Group of 77 and China

To Statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China by Ambassador Munir Akram of Islamic Republic of Pakistan at the Launch of the Development Cooperation Forum at the 2007 Substantive Session of the ECOSOC 5 July 2007, Geneva

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of Group of 77 and China at the official launching of the Development Cooperation Forum during the High Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Substantive Session 2007.

2. For the Pakistan delegation and for me personally it is indeed a source of great pleasure and satisfaction to see the initiative for a revitalized and strengthened ECOSOC, launched during Pakistan's Presidency of the Economic and Social Council in 2005, translated into reality.
3. In further elaborating the vision given by our leaders at the 2005 Summit to strengthen ECOSOC, the General Assembly resolution 61/16 outlined the role of the Development Cooperation Forum:

• First, to review trends and progress and give policy guidance and recommendations;
• Second, to identify gaps and obstacles to make recommendations on practical measures and policy options to enhance development coherence and effectiveness and realize the IADGs including the MDGs;
• Third, to provide a platform for Member States to exchange lessons learned and experiences ;
• Fourth, to provide participation by all stakeholders;

4. We must utilize this outstanding opportunity to enhance global partnership for development as set out in the Millennium Declaration, the Monterrey Consensus and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
5. The Development Cooperation Forum should, together with the Annual Ministerial Review, enable the ECOSOC to:

• conduct a comprehensive review of the status and developments in international development cooperation with a view to developing integrated policy responses and identifying and addressing key gaps and challenges;
• strengthen linkages between the analytical, normative and operational work of the entire UN system and other relevant organizations;
• promote closer linkage between system-wide operational activities and the implementation of the MDGs and other internationally agreed development goals (IADGs);
• promote exchange of information on best practices and develop innovative approaches to development problems and challenges.

6. The relationship between the DCF and the AMR should be clear. The AMR is designed to review the progress in implementation of the entire range of the IADGs, including the MDGs, and to provide policy guidance for Member States, international organizations and other actors. The DCF is designed to focus on international development cooperation in all its aspects and improve its governance, effectiveness and impact to enhance the agreed development goals.
7. The only UN organ with the explicit Charter mandate to promote coordination within the UN System is the Economic and Social Council. However, ECOSOC oversight of its subsidiary machinery including the Funds and Programmes is at best perfunctory. It is almost non-existent with regard to the specialized agencies. Efforts have been made for coordination with the BWIs for development policy issues after Monterrey Consensus but there is virtually no coordination on programmes and projects.
8. The DCF is designed to redress this unfortunate situation. In fact, the need for effective governance of development cooperation is now specially acute, given the growing globalization, the interdependence of economic, social and environmental goals, the acknowledged needs of developing countries, specially the poorest and the most vulnerable among them, the growing number of development actors and stakeholders, the experience of past successes and failures and above all, the grave consequences to failure to address and redress poverty and hunger and the glaring inequalities in this increasingly integrated world.
9. Fortunately, there is evidence of a greater willingness on the part of all concerned - developing countries, donors, international organizations, civil society and the private sector - to act together, coherently to promote the goals of development.
10. Let me outline some preliminary views on the objectives and organization of the DCF. The Group of 77 and China will submit more specific views as we proceed for the DCF next year.
11. The overall purpose of the DCF should be to ensure that:

    One, that development cooperation is responsive to the needs of the developing countries, as set out in their national development plans and strategies and to the IADGs and MDGs.

    Two, to ensure that the quantity and quality of development financing is adequate and appropriate to the needs of the recipient countries,

    Three, to ensure that development cooperation achieves the desired objectives and results,

    Four, that such cooperation is pursued in a coordinated and coherent manner at the national, regional and global level.

12. The effectiveness and relevance of the DCF will depend to a large extent on the ability to monitor implementation. As in the case of the AMR, we would advocate the development of agreed criteria and benchmarks to measure the implementation, effectiveness and results of development cooperation. In this context, the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness is a useful beginning. The indicators and benchmarks, it has set out should be further elaborated and refined to ensure mutual accountability and equal responsibilities for both the recipient and donor countries. This can and should be done within the DCF, not in forums restricted to donors only.
13. The effectiveness of the DCF will also depend considerably on the nature and quality of the documentation and data prepared for its consideration. Such documentation and data could most usefully follow a bottom-up approach - analyzing the information submitted by the recipient countries, as well as by donors, international organizations and civil society. It is vital that bilateral donors, UN funds and programmes and the IFIs be prepared to provide information on their respective development cooperation programmes and activities at the country, regional, and global levels. Its would be the responsibility of the UN - DESA to analyze this information and submit the appropriate conclusions regarding trends, gaps, challenges at the policy or operational levels, for the consideration of the DCF.
14. The system of choosing "themes" for consideration at a particular DCF requires further reflection. In fact, the issues to be addressed by a DCF should emerge from the information and data made available for analysis and review, rather than being pre-determined a year or two in advance. However, a DCF meeting could decide, in advance, to address a particular issue, besides reviewing the trend reported, such as Aid Effectiveness, Aid for Trade, the debt situation, financing infrastructure etc. so as to assess their impact and relevance for the realization of development goals and objectives.

Mr. President,

15. Today, the United Nations - the only organization with universal membership and ability to bring all stakeholders together - can serve as the instrument to achieve the comprehensive, coherent and effective global economic and social governance required to address the vital issues of development. The DCF, together with the AMR, can be key component of such global governance.

I thank you.