I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Group of 77 and China.

The Group of G-77 and China has considered the report on ‘Evaluation of UNDP assistance to conflict-affected countries’ (DP/2007/3) and ‘Management Response to the Evaluation of UNDP Assistance to conflict-affected countries’ (DP/2007/4).

The Group feels that the contents of these two reports relate to systemic and structural issues that we feel don not fall within the purview of our discussion in the Executive Board and ought to be discussed in the General Assembly and ECOSOC. We believe that UNDP has a central role to play in the field of development and would like to see this strengthened.

We have noted with concern that UNDP Management has already initiated action on some of the recommendations of this evaluation prior to Board’s consideration or approval. We are also concerned that management has drawn its mandate for implementation of these recommendations from some of the documents, including Report of High Level Panel on System Wide Coherence as well as MTSP 2008-2011, which have not yet been considered or approved through inter-governmental process.

The Group stresses that UNDP operations should focus on delivering effectively in the transition from relief to development. We feel that, through its core competence, UNDP should continue to contribute in the recovery process in the disaster situations. In the same spirit, we expect that emphasis of evaluation report should be on development aspect of UNDP activities.

In view of the above, the Group would request for the withdrawal of these two reports.

I thank you.