Mr. President, Executive Directors, Excellencies, colleagues,
In addition to the joint statement delivered by Germany, Denmark wishes to add a few remarks in our national capacity.
***
Firstly, Denmark would like to thank for the latest information provided. We appreciate the active engagement with UN80 work packages.
Denmark remains firmly committed to the UN and effective multilateralism as signified by our 0.7 commitment and substantial core contributions to selected UN agencies, funds and programs. Thus, we have a clear interest in ensuring an effective and coherent UN development system.
The UN80 initiative is a unique opportunity to address fragmentation, competition and duplication in the UN Development System to enable the UN to deliver as one at country level with a strong mandate for RC’s to deliver impactful leadership and collective results to host countries.
We continue to call on all UN agencies, funds and programmes to engage fully, at all levels to help drive reform ambitions forward.
***
Denmark continues to see clear value in exploring closer integration, including through a possible merger, between UNFPA and UN-Women. We would like to thank both the UNFPA, UN Women and the Secretary General for the latest information provided regarding the UNFPA-UN Women merger assessment.
The mandates of both organisations continue to be core priorities for Denmark; it is critical that mandates and mandate delivery is protected. Denmark will stand firm on this.
In case of a merger, operational disruptions on country-level must be minimized.
Denmark does not support the exploration of a merger as a cost saving exercise. Any decision with regard to the merger assessment should be guided by the aim of strengthening coherence, institutional capacity, and ensuring more effective and impactful delivery of mandates at country-level in the long-term.
***
Denmark continues to support the proposal to explore the potential of a merger of UNDP and UNOPS. Considerations regarding this proposed merger should be guided by the same overall principles.
We welcome the joint development of a draft terms of reference for an independent assessment. We encourage both UNDP and UNOPS to help progress in a timely manner.
***
Denmark looks forward to engage constructively in the way forward.
Thank you.
