GA/EF/2918

SECOND COMMITTEE CONCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT

As the interdependence of national economies had increased, so had the importance of strengthening the United Nations operational activities for development, the representative of the Republic of Korea told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) this afternoon, as it concluded its consideration of operational activities for development.

Operational activities should be re-examined and improved to meet the challenges of globalization and the changing world economy, he said. While applauding the international community for its efforts to expand the core resource base for operational activities, he said Member States should also muster the political will to secure development resources on a stable basis.

India�s representative said that the development programmes of the United Nations could only respond to the increasingly multi-dimensional requirements and current challenges of the developing countries, if they had the means and the support required. After all, developing countries and the United Nations could not thrive on a diet of plentiful advice alone. Lack of resources, and the possibility of diverting already scarce resources to other high profile activities, such as peacekeeping operations, were of deep concern.

As far as the funding of operational activities was concerned, the representative of Ukraine admitted that despite numerous General Assembly decisions, resources during the last decade showed a considerable downfall. The catalytic role of United Nations technical cooperation was by far greater than financial resources devoted to that end. He hoped that today�s discussion would further promote the effectiveness of the United Nations funds and restore growth and predictability to their core resource base.

While saluting the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for the progress achieved last year and recognizing the gains in the attainment of gender equality, Saint Lucia�s representative, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), noted that there was much more to be done. The productive capacity of women must be developed to enhance their contribution to a stronger economy. She welcomed the strengthened cooperation between UNIFEM and the UNDP but asked that the distinct mandate of the Fund be upheld.

The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 12 October, to begin consideration of sustainable development and international economic cooperation.

Second Committee - 2 - Press Release GA/EF/2918 11th Meeting (PM) 10 October 2000

Committee Work Programme

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) met this afternoon to conclude its discussion on operational activities for development. (For a summary of the report before the Committee, please see Press Release GA/EF/2917.)

Statements

OLEKSII HOLUBOV (Ukraine) commended the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for its work aimed at empowering women by increasing their involvement in economic activity, promoting governance and leadership, and protecting human rights. Ukraine believed that UNIFEM was a key agency for promoting gender mainstreaming in the United Nations system and encouraged it to continue these efforts.

The operational activities for development of the United Nations system continued to play an important role in rendering assistance according to the needs and priorities of the recipient countries. The United Nations was well-placed and had a unique mandate to address the issues of peace and development in an integrated manner. Ukraine believed that the main operational arm of the United Nations system, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), had made a considerable effort to translate new goals of the international community into meaningful results. The UNDP should continue to play a central role in the United Nations development system.

As far as the funding of operational activities was concerned, it must be admitted that in spite of the numerous decisions adopted by the General Assembly, resources for operational activities during the last decade showed a considerable downfall. The catalytic role of United Nations technical cooperation was much greater than financial resources devoted to that end. Next year, his country would become the largest UNDP recipient of development assistance in the region. He expressed hope that today�s discussion would further promote the effectiveness of the United Nations funds and restore growth and predictability to their core resource base.

N. D. TIWARI, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, Parliament of India, said that there were many who continued to believe that market forces, once freed, would naturally take care of all problems. That had led to the self-serving belief that private flows should increasingly replace official development assistance (ODA). The recent studies on trends of growth and development in most of the developing countries indicated that the miracle of the �trickle-down effect� to alleviate poverty levels had not occurred. Regional disparities within and among poor countries had widened and the landless, homeless and unemployed felt increasingly helpless and frustrated in such societies. Poverty slowly diminished with growth but inequalities expanded.

The development programmes of the United Nations could only respond to the increasingly multi-dimensional requirements of the developing countries and the current challenges they faced if they had the means and the support required, he continued. After all, developing countries and the United Nations could not thrive on a diet of plentiful advice alone. Lack of resources, and the possibility of diversion of already scarce resources to the other high profile activities of the United Nations system, like peacekeeping operations, were a cause of deep concern. While the importance of bilateral programmes for development could not and should not be minimized, the global mission for prosperity for all could only be achieved through multilateral help under the leadership of the United Nations and its agencies.

He said that India attached the highest importance to gender empowerment, which incidentally had been identified by the Government as one of the two themes of the Indian United Nations Development Assistance Framework. India had adopted a two-pronged strategy for the empowerment of women �- to mainstream gender in all policies and programmes across all sectors and to make women-specific interventions wherever required. The gains were visible. Literacy rates for women, although still inadequate, were rising fast. Also, organizing women�s collectives and self-help groups had helped in the economic empowerment of women.

SONIA LEONCE-CARRYL (Saint Lucia), speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said that the development of the United Nations should be strengthened, particularly in the context of globalization. Poverty persisted and was increasing mainly in developing countries. Conflicts were also increasing, as the development needs of the developing countries increased and the disparities in the global economy became more pronounced. Development should be placed on equal footing with the pursuit of peace.

A significant instrument in achieving the United Nations mandate in development was the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, she said. It was therefore of great concern to CARICOM that core resources for development continued to decline. Non-core resources should supplement, not replace core resources for development. She was sorry to note that developed countries with the capacity to meet the United Nations ODA target were instead decreasing their contributions to core resources.

The report before the Committee listed a number of achievements of UNIFEM, she said. The CARICOM saluted UNIFEM for the progress achieved last year and recognized the gains in the attainment of gender equality. However, there was much more to be done. It was a known fact that women bore the brunt of the adverse effects of globalization. The contribution of women to the global economy could not be ignored nor marginalized. It was therefore important that the productive capacity of women be developed to enhance their contribution to a stronger economy. The CARICOM welcomed the strengthened cooperation between UNIFEM and the UNDP but asked that the distinct mandate of UNIFEM be upheld.

CHA YOUNG-CHEOL (Republic of Korea) said that as the interdependence of national economies had increased, the importance of strengthening the United Nations operational activities for development had increased along with it. Operational activities should be re-examined and improved to meet the challenges of globalization and the changing world economy. Next year�s triennial policy review would provide an excellent opportunity to reassess the ongoing operational activities for development. He noted with concern that ODA had been declining in recent years and that funding for operational activities for development, particularly for the UNDP, had been stagnant since 1992. Given those dwindling resources, existing funds must be used more efficiently.

In that regard, he applauded the international community for its efforts to expand the core resource base for operational activities, he said. In addition, Member States should also muster the political will to secure development resources on a stable basis. With regard to UNIFEM, he was pleased to learn that

both UNIFEM�s core and non-core resources had increased recently, despite the general trend of decreasing voluntary contributions to the United Nations funds and programmes.

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