Statement By
Maldives on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
Agenda Item 25: Operational Activities for Development
12 October 2015
Mr. Chairman,
1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). AOSIS aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
2. Firstly, Mr. Chair, we wish to thank the Secretary-General for his report on this agenda item, and also the Joint Inspection Unit for its recommendations, as contained in documents A/70/62 and JIU/REP/2014/1, respectively.
3. Against the backdrop of the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda), and the forthcoming 2016 deadline for the Assembly's quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, SIDS once again underscores that the guiding principles for operational activities for development is in poverty reduction, economic growth and sustainable development, and therefore reiterates its call for a strengthened UN operational activities for development, which can deliver effective, efficient, coherent and impactful assistance to developing countries, and countries in special SIDS.
4. We continue to note with concern the growing imbalance between the core and non-core funding, and also the shift over the years by donors towards non-core contributions. Core funding means more predictability, more untied aid, and by extension a strengthening of the multilateral development assistance, and also to a greater extent a greater coherence in programme delivery which would undoubtedly enhance the effectiveness of programmes in recipient countries. We also underscore the importance of increasing the
development effectiveness, programme based approaches, and the use of country systems for activities managed by the public sector.
5. Development can be made more effective and predictable by providing developing countries with regular and timely indicative information on planned support, so that recipient countries can exercise more ownership over their own development, national institutions and capacity to ensure the best results.
6. As we transition from the Millennium Development Goals to the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals, SIDS have high expectations that the United Nations development system will provide coherent and integrated support, tailored to our changing needs and priorities, as well as facilitate reliable source of core funding.
Mr Chairman,
7. Data shows that SIDS receive very little Official Development Assistance as a share of total ODA, at just 5.7% according to the World Bank statistics. However, financing from all sources, remain important means of advancing sustainable development in SIDS, and sustained investment in development remains key for maintaining our development gains. SIDS have specific structural vulnerabilities associated with their unique geography, that present specific challenges to their development. And if we continue without addressing the specific financing challenges we face, SIDS will be left behind.
8. This is why SIDS have invited all stakeholders, public and private, to build partnerships with us, that are SIDS specific, that are genuine, durable and based on mutual respect with mutual benefits. And we see South-South cooperation as an important partnership for our development.
9. Over the past five years South-South cooperation has been on the rise and we support its integration, along with triangular cooperation, in the policies and strategic framework of funds and programmes of the operational activities for development of the United Nations System. However, this is only to complement not to replace North-South cooperation, which should continue to take the lead in development cooperation.
Mr Chairman
10. SIDS also take a keen interest in the ongoing discussions on enhancing system wide coherence and integration. We welcome efforts to ensure that development is addressed in a coherent manner, where the development architecture of the United Nations, with Member States, work in concert to achieve the 2030 Agenda, and specific Programmes of Action for countries in special situation, such as the SAMOA Pathway.
11. And as identified in the SAMOA Pathway, we ask that the United Nations system incorporate the priorities, and activities of SIDS into their relevant strategic and programmatic frameworks, and give due consideration to the specific challenges faced by SIDS, and include the necessary support to augment our capacities.
I thank you
