Group of 77 and China, Putrajaya, Malaysia
29 May 2006
We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 and China meeting in
Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 29 May 2006, having reviewed developments in the follow
up to the 2005 World Summit Outcome in the areas of United Nations System Wide
Coherence, Management and Secretariat Reform, Mandate Review and on providing
predictable financial resources to the United Nations, state the following:
1. We reaffirm our determination to further strengthen the role, capacity,
effectiveness and efficiency of the United Nations in the field of development,
and thus improve its performance, in order to realise the full potential of the
Organisation, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of
the United Nations, and to respond more effectively to the needs of Member
States and in particular to the new global challenges facing the United Nations
in the twenty-first century and in this regard we emphasise the need for
creating an enabling environment for development and enhance global political
will to assist developing countries to achieve their development goals and that
to achieve the internationally agreed development goals including the
Millennium Development Goals we must succeed in mainstreaming development as
the central pillar of the United Nations agenda.
2. We stress that the outcomes of all major United Nations summits and
conferences have laid the foundations to promote development, commitments have
been made, including on systemic issues, all that is now needed is the full
implementation of all commitments made at all the major United Nations summits
and conferences in the economic, social and related fields.
3. We strongly believe that the United Nations should be provided with the
needed support to develop its full potential in the field of international
development cooperation. To that end, the realization of the right to
development should be given utmost priority by the United Nations. We emphasise
that the full implementation of all commitments made at the major United
Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields,
should be integrated and equitably mainstreamed into the work and activities of
the United Nations, including the right to development, the environmental and
social corporate responsibility and accountability and policy space. The United
Nations system should examine ways to take account of these agreed principles
in its process of decision-making.
4. We emphasise that given its universality and legitimacy, the United
Nations is the apex of multilateralism. Nothing should be done to undermine its
pluralism and its diversity.
5. We attach utmost importance to the full implementation of development
commitments, including those relating to the strengthening of the Economic and
Social Council, made in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences
and summits in the economic, social and related fields, including the World
Summit Outcome. We are concerned at the slow progress in the process of
consultations initiated to implement the 2005 World Summit Outcome decisions on
development and call upon the developed countries to demonstrate political will
so as to reach substantive agreements on development follow-up and
strengthening of the Economic and Social Council.
System Wide Coherence
6. We emphasise that the System Wide Coherence process must be aimed at
strengthening multilateralism and promoting equity and development including
development cooperation in the United Nations. This should be achieved through
an enhanced global partnership for development, including more effective
assistance to developing countries.
7. We emphasise that there is a need to establish an effective and
comprehensive accountability and monitoring mechanism to track the
implementation by developed countries of commitments undertaken in the major
United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related
fields and various inter-governmental bodies, to support national development
strategies of developing countries.
8. We further emphasise that the United Nations is the premier international
organisation and system, addressing sustainable development in its three
components: namely economic development, social development and environment
protection. In that regard, its role should be strengthened so as to cover the
normative, analytical, policy and operational aspects of development, bearing
in mind that the normative work of the Organisation is the outcome of an
inter-governmental decision making process and is addressed to the full
membership of the United Nations.
9. We stress that the fundamental characteristics of the operational
activities for development of the United Nations system must be, inter alia,
their universal, voluntary and grant nature, their neutrality and their
multilateralism, as well as their ability to respond to the development needs
of recipient countries in a flexible manner.
10. We emphasise that the United Nations General Assembly resolution
entitled "Triennial comprehensive review of operational activities for
development of the United Nations system", A/RES/59/250, constitutes the policy
framework agreed at the inter-governmental level for the operational activities
of the United Nations system and that the System Wide Coherence process must
take into account these periodic reviews, at the inter-governmental level.
11. We note with concern that the multilateral development system lacks good
global governance. There is a need to substantially improve coherence in
mandates and roles, accountability and representation. Therefore, we support an
analysis of the entire multilateral architecture. The System Wide Coherence
process should focus on areas where better coordination and coherence is
needed. Total or immediate restructuring of the United Nations activities or
architecture should not constitute a goal in itself. Efficiency and
effectiveness is not always guaranteed by the collapse or merging of
institutions. The research and studies that will be undertaken by experts on
the System Wide Coherence process should focus on the major reasons hindering
the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals including the
MDG's. This process should show due regard for the political sensitivities of
mandates and should not be a pretext to eliminate political mandates.
12. We stress that the System Wide Coherence process must take into account
national conditions, and ensuring respect for national ownership, strategies
and sovereignty. Greater policy space must be given to the developing countries
to enable national development strategies to be comprehensively nationally
owned. The United Nations work in development must be fully aligned and
complementary to nationally owned development goals. The concept of coherence
has to be considered in terms of the policy and institutional framework of the
United Nations and should take into account the different approaches which
currently exist in the pursuit of national development strategies.
13. We underscore that the United Nations should continue to have a holistic
and comprehensive approach towards development. The System Wide Coherence
process should also address areas such as trade, finance and macro-economic
policy. Therefore the System Wide Coherence process should not limit the United
Nations role into niche issues.
14. We emphasise that one of the fundamental reforms required would be for
the United Nations, which is the most representative global organisation, to
mobilise the highest political commitment, and to provide policy directions and
guidance to the Bretton Woods Institutions, the World Trade Organisation and
other relevant Organisations and institutions that have an impact in the
development of many countries. Key to promoting good governance at the
international level would be the active voice and effective participation by
developing countries in the international decision-making processes, in
particular the Bretton Woods Institutions, which is central to promoting the
legitimacy, relevance and effectiveness of the international financial system
and international financial institutions.
15. We stress that the System Wide Coherence process should enhance
inter-governmental oversight and coordination, including through the
strengthening of the role of the Economic and Social Council in that
regard.
16. We underscore that any changes that might need to be introduced to the
current system, both at the country level, or at the level of the headquarters,
should not lead to additional financial burden to developing countries or to
unnecessary administrative costs or unwieldy management structures. Such
changes should not disrupt on-going development plans and activities. The
one-sise fits all approach should not be applied. Diversity, different levels
of development, cultural differences as well as regional and sub-regional
specificities require implementation changes at the country level based on a
case by case basis, taking into account national priorities and strategies and
with the consent of the government concerned.
17. We stress that the United Nations system both at the headquarters and at
the country level, with regards to the delivery of mandated activities and
efficient management should be fully accountable to the Member States. The
oversight role of Member States over the mandated activities of different
governing bodies of the funds and programmes of the United Nations should be
strengthened further.
18. We stress that the objective to achieve System Wide Coherence should not
be a cost cutting exercise. Reductions in administrative expenses should be
redirected to programmes in each country. The principles of cost recovery
should be harmonised, and its proceeds retained and spent on development
programmes.
19. We underscore that financial resources should have the characteristics
of predictability, sufficiency, flexibility and sustainability. For the last
three decades, in general, unpredictability, insufficiency and inflexibility
and unsustainability of financial resources have characterised the United
Nations funds, programmes and agencies at the country level, thus crippling
their ability to implement programmes successfully. The United Nations should
avoid shifting resources from development activities to other activities which
are donor-driven and not in line with the priorities of developing countries.
We stress that core resources because of their untied nature should continue to
be the bedrock of the operational activities and these resources should not be
diverted away from core issues of development to donor driven priorities. The
challenge of the gap between development mandates and resources needs to be
given priority.
20. We reaffirm that the resident coordinator system, within the framework
of national ownership, has a key role to play in the effective and efficient
functioning of the United Nations system at the country level, including in the
formulation of the common country assessment and the United Nations development
Assistance Framework, and is a key instrument for the efficient and effective
co ordination of the operational activities for development of the United
Nations system.
21. We reiterate the important role of UNCTAD as the focal point within the
United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade and development and
interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and
sustainable development. We commit ourselves and call upon the international
community to work towards the strengthening of UNCTAD, to enhance its
contribution in its three major pillars, namely consensus building, research
and policy analysis, and technical assistance especially through increased core
resources of UNCTAD. We further reiterate the need to operationalise the new
functions mandated by UNCTAD XI in the areas of policy space, corporate
responsibility and new and emerging fields of information and communication
technology and to reinvigorate its intergovernmental machinery.
22. We underline the important role of the United Nations Regional
Commissions to further contribute, within their respective mandates to the
review of progress made in the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes
of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and
related fields at regional level. In this regard, we stress the need to provide
the necessary resources, particularly through the United Nations regular
budget, for the Regional Commissions, in order to enable them to fulfil their
mandates effectively.
Secretariat and Management Reform
23. We reaffirm our strong support to the United Nations, and to all
collective efforts aiming at enhancing its ability to fully implement its
mandates and to ensure the effective delivery of all its programmes, in
particular in the social and economic development field. We firmly believe that
the legitimacy and viability of any reform measures depend ultimately on the
broad support of Member States of the United Nations, as well as of the United
Nations staff who dedicate themselves to the values and principles of the
Organisation. We emphasise that measures to reform the United Nations should
respond to the unique intergovernmental, multilateral and international
character of the United Nations. We call on the Secretary-General to fully
implement General Assembly resolution 60/260 on "Investing in the United
Nations: for a stronger Organisation worldwide", and stress that proposals that
were not endorsed by the General Assembly should not be re-submitted.
24. We affirm that the sovereign equality of Member States, as enshrined in
the Charter of the United Nations, must be respected, including throughout the
reform process, irrespective of the contributions that individual Member States
make to the budgets of the Organisation. Any attempt to change the governance
arrangements exercised through the General Assembly, its Main Committees and
subsidiary and expert bodies or to exclude some Member States from contributing
to the decision-making processes in the Organisation contradicts the spirit and
letter of the Charter. We support the provisions of General Assembly resolution
60/260 which upholds the role of Member States, through the relevant Main
Committee of the General Assembly, in the consideration of budgetary and
administrative matters.
We strongly support the oversight role performed by the General Assembly, as
well as its relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies, in the planning,
programming, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation. We reaffirm that the reform
efforts are not intended to change the intergovernmental, multilateral and
international nature of the Organisation but should strengthen the ability of
Member States to perform this oversight and monitoring role. We stress the
right of the entire membership of the United Nations to pronounce on the
administration of the Organisation, including on its budgetary matters.
26. We stress the importance of ensuring that the Secretariat meets the
highest standards of accountability, transparency, integrity and ethical
conduct. We therefore urge the Secretary-General as a matter of priority to
define accountability in the Organisation, establish clear accountability
mechanisms to the General Assembly, and propose parameters for the application
of accountability and instruments for its rigorous enforcement.
27. We welcome the management reforms adopted so far by the General
Assembly. We stress that reform of human resources management, Administration
of Justice, and procurement should reflect the international character of the
Organisation. In this regard, we:
(i) support a more fair and transparent system of internal justice where
staff members are held accountable for wrongdoings, irrespective of their
nationality and seniority. We stress that corrective measures have be taken to
prevent and address any instances of mismanagement, fraud and corruption,
whilst ensuring that due process is followed;
(ii) underscore the need to provide concrete measures to ensure greater market
access by businesses from developing countries in United Nations procurement;
and
(iii) stress the need for establishing clear mechanisms to increase the
representation of developing countries in the Secretariat, in particular in the
senior echelons where positions in practice have invariably been held by
nationals from a few countries.
Mandate review
28. We recognise the efforts by the Secretary-General to facilitate the
mandate review exercise, which is intended to "strengthen and update" the
programme of work of the Organisation and enable it to deliver it's existing
and new mandates more effectively. We stress that the one time review is
limited to mandates originating from decisions adopted by the Principal Organs
of the United Nations that are older than five years and have not been renewed
since. Mandates that are older than five years and have been reaffirmed in the
past five years do not fall within the scope of the exercise. The review should
fully respect the politically sensitive mandates.
29. We stress that setting the priorities of the Organisation, as reflected
in legislative decisions, remains the prerogative of Member States. We
emphasise that the exercise should not change the inter-governmental nature of
the decision-making, oversight and monitoring processes, or re-define the roles
and responsibilities of various Organs of the United Nations as identified by
the Charter. We further stress that such an exercise is not aimed at cutting
the costs of the Organisation or to reduce the budget levels and fund more
activities from within the existing resources. We agree that any savings that
may result from the outcome of the exercise should be redirected to the
activities of the Organisation in the development area.
30. We underscore the importance of addressing the implementation of
mandates and assessing the reasons for less than full or non-implementation. We
also believe that Member States should be willing to increase the financial and
human resources that have been allocated to programmes if the lack of resources
hinders the full implementation of mandates or activities. In this regard, we
reaffirm our commitment to ensure that mandates, in particular those related to
development, receive adequate resources. We urge all Member States to
illustrate their commitment to the Organisation through a willingness to
provide adequate resources to all mandate programmes and activities, especially
those related to development.
Providing predictable financial resources to the United Nations
31. We emphasise that the Secretary General should receive adequate and
predictable resources to undertake effectively the numerous tasks entrusted to
the United Nations, as mandated by Member States. We regret the exceptional and
unprecedented measure of restricting the expenditures of the Organisation by
authorizing the Secretary-General only to enter into expenditures limited to
fifty percent of the approved budget of 2006. We underline that the measure
imposed upon the Organisation has adversely affected programme delivery in the
Organisation. We stress that this limit on the expenditure of the Organisation
shall be automatically lifted upon the request of the Secretary General at the
appropriate time. We call on all Member States to act accordingly.
32. We agree that the financial stability of the United Nations should not
be jeopardised. We believe that efforts to use the size of financial
contributions to push for the adoption of certain proposals are
counterproductive and violate the obligations of Member States to provide
resources for the Organisation, as enshrined in its Charter, and in accordance
with the principle of capacity to pay.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
29 May 2006
Source: SAPA
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