Delivering as One High-Level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence UN Retreat: Skopje, FYR Macedonia Thursday 1 st March 2007 Presented by: CJ Ozga, UN Coordination Officer, FYR Macedonia

Overview of the presentation The High-level Panel: Mandate and Composition The High-level Panel: Mandate and Composition The Panel Process: Focus on consultation The Panel Process: Focus on consultation The Panel’s “Case for Reform” The Panel’s “Case for Reform” The Panel’s Recommendations: The Panel’s Recommendations: Development, Humanitarian assistance, Environment and Cross-cutting issuesDevelopment, Humanitarian assistance, Environment and Cross-cutting issues Funding, Governance, Business PracticesFunding, Governance, Business Practices HLP Follow-up process HLP Follow-up process

Mandate of High-Level Panel (HLP) HLP established as a direct result of the World Summit Outcome Document in September 2005 It called for much stronger system-wide coherence across the funds and programmes of the UN further strengthen the management and coordination of UN operational activities (in the field of environment, humanitarian assistance and development) It invited the SG to further strengthen the management and coordination of UN operational activities (in the field of environment, humanitarian assistance and development)

Mandate….continued… Specifically, it called on the UN to maximize its contribution to achieving internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs, and proposals for "more tightly managed entities“ It also continued support for existing reform initiatives including: a strengthened role for SG’s Special Representatives and RCs; strengthening of UNCTs through a common management programming and monitoring framework

HLP Panel Timeline February 2006: SG appointed High-level Panel on UN system-wide Coherence in the Areas of Development, Humanitarian Assistance and the Environment February 2006: SG appointed High-level Panel on UN system-wide Coherence in the Areas of Development, Humanitarian Assistance and the Environment SG requested the HLP to provide recommendations on how gender equality perspectives could be better addressed in the UN’s workSG requested the HLP to provide recommendations on how gender equality perspectives could be better addressed in the UN’s work Highest-level UN Panel “ever”: members included 3 Prime Ministers, 2 former Presidents and 10 high ranking experts (incl. 2 UN ex-officio members)Highest-level UN Panel “ever”: members included 3 Prime Ministers, 2 former Presidents and 10 high ranking experts (incl. 2 UN ex-officio members)

HLP Panel Timeline November 2006: Presented to the General Assembly November 2006: Presented to the General Assembly 2007: Implementation expected to begin HLP recommendations will complement the existing reform agenda

How can the UN System most effectively respond to the challenges of the 21st century? Are we still meeting the expectations of countries and peoples? The Panel Process - Guiding Questions -

The Case for Reform - Why now? - Significant challenges ahead … Unprecedented global change Unprecedented global change MDG deadline in 2005 is drawing closer MDG deadline in 2005 is drawing closer Increase in victims of natural disasters Increase in victims of natural disasters Environmental threats on the rise Environmental threats on the rise … but … but

The Case for Reform - Why now? - … also windows of opportunity Reform momentum of the 2005 World Summit Reform momentum of the 2005 World Summit Millennium Declaration, MDGs, Monterrey, Paris Declaration Millennium Declaration, MDGs, Monterrey, Paris Declaration Increases in ODA – to be spent wisely Increases in ODA – to be spent wisely

Expected roles of the UN  Trusted partner with the capacity to act as convener and neutral broker  Guardian of norms and standards  Value of ‘different voices’, speaking out on themes or in specific sectors  Advocate for “sensitive” issues  Operational/Technical Assistance

… instead the Panel found a UN system characterized by Fragmentation at country, regional and global level Fragmentation at country, regional and global level High transaction costs for both national partners and donors High transaction costs for both national partners and donors Inadequate and unpredictable funding, undermining UN’s multilateral character Inadequate and unpredictable funding, undermining UN’s multilateral character

Figure 2: Contributions to the UN system’s operational activities for development (core and other resources)

HLP Recommendations -- Underlying Principles -- National ownership and people-centered approaches National ownership and people-centered approaches Core comparative advantage Core comparative advantage Maximum effectiveness and accountability Maximum effectiveness and accountability

Development The Panel recommends the establishment of One UN at country level, with one leader, one programme, one budget and, where appropriate, one office … but how?

Humanitarian Assistance The Panel calls for … Stronger partnership arrangements between the UN, national governments, Red Cross and NGOs Stronger partnership arrangements between the UN, national governments, Red Cross and NGOs Full funding for Central Emergency Response Fund ( CERF)…Target: $500 million Full funding for Central Emergency Response Fund ( CERF)…Target: $500 million Clarify mandates for Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) Clarify mandates for Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) UNDP lead on early recovery UNDP lead on early recovery Greater investment in risk reduction Greater investment in risk reduction

The “How” of the One UN Establish five “One UN” pilots by 2007 (20 by 2009, 40 by 2010 and all other ‘appropriate’ countries by 2012) Enhance RC authority to lead the One Country Programme (matched by clear accountability) UNDP to consolidate and refocus its operational work UNDP to establish an institutional firewall between management of RC system and its programmatic role

Environment The Panel calls for … Stronger role for UNEP: “Real authority as the environmental policy pillar of the UN” Stronger role for UNEP: “Real authority as the environmental policy pillar of the UN” Independent assessment of international environmental governance Independent assessment of international environmental governance Strengthened Global Environment Fund (GEF) Strengthened Global Environment Fund (GEF)

C ross-cutting issues The Panel calls for … Greater focus on Sustainable Development in UN country activities – partnership between UNEP (normative) and UNDP (operational) Greater focus on Sustainable Development in UN country activities – partnership between UNEP (normative) and UNDP (operational) A stronger voice for gender equality and women’s empowerment – creation of a dynamic, fully and ambitiously funded gender entity (to absorb UNIFEM) A stronger voice for gender equality and women’s empowerment – creation of a dynamic, fully and ambitiously funded gender entity (to absorb UNIFEM) Clarify responsibilities for Human Rights Clarify responsibilities for Human Rights

Governance -- at inter-governmental level -- The Panel calls for … A high-level forum for strategic guidance on sustainable development policy and global public goods (L-27) A UN Sustainable Development Board to provide oversight of the “One UN” at country level

Governance -- at organisational level -- The Panel calls for … A new Development Coordinator A new Development Coordinator A new UN Development Policy and Operations Group (UNDPOG) to support “One UN” at country level (replacing UNDG) A new UN Development Policy and Operations Group (UNDPOG) to support “One UN” at country level (replacing UNDG) Chief Executives Board (CEB) to review its functions Chief Executives Board (CEB) to review its functions

Governance -- at regional and national level -- The Panel calls for … Regional level: (a) reorganization of UN regional setting around two functions, and (b) co-location and standardization of regions among all UN entities Regional level: (a) reorganization of UN regional setting around two functions, and (b) co-location and standardization of regions among all UN entities National level: (a) “all-of-government” approach, and (b) benchmarks for good multilateral donorship National level: (a) “all-of-government” approach, and (b) benchmarks for good multilateral donorship WB & IMF formal agreements WB & IMF formal agreements Enhance partnerships between government and civil society & private sector Enhance partnerships between government and civil society & private sector

Funding The Panel calls for … Full, multi-year core funding for agencies committed to reform Full, multi-year core funding for agencies committed to reform One Country Programme to be consolidated within a single budgetary framework with two funding sources One Country Programme to be consolidated within a single budgetary framework with two funding sources

Business Practices The Panel calls for … Harmonized business practices Harmonized business practices Independent evaluation mechanism Independent evaluation mechanism Updated and harmonized human resource policies (incl. greater staff mobility) Updated and harmonized human resource policies (incl. greater staff mobility)

HLP Follow-up Process Inter-governmental: SG presented the report to the UN General Assembly for inter-governmental follow- up (GA Working Groups, governing bodies) Inter-governmental: SG presented the report to the UN General Assembly for inter-governmental follow- up (GA Working Groups, governing bodies) SG requested UNDG to go ahead with: SG requested UNDG to go ahead with: (1) 5 “One UN” country programme pilots and strengthening of RC system.(1) 5 “One UN” country programme pilots and strengthening of RC system. ……In fact there are now 8 pilot countries: Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uruguay and Viet Nam ……In fact there are now 8 pilot countries: Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uruguay and Viet Nam (2) Business Practices(2) Business Practices (3) CEB functioning self-review(3) CEB functioning self-review (4) Strengthening the gender architecture(4) Strengthening the gender architecture

HLP Follow-up Process Inter-agency review: Report expected to be on agenda of first CEB meeting in Spring 2007 Inter-agency review: Report expected to be on agenda of first CEB meeting in Spring 2007 The Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review (TCPR) debate: in September–December 2007 The Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review (TCPR) debate: in September–December 2007

Thank You!

DEVELOPMENT Box 1 (p22-23) One United Nations at the country level — key features: One programme Country owned and signed off by Government, responsive to the national development framework, strategy and vision, including the internationally agreed development goals. Building on the United Nations country team’s common country assessment or national analysis and reflecting the United Nations added value in the specific country context. Strategic, focused and results-based, with clear outcomes and priorities, while leaving flexibility to reallocate resources to changes in priorities. Drawing on all United Nations services and expertise, including those of non-resident agencies, in order to effectively deliver a multisectoral approach to development (with due attention to crosscutting issues).

One leader Resident coordinator authority to negotiate the One Country Programme with the Government on behalf of the entire United Nations system and to shape the One Country Programme (including the authority to allocate resources from pooled and central funding mechanisms). Clear accountability framework for resident coordinators and an effective oversight mechanism for the resident coordinator system. Resident coordinator authority to hold members of the team accountable to agreed outcomes and for compliance with the strategic plan. The resident coordinator should also be accountable to the members of the United Nations country team. Strengthened resident coordinator capacity with adequate staff support to manage United Nations country team processes and ensure effective dialogue and communication with partners. Competitive selection of resident coordinator candidates, drawn from the best talent within and outside the United Nations system.

One budgetary framework Transparency, management, and the effective implementation of the One Country Programme through one budgetary framework. Funding should be linked to the performance of the United Nations country team preparing and implementing a strategic One Country Programme. The budget should be completely transparent, showing clearly the overheads and transaction costs of the United Nations and all of its funds, programmes and specialized agencies in the country. One office One integrated results-based management system, with integrated support services. Joint premises (where appropriate). A common security infrastructure and clear lines of accountability.

Background to UN reform UN has been undergoing reform for the last decade UN has been undergoing reform for the last decade Since 1997, the reform agenda has included several key reports: Since 1997, the reform agenda has included several key reports: “A Programme for Reform” (1997),“A Programme for Reform” (1997), “An Agenda for Further Change” (2002),“An Agenda for Further Change” (2002), “In Larger Freedom” (2005 World Summit).“In Larger Freedom” (2005 World Summit). A number of landmark reform oriented reports followed the 2005 World Summit. The first of these was: A number of landmark reform oriented reports followed the 2005 World Summit. The first of these was: “Investing in the UN: For a Stronger Organization Worldwide” (March 2006)“Investing in the UN: For a Stronger Organization Worldwide” (March 2006)

..continued… Background to UN reform Three further reports elaborated on this vision: Three further reports elaborated on this vision: “Comprehensive Review of Governance and Oversight”,“Comprehensive Review of Governance and Oversight”, “UN Redesign Panel on the UN Internal Justice System”, and“UN Redesign Panel on the UN Internal Justice System”, and “Delivering As One” review by the High-Level Panel on System Wide Coherence.“Delivering As One” review by the High-Level Panel on System Wide Coherence. All three of these recent reports contain far-reaching recommendations on key management processes and structures All three of these recent reports contain far-reaching recommendations on key management processes and structures The “Delivering As One” report is the most relevant to UN reform at the country level The “Delivering As One” report is the most relevant to UN reform at the country level