04.06.2025 Joint Statement at the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS

Checked Against Delivery

UNDP SEGMENT

I deliver this statement on behalf of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the EU as a donor, and my own country, Denmark.

Mister president, Administrator Steiner,

We applaud the Administrator for his significant contributions to multilateral development cooperation and for his role in UNDP’s impactful results.

Rather than looking back, we use this opportunity to look forward. The context in which UNDP operates and designs its new Strategic Plan is unprecedented and uncertain; with less than five years to achieve the SDG’s, extraordinary financial constraints and growing complex needs.

Allow us to start by expressing appreciation for the extensive consultations undertaken by UNDP over the past months. While we acknowledge that the UNDP Strategic Plan is an agency document - and not the result of intergovernmental negotiations - the opportunity for us to be part of the process has contributed to a strong draft.

There are a few points we would like to make:

1. First, we re-emphasize the need for the new Strategic Plan to be firmly grounded in the 2030 Agenda, the Pact for the Future, the QCPR and lessons learned. We encourage UNDP to not only focus on what it does well, but also particularly on where there is room for improvement within the organization. We also call for sharp analysis of the role of UNDP within the multilateral development system, including where it can partner with other entities based on complementarity.

    

2. Second, we underline the critical importance of a focused Plan and welcome the 4 core offers. In a time where the UN system and funding are under pressure, we believe this plan can even more clearly outline UNDP’s comparative advantage within the system. This should be based on proven expertise in supporting the development agenda of countries and people in line with Agenda 2030. We applaud UNDP’s approach for looking at the various themes through an integrated and systems-based approach.

    

3. Third, we expect UNDP to remain firm in its normative mandate and role. What differentiates the UN from other organizations is its mandate to set norms and guard their implementation. The SDGs and international human rights frameworks guide the UN’s development work. These should remain UNDP’s guiding light. We call for stronger language on SDGs, human rights, poverty eradication, gender equality, and Leaving No One Behind. How will UNDP uphold the frameworks that are foundational to its mandate?

    

4. Fourth, we urge UNDP to ensure the new Plan is both ambitious and realistic. No matter how conceptually sound an approach to development is, without sufficient budget it cannot be implemented. How will UNDP ensure budgetary resilience to realize its ambitions, in the reality of todays constrained financial context and broader reform efforts? Where will you prioritize and how will UNDP demonstrate its adaptability, including in business model, IRRF and budget?

Mister president, we underline the importance of a robust and agile organization. We often discuss in this Board the conditions for successful delivery for impact. A healthy organizational culture, strong oversight and accountability functions, a rigorous approach to risk management and future proof systems are critical. We encourage UNDP to remain investing in all these dimensions to ensure that UNDP continues to deliver on the SDGs.

Finally, the UN is undergoing significant change and reform. The UN80 initiative must contribute to more impact and efficiency. Given UNDP’s special role and extensive country presence, it is important that UNDP contributes to this, including at country level under the overall coordination and leadership of the Resident Coordinators.

Mister Administrator, from our side, we will continue supporting UNDP and its mandate, as well as advocating or flexible and predictable resources to enable UNDP to deliver.

Thank you.