UN Member States call for transformative policies and quality funding, crucial for the UN’s boost for People and Planet

By R Anil Kumar

United Nations, 20 May. The world stands at a pivotal moment. With less than six years for 2030 to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the path ahead is fraught with intertwined and increasingly complex challenges. With record-breaking climate phenomena, economic instability, debt distress, geopolitical tensions, and conflicts, all eyes are on world leaders to keep up their promise to advance the SDGs and leave no one behind.

This includes countries’ requests for the United Nations to deliver support through these turbulent times and steer us toward a sustainable future.

From 14-16 May 2024, the United Nations headquarters in New York was abuzz with discussions as representatives of Member States, UN entities, and Resident Coordinators from various countries gathered for the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Segment on Operational Activities for Development.

This session provided a platform to review the achievements made so far and to strategize on the additional momentum required for the UN development system in these challenging times.

The forum offered deep insights into how the significant development gains, achieved through UN reforms over the past five years, can be consolidated and scaled up to ensure sustained progress. Attendees focused on strengthening collaborative efforts and enhancing the effectiveness of development initiatives, aiming to address the evolving global challenges more robustly.

Resident Coordinators and UN country teams are serving as a cornerstone for sustainable development. They deliver the UN’s integrated offer through various aspects of development, through transformative policy and programming supportthat bring sustainable solutions for the diverse challenges and needs of countries and communities around the world.

“The UN’s work across the system and with Governments is becoming more joined-up and coordinated every year,” Secretary-General AntónioGuterres said, referring to his report on the UN’s promise to Member States on its work on sustainable development, the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of UN Operational Activities for Development.

Making his intentions of securing sustainable and predictable funding for the UN development system very clear, he added, “Above all, we need solidarity — with countries more able to provide support helping those less able to do so.”

To make the most of the UN’s offer at the country, regional and global levels, development coordination plays a vital role.

The 2024 Report of the Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group on the Resident Coordinator system (UNSDG) showcases how Resident Coordinators (RCs) are instrumental in fostering effective collaboration among UN entities, the Government and partners, resulting in impactful and unified support for countries’ sustainable development efforts.

“The Resident Coordinator system has consolidated as the bedrock of a development system that is being called upon to deliver with renewed pace and scale – addressing unparalleled and unforeseen global challenges,” said UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, who serves as the Chair of the UNSDG. Calling attention to the concerning state of funding for the work of the UNdevelopment system, she said, “The RC system is constrained by the inadequate financial resources available. Last year’s shortfall of $68m continued to hamper and scale back the [UN] system’s ability to deliver.”Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Development Coordination

Echoing this and drawing attention to the need to revitalize the Funding Compact , which aims to improve the quantity and quality of funding for the UN to be responsive and impactful for the SDGs, Assistant Secretary-General for Development Coordination Oscar Fernandez-Taranco said that, “without a fundamental change to the modalities of funding the UN development system, efforts to reform would only ever go so far.” He added, “Funding itself serves as a driver – or potentially a barrier – for a more effective, more coherent, more efficient development offer by UN entities”.

Ahead of the Summit of the Future and a new review of UN Operational Activities for Development in the fall, which will guide the UN development system for the next four years before the 2030 Agenda deadline expires, these deliberations provide a firm foundation for both Member States and the UN family alike to reinforce and accelerate efforts and collective momentum needed to fast-track the world to a, fairer, greener and more resilient world for all.