We are on the right path but need to do more for a better world for all - says General Secretary at a UN reform conference
(left to right) Ms. Zineb Touimi-Benjelloun, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Albania, Mr. Simon Koppers, Head of Division for United Nations, Ms. Helen Clark, Chair of the UNDG and Mr. Edmond Haxhinasto, Deputy Prime Minister of Albania at the closing session of Tirana Conference
High Level Intergovernmental Conference on Delivering as One, 27 -28 June 2012 in Tirana – The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon hailed the strides made by countries that volunteered to spearhead the process of the accelerated reform of his organization known as the Delivering as One (DaO) initiative, aimed at improving its overall coherence, efficiency and effectiveness. At the same time he appealed for more concerted efforts so that the UN can better respond to the challenges of creating a better world.
The Secretary General made the remarks at the fifth High Level Intergovernmental Conference on DaO held June 27 -28, in Tirana, Albania, bringing together 200 participants among them, high Government and United Nations representatives, experts, multilateral and bilateral cooperation authorities from more than 40 countries across the world.
”The United Nations can foster progress that cuts across different areas, from human rights to economy, from social justice to the environment. I applaud the Delivering as One countries for their vision, leadership and determination. Now that the pilot phase is coming to an end, we have to carry the reform to the next level. That will require all the leadership and determined action. I count on all of you to be part of this important drive for progress. Where we Deliver as One we can deliver better for all.” underlined the Secretary General through a video message.
This message for a better coordinated UN was echoed by the Chair of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG), Ms. Helen Clark in her opening remarks to the conference:”Indeed, in the context of multi-dimensional challenges the world is currently facing, fragmented approaches and solutions are simply no longer acceptable. The UN development system must be part of the solution, not part of the problem. This Conference clearly demonstrates our commitment to improve the way we work for better development outcomes on the ground.”
To illustrate this statement, Ms. Clark added: “This is clearly reflected in the recently released independent evaluation of Delivering as One, which provides an important contribution to the discussion on the future of the UN reform and how we can best work together for the benefit of all. One of the Evaluation’s most significant findings is that through the Delivering as One approach the UN development system has been better positioned to apply the kind of integrated policy solutions and responses needed to address the multi-dimensional and interlinked challenges of our time.
In conclusion, Ms. Clark stated: “After five years of implementing the Delivering as One approach – first working with the eight pilot countries, and then with a range of self-starters – and after numerous reports, evaluations, and conferences, we are reaching a turning point in the process of UN reform. This Conference therefore takes place at a pivotal point in time. The discussions on the QCPR [Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review] start in only a few weeks, and now is a unique occasion to identify concrete recommendations on the way forward, based on what we have learned.”
The conference produced an outcome document entitled “The United Nations we want - our commitment to the way forward” which reaffirms that Delivering as One (DaO) constitutes an important and unique reform initiative for achieving a more coherent, efficient and effective UN, as the most legitimate, universal and representative forum to address the global development agenda. It also reaffirms the continued support to DaO and urges other countries in the process of preparing UN programmes to adopt the DaO approach. The outcome document contains some concrete recommendations on how to move forward and will be an important input to the discussions at the General Assembly later this year on UN’s development work within the frame of the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR).
Mozambique, one of the pilot countries of the DaO initiative participated in the conference with a delegation lead by Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, H.E. Eduardo Koloma, who was joined by the UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Jennifer Topping. In his address to the conference, the Vice-Minister emphasized the relevance of the reform for the Government and noted how coherence of UN’s response to the needs and priorities of Mozambique had greatly improved. “The UN has strengthened its position as a relevant and important partner to the Government”, concluded the Vice Minister.
The other DaO pilot countries are Tanzania, Ruanda, Vietnam, Uruguay, Pakistan, Cape Verde, as well as conference hosts, Albania. There are also a number of countries known as “self starters” who are already implementing the DaO initiative although they are not part of the original pilot group of countries.