Co-Chairs to Deliver First Coherence Report Next Week, Gender Note Also Expected

New York, 18 July 2008 – Delegates from the Asian Group of Member States met today for an advance briefing on the co-Chairs’ report on the first basket of System-wide Coherence issues.

The report will be submitted to the President of the General Assembly, Srgjan Kerim, at the start of next week. Member States also will receive the Secretary-General’s second concept paper on gender architecture early next week.

The reports are intended to provide Member States with a complete picture of the current status of the first four System-wide Coherence issues to be considered – Delivering as One, Funding, Governance, and Gender Equality (an aspect of which is gender architecture).

For recent background on basket consultations, see Latest Development Issue #261.

For recent background on Gender Equality, see Latest Development Issue #265.

Advance Remarks on Co-Chairs’ Report

Addressing Member States, Co-Chair Kavanagh made the following remarks on the co-Chairs’ report:

Delivering as One

Delivering as One is the cornerstone of the report. Referring to the success of the initiative, he noted that many of the pilot countries “have a grip and command” over their development-related activities for the first time.

Funding

The co-Chairs’ report does not comment on the Doha Funding for Development debate. Instead, it notes the need for improved donor commitments and greater predictability of funding. The report also makes clear the need for improved core, and diminished non-core, funding.

Governance

The report discusses the lack of appetite for the creation of new agencies in the UN system, as well as Member States’ desire to put aside the idea of creating a Sustainable Development Board. The report suggests that the General Assembly focus instead on improving existing functions.

Gender Equality

The General Assembly is still awaiting the Secretary-General’s second concept note on gender architecture. Any options on institutional reform will be decided after it is issued and reviewed.

Next Steps

Both the co-Chairs’ report on System-wide Coherence and the Secretary-General’s second concept note on gender architecture will be made available to Member States next week.

Further System-wide Coherence discussions will take place following the reports’ release, likely sometime in August.

Documents

2006 High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence (9 November 2006)

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