Secretary-General and his team on the conclusion of the resolution after constant engagement and dialogue. The African Group believes that there is no better time for the reform of the United Nations development system than now, especially in relation to the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We believe that if any development agenda is to succeed in the United Nations, the entire United Nations development system must be overhauled. We are grateful that to a great extent the resolution has captured the beginning of that change. The African Group recognizes that the resolution is only the first step in the reform process, with the next and most crucial stage being implementation of the reform, which will require further engagement, coordination and commitment. In this regard, the Group calls on Member States to cooperate fully to ensure its smooth implementation. Since Ethiopia is one of the countries that urgently require the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, I wish to underscore that the African Group would like to see an improved, efficient, effective, transparent and needs-based United Nations presence in our countries, with the full cooperation of and in consultation with the national authorities. We acknowledge that it is difficult to separate the issues of development from the current global crises of terrorism, political unrest, migration, climate change and the poverty that is ravaging developing countries. However, we can no longer afford to lag behind in the implementation of the development agenda. We believe that the time is right for this reform. We will take these issues on board carefully and we will address them. I must say that we have made it clear since the beginning of the process that the reform of the United Nations development system is highly important to the African Group, and it was in this regard that, during the negotiations on today’s resolution, the African Group engaged constructively and exercised maximum flexibility throughout the process, both formally and informally, in order to ensure that the resolution embodied the interests and garnered the consensus of all. The Group therefore welcomes the outcome of the negotiations. The resolution underscores that development should remain the focus of the resident-coordinator system, with the eradication of poverty as its central objective. We are pleased that it also guarantees that resident coordinators must serve the purpose of the implementation of the United Nation Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) under national leadership and ownership, noting also that the quadrennial comprehensive policy review is the guiding framework for the implementation of the resolution, including with regard to those issues that it does not explicitly address. In this regard, we would like to reiterate that the resolution explicitly states that the United Nations Development Assistance Framework should be prepared and finalized in full consultation and agreement with national Governments through open and inclusive dialogue between the host Government and the United Nations development system and in accordance with national development policies, priorities, and country needs. To ensure accountability to national Governments and guarantee national ownership and leadership of the development process, the resolution also highlights that resident coordinators should report to the Secretary- General and to host Governments on UNDAF implementation. We believe that this will ensure a more effective United Nations development system. Finally, I reiterate that the African Group is committed to this reform process and will work in close cooperation with the Secretariat to ensure its full implementation.

I have the privilege of delivering this statement on behalf of the least developed countries (LDCs). We align ourselves with the statement just delivered by the representative of Egypt as Chair of the Group of 77 and China. We also wish him a happy birthday. We congratulate all Member States on the successful conclusion of the complex and arduous exercise related to the repositioning of the United Nations development system. We thank the Secretary- General and his team, spearheaded by the Deputy Secretary-General, for their constant engagement with the Member States for an action-oriented and forward- looking resolution with collective ownership. Our co-facilitators deserve special commendation for their tenacity and perseverance, which led to the successful outcome of the negotiations. We are happy to note that resolution 72/279 captures many key priorities of the least developed countries and offers various important provisions that could be leveraged to ensure focused and targeted support to LDCs from the United Nations development system. Now that it is adopted, the resolution will enter the implementation phase. We would like to reiterate that the resolution on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review must be the guiding force during the implementation phase of this resolution. With regard to the LDCs, I want to refer in particular to the relevant paragraphs of the resolution recognizing the need for prioritized allocations for LDCs and support for a predictable graduation process from the United Nations development system. These are crucially important for the LDCs and should be consistently pursued by the United Nations development system. The preparation of a revitalized, strategic, flexible and results- and action-oriented United Nations development system framework in each country, in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is vitally important to LDCs. However, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework in LDCs should fully integrate the Istanbul Programme of Action in a coordinated and synergistic manner. We hope that this will be explicitly elaborated in the implementation plan that the Secretary-General is requested to present to the General Assembly before the end of the seventy-second session. We also expect the resident coordinators and the other senior country representatives in LDCs to have sufficient experience and skills related to the particular challenges and priorities of such countries, as well as the various aspects of the Programme of Action. We would also like to stress that a strong and broader country presence of the United Nations development system is vitally important to LDCs. A reinvigorated, integrated and accountable United Nations development system will go a long way in the implementation of the Programme of Action. The LDCs would not support any reduction in the United Nations development system country presence in their territories. At the same time, the proposal for 50 per cent common premises by 2021 should not mean that LDCs incur any additional financial burdens. As mentioned in the report of the Secretary- General entitled “Repositioning the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda: our promise for dignity, prosperity and peace on a healthy planet” (A/72/684), the under-resourced Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are crucial to accelerating the pace of development in LDCs. We would like to see the implementation of resolution 72/279 according due importance to that particular aspect and making efforts to address it. The United Nations Sustainable Development Group wanted to see adequate, predictable and sustainable funding of the resident-coordinator system by making the necessary funds available through assessed contributions. Unfortunately, we could not reach consensus in that regard in the resolution. However, we are asking the Secretary-General and his team, particularly the agency heads, to play a major role in mobilizing adequate resources for the resident- coordinator system in order to ensure its effective and impartial role at the country level. The proposals of the Secretary-General, such as those for increasing core resources to the level of at least 30 per cent of total contributions in the next five years and doubling both inter-agency pooled funds to a total of $3.4 billion and entity-specific thematic funds to a total of $800 million by 2023, have been duly noted in the resolution. Those quantifiable targets must be regularly followed up, particularly in the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations development system, with a view to ensuring their implementation. Finally, we request that the Secretary-General ensure that the annual report on system-wide support for the SDGs provides disaggregated data and information on LDCs in every chapter and contains a separate section on LDCs that highlights the progress and challenges in such countries. We hope that the efforts made in that process will reach further fruition by ensuring that the reforms that occur in other crucial parts of the system, such as the Economic and Social Council, are aligned such that the system moves and functions as one for the development of all. We look forward to a United Nations development system that effectively complements our own efforts to take development forward in our countries to a new height.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. I would first like to congratulate Ambassador Mohamed Edrees of Egypt on his birthday and to wish him success, good health and personal happiness. We are truly pleased that the General Assembly has decided to adopt by consensus resolution 72/279, on repositioning of the United Nations development system in the context of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system. We see the adoption as a significant initial stage of a long process of change making the United Nations development system more relevant and results-oriented. We would like to warmly thank and congratulate Ambassador Boukadoum of Algeria and Ambassador Petersen of Denmark, as well as their respective teams, on their leadership throughout the complex negotiation process. Without the dedication of the co-facilitators, we would not have been able to achieve this outcome. We would also like to recognize the continuous engagement and leadership of the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General. We hope that the newly adopted resolution will facilitate the realization of their broader reform agenda, as we see the three strands as inextricably intertwined and mutually reinforcing. Their main purpose is to make the United Nations more efficient, more relevant and more responsive to emerging challenges and needs in line with the requirements of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. All those strands are vital to achieving the Secretary-General’s vision for a prevention-focused United Nations. We are convinced that the United Nations development system that will emerge as a result of the implementation of the resolution will be more fit for purpose in terms of supporting Member States in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We fully support the measures foreseen in the resolution aimed at strengthening the function of the resident coordinator and establishing a new generation of United Nations country teams. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of increased coordination, coherence, collaboration, value for money, transparency and accountability. Providing a better independent evaluation of results will be vital if the United Nations is to make a more attractive case to potential and current investors. We stand ready to continue the reform process by engaging actively in the funding dialogue that is to take place this year and in the discussion on the regional dimension of the United Nations development system in 2019. We see the reform of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs as an aspect inseparable from that of the United Nations development system and eagerly await an early update on the issue. We also hope for a successful and ambitious outcome of the discussion on the review of resolution 68/1 on the so-called reform of the Economic and Social Council in order to fully align its work with the 2030 Agenda. Despite the fact that the process leading to the adoption of the resolution before us was not easy, the truly challenging part — the implementation phase — only begins now. The entities that make up the United Nations development system, including the specialized agencies, will play a leading role. We expect them to actively and swiftly engage in that process in support of the reform agenda of the Secretary-General. That is a sine qua non for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It must be a whole-of-United Nations effort across all agencies and at all levels. We encourage the entities of the United Nations development system to contribute by making full use of their expertise and comparative advantages in line with their diverse structures and mandates. We also recognize the responsibilities of the States Members of the United Nations. We will consider not only how we fund the system but also how we engage the system. It is in everyone’s interest that the governance of the entities of the United Nations development system ensures that all Member States have sufficient information on the system-wide and entity-level delivery. We look forward to receiving the updates mandated by the resolution, including, but not limited to, an implementation plan for the inception of a reinvigorated resident-coordinator system, as well as an improved version of the system-wide strategic document that clearly indicates the comparative and collaborative advantages of such parts. It is essential that the implementation of the reforms start as soon as possible and that the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General initiate the transformation of the resident coordinator system in accordance with the provisions of the resolution. We have full confidence in the proposed process ahead. The General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and the United Nations development system as a whole can count on the continuous support and engagement of the EU and its member States in the way forward.

I am honoured to speak on behalf of the States members of the Alliance of Small Island States. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the outset, we would like to thank the co-facilitators, Ambassadors Ib Petersen and Sabri Boukadoum, Permanent Representatives of Denmark and Algeria, respectively, for their dedication and outstanding leadership and stewardship of this very difficult process. Through you, Mr. President, we would also like to thank the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and their team for the reports, information notes and technical papers and, in particular, for their continued consultation and engagement, which were highly appreciated and made it possible for us to get this far. While we are happy to have taken another important step in this long journey, we must be cognizant that we still have a long and winding road ahead of us. And we must forever remember that we cannot do this alone; rather, we must do it together, with collective resolve. The repositioning of the United Nations development system is not a one-pill fix. Instead, it requires careful consideration and strategic moves, especially from programme countries, particularly those further behind, such as the small island developing States and other countries in special situations. This can mean the realization, or not, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for us and, more importantly, our goal of eradicating poverty and improving the lives of every citizen, no matter where they live. We believe in the process of multilateralism and appreciate that within such a process there must be flexibility. However, we must make sure that countries are not forced to be too flexible, to their own detriment. Resolution 72/279 is an example of such an expanded flexibility, for we all know that having a predictable, independent and stable funding mechanism for the resident-coordinator system is paramount. The formula before us is not perfect. Our hope is that the Secretary-General, as required, will review and provide us with funding options to support the type of system we envision to be the best for facilitating countries in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda. As the year 2030 is fast approaching and time becomes essential, we might be tempted to rush things and make ad hoc arrangements, but it is actually the time for us to become more focused and strategic in order to ensure that we do not continue to expend all of our energies on repositioning and readjusting the system, but that we focus on implementing the 2030 Agenda and delivering for our peoples. We therefore continue to call on the Secretary- General to maintain his posture on transparency, accountability and inclusiveness as he tries to formulate the best options for our consideration. We also believe that Member States and all entities of the United Nations development system should be closely consulted in order to ensure a more successful outcome. For those of us serviced out of multi-country offices, the reform process will have to address the challenges associated with this unique operating context. The resolution’s stipulation of a deadline in a framework in which the review is to be conducted is a critical step to setting these countries on the right path to achieving the 2030 Agenda. In this regard, we call on the Secretariat to work closely with the relevant countries to ensure their full participation in formulating the right contexts for those multi-country offices. In looking at the contributions of multi-country offices, this review should address the real impact that they are having on the sustainable development of their members and thus on ensuring the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda. This also brings us to the matter of national ownership and leadership in the context of the United Nations development system and, in particular, in the formulation of the strategic focus of the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks and the United Nations country teams, which must be driven and based on national development priorities. This cannot be overemphasized, as it forms the basis on which true sustainable development must occur. For small island developing States and other countries in special situations that are greatly dependent on the system — and that are among those most likely to be left behind — the whole repositioning of the United Nations development system is a matter of great importance, for it will determine how we proceed with our implementation of the 2030 Agenda. For us, therefore, the stakes are extremely high in our effort to achieve as quickly as possible the best system to facilitate the achievement of our goal. We see the resident-coordinator system as a critical player in this aspect and see merit in delinking the resident coordinators from the resident representatives of the United Nations Development Programme and the need to provide predictable, independent and stable funding for the system. However, we remain concerned about the temporary funding arrangement proposed in the resolution, as it does not provide security. We are hopeful that the Secretary-General will be able to provide us with truly viable funding options in the very near future. In conclusion, we want to request that consideration be given to having the Secretary-General provide his comprehensive and detailed report on the functioning and funding of the United Nations development system prior to the next cycle of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review so we will be to be able to use it to guide the system. This is extremely important, since the year 2030 is only about two review cycles away. We remain committed to this repositioning process and steadfast in our efforts to achieve the Goals set forth in the 2030 Agenda. We will continue to engage constructively. We ask that our requests for clarity and our objections to some proposals not be misinterpreted as wavering in our full commitment to the 2030 Agenda, but rather as a reflection of our resolve to ensure that we can build a strong foundation for propelling its implementation.

I am delivering this explanation of position on behalf of Australia, New Zealand and my own country, Canada. We would first like to congratulate the Secretary-General and his team, and our able facilitators, the Ambassadors of Denmark and Algeria. It was not always an easy road, but we should all be happy about the strong result. The reform of the United Nations system, including the development pillar, is critical to enabling the United Nations to reorder and revolutionize itself to better deliver on the Charter of the United Nations. This is fundamental for a more peaceful and prosperous world. Resolution 72/279, adopted today, is a key part of that reform. Canada, Australia and New Zealand are pleased to welcome it as a vital step in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and one that is grounded in an approach that advances human rights, gender equality and the central principle of leaving no one behind. In welcoming the resolution, Canada, Australia and New Zealand would note that the work does not end here. As significant donors and supporters of the United Nations system, we would like to make three key points. First, a strong, well-informed and practical implementation plan will be critical to the success of this system. Based on the vision of the Secretary- General, Member States have created a new institution, a stand-alone coordination office for an empowered resident coordinator. In order for this transition to be smooth, the implementation plan must build on what has been proven to work in the past. In recognizing this challenge, we must acknowledge that the resident- coordinator function is moving from depending on the infrastructure of a $5 billion organization to that of an office that currently has a staff of 30. In that context, the careful handling and maintenance of relationships will be critical, particularly during the transition period. Every resident coordinator must be better supported than those fulfilling this function have been in the past. That support cannot come from the United Nations Development Operations Coordination Office alone. They must receive better network support from each member of the United Nations development group. This also goes to a wider point, which is that the structural changes we have adopted today must be supported by cultural changes, including to leadership and accountability. We trust that the Secretary- General and the Deputy Secretary-General will lead by example to drive a stronger and more accountable and collaborative leadership culture, and to ensure that this is effectively communicated in multi-agency forums such as the Chief Executives Board for Coordination. Canada, Australia and New Zealand look to leadership from all of the members of the United Nations development system, particularly UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization, as well as the United Nations Development Programme, as the backbone of the system. We expect to see a significant step change in the support and engagement from those entities in order to get the system we need to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We also remind Member States that we have an important role to play. We must provide a unified message on reform to the governance boards and leadership of the development system. To have them think differently and approach the new structure collaboratively, we must ensure that we here in New York, or Nairobi, Rome or elsewhere, give the same message. These changes must signal an end to a fragmented United Nations approach on the ground. Secondly, we strongly welcome the multi-country office review, which should be carried out this year to ensure that all the offices remain on the same reform path. Given our significant investment in multi-country offices, we look forward to strong engagement and clear information leading to clear results. Multi-country offices are a key part of ensuring that no one is left behind, particularly citizens in small island developing States, which both the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda address so clearly. Thirdly, we note that the funding compact discussions have yet to be fully addressed. The resolution speaks to one segment, albeit a vital one — the funding of the resident coordinator. Canada, Australia and New Zealand also note that the funding solution, as currently articulated in this resolution, falls too heavily on a small group of donor countries. We therefore call on countries that are not involved in this funding structure, particularly high-income countries, to consider contributions to the voluntary trust fund and also look to the next phase of the funding compact to see how they could contribute to addressing core and non-core imbalances in the system. We see the funding dialogues as an opportunity to explore how different types of partnerships can support the work of the United Nations development system and ensure an expanded funding base that moves beyond a small group of traditional donors. Canada, Australia and New Zealand look forward to contributing to those discussions and to continuing to work with the United Nations system and partner Governments to improve outcomes and ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals are properly financed. We must now seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to meaningfully implement these reforms, which will have real benefits as we strive to meet the bold vision of 2030.

China aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I would first like to congratulate my brother the Permanent Representative of Egypt, Ambassador Mohamed Edrees, on his birthday. Today is also the birthday of the United Nations development system reform. Since the submission of the two reports on the repositioning of the United Nations development system by the Secretary-General (A/72/124 and A/72/684), and after multiple rounds of painstaking consultations, and thanks to the effective coordination of the facilitators and the President of the General Assembly, member States have reached consensus on resolution 72/279. I commend the efforts of all parties in that regard. Resolution 72/279 provides for greater respect on the part of resident coordinators for the leadership and ownership of host countries and makes it clear that programme countries have the final say on the United Nations Development Assistance Framework. The composition of United Nations country teams should be determined in consultation with programme countries. The selection criteria for resident coordinators should be decided with input from relevant Member States, in line with programme countries’ priorities and development needs. The resolution calls on the resident-coordinator system and country teams to be accountable to programme countries and requests an enhanced core mandate of development for the development system, with poverty reduction as an important objective. It also asks the Secretary-General to report annually to the Economic and Social Council on the implementation of the reinvigorated resident-coordinator system, including its funding. It charts out the direction and priorities for future work in the development sector. The reform of the development sector is a long- term and systematic project. The General Assembly’s adoption of today’s resolution is only the first step of the reform process. We expect the Secretariat, in playing its follow-up role, to fully implement the mandate of the General Assembly resolution and, while working out specifics for the composition of country teams, the configuration and the role of resident coordinators and collaboration with programme countries, to listen extensively to Member States, particularly developing countries, and to fully respect the views of programme countries. The hybrid funding model should reflect the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, with North-South cooperation as the main channel and South-South cooperation as a complement. In the implementation of country-specific plans, it is imperative to fully respect programme countries’ opinions on the mode and time of reform, and to reach consensus as much as possible. China expects that, through reform, the United Nations development system’s will remain focused on development as its core function and to give priority to achieving Sustainable Development Goals such as poverty reduction. In the context of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we should deepen international development cooperation, jointly seize development opportunities and properly address development challenges in order to build a community with a shared future for humankind in which all countries enjoy development and prosperity. China is ready to work closely with all other Member States and the Secretariat to collectively achieve that goal.

My country aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We also wish to congratulate the head of the Egyptian delegation on his birthday. Of all the Secretary-General’s reform efforts, the repositioning of the development system, which we launched today through our adoption of resolution 72/279, could be seen as the most far-reaching because of its intrinsic link to the sustainable peace and prevention approach, which aims to address the root causes of conflict. That, in turn, can lead to social, economic and environmental development, that is, the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. All our negotiation efforts and informative sessions with the Secretariat, the reports of the Secretary-General and our informal consultations and interactive dialogues have enabled us to reach consensus on substantive changes to the United Nations development system with real consequences for its operation in our countries — all with the aim of supporting, as we have said, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We therefore thank and acknowledge the countless hours of effort and work of the facilitators, our friends and colleagues Mr. Sabri Boukadoum, Permanent Representative of Algeria, and Mr. Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark. We also recognize the efforts of the Secretariat, led by the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. Overall, we welcome the outcome of this process, as it builds on and is consistent with the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system adopted in 2016. We are pleased that a development approach with poverty eradication as its main objective has been maintained, and that national ownership has been strengthened in several aspects of the system, from the identification of criteria for the presence and composition of the country team to the joint development of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the dual accountability of the efforts of the resident coordinators. We are also satisfied with the direction given to the regional approach, including a strengthening of the role of the regional economic commissions in favour of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. With regard to the financing of the resident- coordinator system, we will await the implementation plan to be presented by the Secretary-General on the inception period. In this regard, we reiterate what was said by the representative of Egypt with respect to the cost-sharing modality, which should be considered in the Fifth Committee, since contributions from the Secretariat to the resident-coordinator system will come from our contributions to the Organization. Finally, we reiterate our thanks and appreciation to all delegations for this great achievement in favour of sustainable development. We remember the words of the Secretary-General: it is ambition and consensus that brought about this great achievement, a truly major achievement that will help us to better serve our peoples.

Mexico would like to congratulate the facilitators, the Ambassadors of Algeria and Denmark, and their teams, as well as the Ambassador of Egypt. On this important occasion we welcome the adoption of resolution 72/279, on the reform of the United Nations development system, because we believe in it. We believe that with the leadership of the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General, we can make the United Nations a modern, efficient and effective Organization. Mexico has participated constructively and creatively in the negotiation process from the beginning, because we share the vision of a new generation of country teams and resident coordinators as the most important development assets of the United Nations. The resolution we have adopted contains core elements pertaining to strategic direction, oversight and accountability, and it gives us the tools to achieve those objectives. However, many other aspects are part of the reform of the Economic and Social Council, which is why we invite all Member States to be equally ambitious in this process. The Council is the forum established to help us harmonize our visions of development, which we will achieve only if we can restore the Council’s spirit as a forum for discussion. We cannot delay these changes. In 2015, as an Organization, we dared to be bold, creative and imaginative in adopting the most ambitious development framework the international community had ever undertaken. Almost a year ago, the Secretary- General spearheaded an inclusive process to deliver a development system for the Organization that was fit for purpose. Today we are delivering the first stage of critical infrastructure that will enable Member States to achieve what they agreed to in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

First of all, I want to congratulate the Egyptian Ambassador for his birthday. And while today is not my birthday, yesterday was. One and a half years ago, the General Assembly undertook a comprehensive policy review of the United Nations development system in order to better position the Organization to support countries in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Today’s adoption of resolution 72/279 marks another crucial milestone in the process of repositioning the United Nations development system. The Secretary-General endured pressures to reform the system just for the sake of reform or for making budget cuts across the board. Instead of going into auto-pilot mode, he proposed changes as a means to an end — that is, strengthening multilateral cooperation for sustainable development. This attitude deserves our strong support. Brazil has actively engaged in the negotiations in order to ensure that the resolution we have just adopted reflects the best spirit of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review and of the report of the Secretary- General (A/72/684). We have shown flexibility in accepting financing solutions that were not our original preference because we understood that the possibility of using assessed contributions would not be feasible for some countries. We believe it is important to highlight some points that if properly implemented will facilitate the adequate and timely translation of the resolution to all governing bodies across the United Nations development system, contributing to the smooth implementation of its provisions. It will also enable a consistent approach in the Second and Fifth Committees of the General Assembly and in the different governing bodies of the United Nations development system around the globe. I would like to single out five areas where we think the details have a devil lurking in them. Accordingly, they will require continued and special attention in the aftermath of the adoption of the resolution. First, the implementation of the new United Nations country teams must be effected on the basis of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and national needs and priorities, and criteria to be developed at Headquarters must inform and support, not jeopardize, the essence of the Secretary-General’s proposal, which is to establish a needs-based system. Secondly, the implementation plan for the new resident-coordinator system must clearly take into account the proposed exclusions of the levy for operations in developing countries. In Brazil, for instance, we have several modalities for such cooperation, including South-South cooperation, where we are a donor. The levy should not be applicable to those operations. Thirdly, the role of efficiency gains as a source of funding for the resident-coordinator system should also not be overestimated. Fourthly, the proposal to be submitted to the Fifth Committee with regard to the participation of the Secretariat in the cost-sharing agreement, as well as the new Development Operations Coordination Office arrangement in the Secretariat, must be detailed enough to ensure that its consideration by the Committee goes smoothly. Fifthly, the resubmission of the strategic document must be done in alignment with the original mandate of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review. Finally, I will say a word on the process. As stated earlier by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, it is our view that the adoption of resolution 72/279 is the beginning, not the end, of our collective work on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review process this year. The active engagement of all delegations in the governing bodies of the entities of the United Nations development system is crucial, beginning with the annual sessions of the New York- based Executives Board that will take place a few days from now, in June. Furthermore, it will be important in the next session of the General Assembly to revert the follow-up of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review, including of the present resolution, from the plenary back to the Second Committee where it belongs, together with Economic and Social Council. The Assembly can count on Brazil’s continued and constructive engagement in this process.

I would like to begin this short statement by thanking the Permanent Representative of Egypt for having shared with us all that today was his birthday. Uruguay is pleased to see the consensus achieved with regard to the need to reinforce the United Nations development system and thereby to pursue better outcomes by fine-tuning its leadership structure, the most reasonable use of its resources and greater clarity in the division of responsibilities and, consequently, in accountability as well. Uruguay commends and appreciates the work carried out by the two facilitators, our colleagues Sabri Boukadoum and Ib Petersen. Uruguay attaches particular importance to and is aware of the challenge inherent in the adoption of measures at all levels for the repositioning of the United Nations development system, in order to ensure that it is properly aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and can be implemented. At this time of the month, only 13 days before the World Cup begins, it is worth recalling a sporting maxim: “It ain’t over till it’s over”. As our colleague from Brazil has just recalled, much remains to be done and our work is just beginning. We therefore reiterate Uruguay’s enthusiastic support for the Secretary- General and his entire team as they move to implement all the proposed reforms.

The Philippines expresses its best wishes for a happy life and continued success for the Permanent Representatives of Egypt and Brazil on their respective birthdays. We also align ourselves with the statement delivered by the representative of Egypt as Chair of the Group of 77 (G-77), and express our profound appreciation to the Permanent Representatives of Algeria and of Denmark for leading us to a consensus document in resolution 72/279. We hope that good-faith negotiations in a spirit of compromise will be maintained throughout the future discussions on United Nations development system reform. As a programme country, the Philippines consistently maintains that the operational activities of the United Nations development system must be aligned with the national plans, priorities and changing needs of Member States. We agree with China that members must be consulted on the composition of country teams and the selection of resident coordinators. The Philippines supports the position of the G-77 on the need to ensure that final decisions on the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the configuration of United Nations country teams remain under the authority of national Governments. That has been our core principle in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of our country programme UNDAF document and in our engagement with our resident coordinator. It is important that the resident- coordinator system not lose sight of its focus on development. A tailored approach must be emphasized. In our case, we are a middle-income country that in addition to having to overcome middle-income countries’ unique challenges is particularly vulnerable to disasters and the adverse effects of climate change, all in an increasingly volatile political environment where the last super-Powers may soon end up clashing. That may entail readjusting national spending priorities to favour security. No matter how ambitious and comprehensive, the repositioning process will not succeed without a realistic funding mechanism. That must address the decline in core contributions while at the same time ensuring that no additional burden is placed on programme countries beyond their capacity to bear it, although they must do their fair share. We support the G-77 position on the need for more stable, robust, predictable and sustainable funding. We also support the position of the United States in working to realign and redirect resources and energies in order to address the issues most in need of resolution and the requirements of those most in need of help more efficiently, all with the aim of achieving a world of peace, progress and freedom above all. The Philippines will remain deeply engaged in the United Nations development system reform process.

At the outset, my country associates itself with the statement made by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I would also like to join others in congratulating the co-facilitators of this process and their teams for their tireless work. Their experience and leadership were clearly vital to the consensus achieved on resolution 72/279, which we adopted today and which was the outcome of significant negotiation efforts by our experts and of the constructive spirit shown by delegations. I would also like to congratulate Secretary- General António Guterres and Deputy Secretary- General Amina Mohammed, who are here with us, on their responsible and ambitious efforts to fulfil the mandate entrusted to them by Member States to prepare proposals for the repositioning of the United Nations development system. As we did at the start of the process, we reiterate our ongoing support and acknowledge their own intense work and that of their team. We would also like to express our gratitude for the work of President Lajčák, who steered our efforts towards today’s outcome. We have a resolution that is fit for purpose and is both a road map and a tool. It is now time for implementation, for which our continued commitment to the successful implementation of both the quadrennial comprehensive policy review and today’s resolution is required if we are to ensure that the United Nations development system achieves a structure and positioning that meets all of our development needs and achieves effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals on the ground. In that regard, we believe that the next steps in this process must be directed at arriving at ways to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and supporting countries in mobilizing resources, including the funding and creation of capacities to achieve economic goals such as sustainable and inclusive economic growth, industrial development, infrastructure investment and economic diversity. In conclusion, I would like to join others in greeting my Egyptian neighbour and will venture to wish him a happy birthday in Arabic.

At the outset, my delegation would like to commend the co-facilitators, Ambassadors Boukadoum and Petersen, the Permanent Representatives of Algeria and Denmark, respectively, who led the intergovernmental consultations on resolution 72/279 in an inclusive manner with an unwavering resolve to find common ground for all Member States. We commend the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and their team for their involvement in the process through the many briefings and the information made available for the consideration of Member States. Rwanda associates itself with the statements delivered by the representative of Ethiopia, on behalf of the African Group, and by Ambassador Edrees, Permanent Representative of Egypt, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, whom I wish a very happy birthday, along with the representative of Brazil. The next 12 years will be a defining moment for the United Nations development system, ensuring that accountability, coherence and transparency are enhanced system-wide so as to maximize delivery on the complexity and ambition set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for our citizens and countries. The implementation plan for resolution 72/279 will determine the success of that reform process. In that regard, I would like to highlight the following two key points. First, the implementation plan should continue to engage Member States during the transition of the resident-coordinator system. We encourage the Secretariat to continue to increase transparency and inclusiveness, which will ensure accountability and ownership by Member States, as well as build trust with the United Nations development system as the process continues. We welcome the remarks of the Secretary- General mentioning those specific points. Rwanda reiterates the necessity for the implementation plan to be data-driven, and we encourage the United Nations system and host countries to gather data with a view to increasing coherence, collaboration and synergy on the ground while building a solid foundation for sustainability. In conclusion, Rwanda is ready to engage constructively, since the repositioning of the United Nations development system is just beginning and the ownership of the process by both the Secretariat and Member States will determine the outcome of the 2030 Agenda in the 11 years remaining for its implementation.

Indonesia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and joins those wishing Ambassador Edrees a happy birthday. I am glad that in 2016, as Chair of the Second Committee, I was involved in the negotiations on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review, providing guidance for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as an ambitious and holistic approach in our efforts to eradicate poverty and further promote sustainable development. In the follow-up to the policy review this year, we negotiated the repositioning of the United Nations development system so as to ensure that the United Nations is fit for purpose and has sufficient capability and capacity to support States in implementing the 2030 Agenda. In that regard, I would like to express my great appreciation to the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and their team for providing the initial proposal for the United Nations development system repositioning, in constant consultation with States. I would also like to commend the co-facilitators, our brothers from Algeria and Denmark, for their able leadership in navigating us through the negotiation process. We are pleased that consensus was achieved on resolution 72/279, on the repositioning of the United Nations development system. However, I would like to comment on several salient points in the resolution. We have agreed that the resident-coordinator system will remain focused on development issues, stressing the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions as its overarching objective. There is a strong emphasis on national ownership and leadership manifested, among other things, through the process of preparing and finalizing the United Nations Development Assistant Framework (UNDAF) in full consultation and agreement with national Governments, as well as a new generation of United Nations country teams with a needs-based, tailored country presence. The resident coordinators will report not only to the Secretary-General but also to host Governments on the UNDAF implementation. However, today’s achievement is only the start of our hard work ahead. We must maintain our focus on the implementation of the repositioning of the United Nations development system and, more importantly, on how those changes will bring real development impact on the ground as well as the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. For that reason, we would like to underscore several points. First, the initial follow-up measures are critical to launching the repositioning of the United Nations development system. We will need a well-designed, thorough implementation plan, in full consultation with States, along with the fulfilment of front-loaded contributions, if we are to ensure that we can start the process on schedule by January 2019. We also look forward to the Secretary-General’s review of the configuration, capacity, resource needs, role and development services of multi-country offices. There are many countries that are in dire need of United Nations support and capacity-building, including in my own Asia-Pacific region, particularly the Pacific island States. Secondly, we must ensure that the resident- coordinator system remains predictable so that it can supply States with continued premium services. We must therefore mitigate risks to the system associated with unpredictability or a lack of resources. Thirdly, we must emphasize the importance of an inclusive, transparent and regular monitoring and evaluation process. We expect full accountability to States through regular reports and feedback from those States in order to continually improve implementation of the United Nations development system repositioning. We look forward to the Secretary- General’s implementation plan, and will participate constructively in the follow-up to and implementation of the United Nations development system repositioning. Lastly, I would like to say that I for one am quite glad about these changes. I served as a young diplomat on the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme almost 27 years ago, and now, as a young ambassador, I am seeing changes. We all need these changes. Speaking off the cuff now, I think it is high time for us to have change. Nothing is perfect; everything is imperfect, particularly in this body, but I think this is a great step forward. I would like to congratulate all of us in this Hall who have adopted this very important resolution. It took us 27 years to achieve these changes, and I for one congratulate all of us.

At the outset, South Africa aligns itself with the statements delivered by the Permanent Representatives of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Ethiopia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and the Group of African States, respectively. My delegation would like to take this opportunity to thank the Secretary-General for the presentation of his vision and proposals, and for his ongoing open and transparent engagement with Member States since the adoption in 2016 of resolution 71/243 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review. We further appreciate the important role played by the Deputy Secretary- General in steering these deliberations, as well as the co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of Algeria and Denmark, who led the intergovernmental consultations to the achievement of a consensus text for resolution 72/279. My delegation has assured the Secretary-General of our support for the implementation of the reform of the United Nations development system. However, central to that reform are mechanisms that allow for consistent evaluation and reassessment of what is working and what is not. In that regard, we reiterate the importance of the Secretary-General’s commitment to undertaking periodic consultations and providing regular reporting to Member States on the monitoring of the implementation of the reform plan. We also want to reiterate the concern expressed by the African Group about the fact that with the current funding mechanism agreed in the resolution, the cost would be felt largely by poor and developing countries whose development largely depends on every possible form of funding. Inclusiveness, transparency and accountability in this process are therefore crucial so that we can ensure that the development gains do indeed outweigh the costs. The cost of the proposed reforms must ensure that the returns on these investments are realized. This can be done only in full consultation with and under the leadership of national Governments through the articulation of national priorities in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework. In that regard, the resident coordinator has to work within that purview and maintain reporting to both the Secretary-General and the host Government. The technical notes on the funding of the reinvigorated resident-coordinator system must remain a key element guiding the implementation of this resolution. In conclusion, the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development carved out an unprecedented development trajectory for the international community. The true success of the resolution that we have just adopted today must be measured against the promise that we collectively made to lift millions out of poverty through the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. In an increasingly interconnected world, our choice is between shared prosperity and shared misery. The adoption of this resolution is a step towards the former, and signals the intention to deliver on its promissory note of leaving no one behind.

At the outset, allow me to commend and thank Ambassador Boukadoum and Ambassador Petersen for their leadership of the negotiation process resulting in the adoption this afternoon of resolution 72/279, which is of crucial importance for all of us. I also thank and congratulate the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and their teams. Since he took office, the Secretary-General has insisted that the United Nations must be able to adapt to change and reinvigorate itself if it is to be more effective. Thanks to his perseverance and leadership, we have agreed together on these 25 paragraphs. Today’s adoption demonstrates the ability of the United Nations to adapt to change, as well as our desire to face our global challenges together and build a world that is more sustainable and peaceful and therefore more just. The United Nations as a whole has become greater because of this notable success. Switzerland’s commitment to the repositioning of the United Nations development system is motivated solely by our desire to make the activities and projects of the United Nations more effective on the ground. I know that we all share that desire. Let us never lose sight of that common objective when we are called on to take decisions on the implementation of the current resolution. Switzerland will therefore continue in its unfailing commitment to enabling the United Nations development system to carry out its mandate more effectively. We will do it both financially and at the level of the issues involved, above all by respecting the realities on the ground. We will also do this on the Executive Boards of the United Nations funds and programmes and in the Economic and Social Council, the Second Committee and other Main Committees of the General Assembly. Above all, we will do it in partnership with the Member States and the United Nations system, as well as with all humanitarian and private-sector stakeholders working in the area of development. Development should not be the prerogative of some, a playground for political games for others or merely someone else’s concern. We are all involved and responsible. (spoke in English) Before concluding, I would like to wish our friend Mr. Edrees a happy birthday. I know that it is traditional to sing “Happy Birthday”, but I can assure the Assembly that it will be much better off if I do not sing.

I would also like to echo previous speakers in expressing our appreciation to the facilitators of the resolution for their excellent work. Norway welcomes the adoption of resolution 72/279, on the repositioning of the United Nations development system in the context of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review, and we appreciate the flexibility shown by all Member States. I would like to take this opportunity to comment on two main issues. First, with regard to reforms at the country level, Norway greatly appreciates the agreement to establish the position of independent resident coordinators with the authority to lead a new generation of United Nations country teams and to make the United Nations Development Assistance Framework the single most important instrument for the planning and implementation of United Nations development activities. Together we now have a common responsibility to ensure that the reforms are implemented. We look to the Secretary-General’s leadership to ensure that the country-level reforms are smoothly implemented, including by following system-wide guidelines and holding leaders at all levels accountable for common results and enhanced efficiency. We look forward to the Secretary-General’s implementation plan, which we expect to cover all of the requisite steps to be taken at the United Nations, including the development of a timetable. With regard to funding arrangements, we anticipate a realistic assessment of the various funding streams, both in terms of volume and of what must be done to ensure that such funding does not fall short of expectations. With regard to the position of resident coordinator, we feel confident that the Secretary-General will ensure that resident coordinators are accredited as the highest-ranking representatives of the United Nations development system in all host countries. As Member States, we must make sure that the governing bodies of all funds, programmes and specialized agencies take the decisions required to ensure that their respective entities contribute constructively to reforms. Secondly, with regard to funding, country-level reforms can be implemented smoothly only if the resident-coordinator system is sufficiently funded. Burden-sharing is a central principle of multilateralism, and Norway urges all Member States to contribute to the voluntary trust fund for the resident-coordinator system. It is also crucial that all the contributors of strictly earmarked funding accept that the 1 per cent coordination levy is to be deducted from their contributions. In the relevant governing bodies, we must ensure that all entities pay their full share of the enhanced United Nations Development Group cost- sharing arrangement. Norway sees a possible funding compact as an opportunity to change the current unhealthy funding pattern, which is heavily dominated by strictly earmarked project funding and a lack of predictability. Once again, this is a call to all Member States. We are willing to look at what we can do better and will participate actively in the upcoming funding dialogue, with the aim of establishing concrete and measurable targets for the United Nations development system, as well as for Member States. Lastly, on this auspicious day I would like to join colleagues in wishing the Ambassador of Egypt a happy birthday.

The Russian Federation joined the consensus on today’s adoption of resolution 72/279. We are grateful to the facilitators of the resolution for their work during the negotiation process. We welcome the agreements reached among the Member States on modernizing the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF), strengthening the decisive role of national Governments in the area of development, including the process of coordinating the UNDAF, and ensuring that the role of resident coordinator continues to be depoliticized and oriented to issues related to development and oriented to issues related to development and poverty eradication. Among positive results, we would like to single out assigning the collective leadership of the Development Operations Coordination Office to the United Nations Development Group, which corresponds to the spirit of collegiality called for under the operational activities policy review in resolution 71/243, as well as the establishment of new, system-wide evaluations. We hope that it will ensure the highest possible standards of independence and impartiality in its work. However, we would also like to focus on a few problem areas within the process, first with regard to the funding of the new resident-coordinator system. We continue to assume that resolution 72/279 will not have financial implications for the regular budget of the United Nations. We also want to emphasize that the international organizations and entities in the United Nations Development Group are fully independent, including with regard to the financial and budgetary aspects of their operations. We believe that the very hastily agreed-on combined model is far from the best option. Besides that, as far as we can tell, it will not be able to ensure an acceptable level of predictability for funding revenues and it will increase the risk of deterring new donors, particularly from the private sector. It is also clear to us that the operational activities of the United Nations development system will come up against objective difficulties in planning and distributing its budgetary resources for programme needs. In that connection, we would like to emphasize that while we agreed to the existing model, we see it as a temporary measure for the medium term. We hope to see a dialogue on spending coverage policies among the Executive Boards of the United Nations funds and programmes, and we call on all countries to comply fully and speedily with their financial obligations in accordance with the harmonized reimbursement rates. Over the long term, we hope to see the Secretariat’s promised efficiency gains from the reforms, which according to its calculations should amount to $310 million annually by 2022. We assume that those resources will be used to support the work of the reinvigorated resident-coordinator system, with a view to enabling it to receive the necessary funding soon and to stop requiring undesirable additional levies from donors, which in turn will increase interest in supporting the development system among external partners as well. We hope the full value of that factor will be taken into consideration while developing the implementation plan for transforming the new resident- coordinator system. In addition, we would like to address the format for conducting negotiations. In our view, the agreement on the resolution on repositioning based on the facilitators’ text was negotiated on an exceptional basis. In future, our delegation will insist on the traditional format for consultations on General Assembly draft resolutions, including with regard to the forthcoming quadrennial comprehensive policy review of the United Nations operational activities for development. We intend to carefully follow the course of this reform’s implementation. We hope that in future the dialogue determining key details for implementing the reform with all the participants in the United Nations development system  — particularly Member States and the programmes, funds and regional economic commissions — will be inclusive and transparent. In that context, we await with interest the start of consultations with Member States on the implementation plan.

The Government of Japan welcomes the adoption of resolution 72/279. Owing to the complexity of the issues, as well as the nature of the proposals, there were differences of opinion among Member States. It is undeniable that the resolution is a product of compromise. But it is also a product of the good faith and constructive spirit of Member States. We especially want to compliment the co-facilitators, Ambassadors Boukadoum and Petersen, for guiding Member States in informal consultations both on and off the floor and treading a thorny path on their way to their goal of seeing this landmark resolution adopted by consensus. We support the Secretary-General’s reform initiative. Now that the resolution has been adopted, the United Nations development system will be put to the test to see if it can really improve its efficiency, coherence and, above all, its impact on the ground, as the resolution demands. We sincerely hope that this will be the case. To that end, we look forward to seeing a well-thought-out implementation plan presented for the consideration of Member States. My delegation engaged in the consultations, consistently played a duly constructive role throughout that important process and chose to join the consensus on the adoption of the resolution. However, we regret that the language used in the oral statement prepared by the Secretariat and delivered before the Assembly’s adoption of resolution 72/279 was not in strict compliance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. It is incumbent on the Secretariat to take all necessary measures to ensure that the rules of procedure are respected so that the General Assembly can make informed decisions. We chose to refrain from dissenting from that departure this time, with the expectation of seeing a prudent and solid implementation plan presented in consultation with the development system’s entities, in compliance with the resolution and in anticipation of the system being able to meet the challenges we have discussed.

Chile associates itself with the statement made by the representative of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China (G-77). We would also like to join others in wishing the Ambassador of Egypt a very happy birthday. We would like to briefly underline the importance of the moment we are celebrating today, both for the United Nations development system and for our multilateral system in general. Chile believes that all of us in this Hall can be proud of what we have achieved and hopeful about what it means for the future of our work. Resolution 72/279, which we adopted today, has the dual merit of achieving the consensus of the entire membership and showing that it is possible for us to move forward together in order to create a system that can fully respond to our current challenges. Today we are moving together towards greater coherence, effectiveness and closeness in United Nations efforts aimed at meeting the various needs and priorities of our countries in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We particularly want to highlight consideration of the diverse realities of development at both the national and regional levels. At the national level, we want to emphasize the cross-cutting role of national ownership, which can ensure that the system responds effectively to the challenges that each country faces in achieving sustainable development. In Chile and our region those challenges are closely linked to our particular situation as middle-income countries. That is why, at the regional level, we welcome the region-by-region approach that will serve as the basis for the reform proposals to be presented in 2019. It shows that we are dealing with a text that not only reflects States’ unanimous support for strengthening the Organization but also enables us to make progress in concrete terms so as to strengthen the technical support we receive. We therefore join in congratulating the co-facilitators, Ambassadors Boukadoum and Petersen, as well as their teams from Algeria and Denmark, on their successful leadership of a difficult process. Our thanks also go to Egypt for its efforts to lead and coordinate our work in the G-77, which was crucial to the constructive progress of the negotiations. Last but not least, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his vision for reforming our Organization and for the efforts that we all know he and the Deputy Secretary- General and her team have made to bring us together today to adopt this resolution. They can rest assured that they will continue to enjoy Chile’s full support in their efforts to work for a better Organization. Princess Al Saud (Saudi Arabia): My Government aligns itself with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I wish him a very happy birthday. I would like to thank the Secretary-General and his team for supporting the Member State-driven process of repositioning the United Nation development system. I would also like to thank the co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of Algeria and Denmark, for their efforts in leading the process to a consensus. My Government is pleased that resolution 72/279 stipulates that the United Nations development system should focus on supporting countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In doing so, it should take into account the different development needs and capacities of each country and ensure that it is aligned with their national priorities. We realize that this important and ambitious agenda requires sound leadership, enhanced capacities and expertise and better collaboration and accountability to ensure that no one is left behind. In that regard, we look forward to a nationally led United Nations Development Assistance Framework, a development-focused resident coordinator and to country-team configurations determined by Member States. We also look forward to transparent reporting on the implementation of the resolution and to continued consultation with Member States on progress. We eagerly anticipate the implementation of an efficient system that is capable of realizing the 2030 Agenda. The Council can count on my Government’s full support throughout the process.

I too would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary- General for their leadership. I also want to thank the co-facilitators for their efforts, which made the adoption of resolution 72/279 possible, and for their firm support to a reform process aimed at making the United Nations development system more efficient, coherent and accountable. The repositioned development system should be able to effectively serve countries at different development levels. National ownership and consent should be the guiding principles, with an emphasis on countries with special needs. Coordination and consultation between the national authorities and the United Nations development system is essential for its effective implementation. As a host country to a sizeable United Nations country team, as well as to United Nations regional offices, we consider it important to maintain a close dialogue with United Nations entities, particularly in the process of decoupling resident coordinators from the United Nations Development Programme. We expect the Executive Boards of the United Nations funds and programmes to take the necessary decisions in a timely manner in order to carry out their mandates, including those pursuant to today’s resolution. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is not just about commitments, it is also about a transformational shift in the United Nations development system. The adoption of today’s resolution is a major step in that direction. Accordingly, in conclusion, I would like to reiterate my country’s continued support for the Secretary-General’s efforts to make the United Nations development system better aligned with the priorities of Member States.

I would like to begin by thanking Ambassadors Sabri Boukadoum and Ib Petersen, the Permanent Representatives of Algeria and Denmark, for their tireless efforts and leadership during the important consultation process. My delegation is pleased that resolution 72/279 has been adopted by consensus. The collective will of Member States is essential to supporting the Secretary- General in his ambitious reform agenda for making the United Nations development system fit for purpose in the era of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The fact is that the 2030 Agenda will not only require the united determination of all Member States, but also a level and quality of support from the United Nations development system to match that determination. By adopting this resolution, we have demonstrated our wish to see such support delivered in order to ensure that no one is left behind. But although the resolution is a milestone achievement, we must not simply be satisfied with its adoption. My delegation joins others in emphasizing that this is merely the beginning of our long-term efforts in the years to come. Like others, we note that Member States are asking not only for a more transparent and accountable United Nations development system but also for a more efficient one. We can see that, for example, in the support for the Secretary-General’s plan for advancing common business operations in order to achieve greater efficiencies, synergies and coherence in the new generation of United Nations country teams. In addition, we would like to re-emphasize the importance of partnerships for the United Nations development system, since it cannot do everything everywhere. That means that expanded partnerships with non-United Nations stakeholders, based on comparative advantages, are crucial. There is also a need for recognition across the board that preventing and breaking the cycles of crisis, together with an understanding of the humanitarian- development-peacebuilding nexus, are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and we should ensure that the resident coordinators work along those lines. We look forward to the Secretary-General’s presentation of his implementation plan for the inception of a dedicated, independent, impartial, sustainable and development-focused resident-coordinator system. We also eagerly anticipate his suggested options for the long-term restructuring of regional assets and the annual report on the United Nations Development Operations Coordination Office. We will also engage actively and constructively in the upcoming funding dialogues. In conclusion, the Republic of Korea reiterates its full support for the Secretary-General’s landmark reform initiatives, and will aid the ongoing effort of the United Nations development system, particularly through the Executive Boards of the United Nations development system entities and the newly revamped Economic and Social Council operational activities for the development segment.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (a) of agenda item 24.