Strategic Framework and the Programme Budget

GROUP OF 77
GENEVA

STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. MIGUEL CARBO BENITES, AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF ECUADOR TO THE WTO, ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA, AT THE SIXTY-FIFTH SESSION OF THE WORKING ON THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AND THE PROGRAMME BUDGET (TECHNICAL COOPERATION)
(Geneva, 2 September 2013)

Mr. President, H.E. Mr. Mikhail Khvostov, (Belarus)
Mr. Petko Draganov, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD,
Mr. Guillermo Valles, Director, Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities
Mrs. Manuela Tortora, Head, Technical Cooperation Service,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

1. Allow me to begin this statement expressing our congratulations on your election as Chairman of this meeting of the Working Party on the Strategic Framework and Programme Budget. The Group of 77 and China is confident that under your able leadership we could successfully complete all the topics that have been assigned to this meeting. Also, allow me to thank the Deputy Secretary-General for his introductory words and the Secretariat of UNCTAD for the documents made available for this meeting.

Mr. President,

2. The Group of 77 and China attaches great importance to this meeting. As we have stressed in previous meetings, technical cooperation is undoubtedly the backbone that provides more visibility to the work of this organization, in large part because it produce the most tangible outcomes. This is why the relevance of UNCTAD's work is based largely on the results that may be planned, presented and evaluated in this meeting.

3. The success of UNCTAD's work is not only measured in the results that may be presented by the Secretariat, but especially in the will of all members to collaborate proactively to translate development goals in cooperation programs that can be useful, efficient, transparent and above all properly supported technically and financially.

Mr. President,

4. The Review of the technical cooperation activities of UNCTAD and their financing gives us clear clues about the status of this pillar. Developing countries look with great concern the dramatic reduction undergone by the trust fund, which passed in a single year from US$ 44.3 million to US$ 32.8 million, which implies a decline of about 26% compared to what was available in 2011.

5. While these contributions have declined in all sources, it is clear that developing countries and transition economies have progressively increased their participation in the financing of cooperation programs of UNCTAD, which has enabled somehow to hide the drastic reduction in the contributions from other members. I take this opportunity to make an urgent call for members in the possibility to do so, to strengthen their participation in the programs of UNCTAD's technical cooperation, since they are a fundamental part of the work of this organization in its efforts to use trade as an engine of development of developing countries.

6. In this efforts, it may be useful the fundraising strategy prepared by the Secretariat. The recommendations contained in this document are very important to improve the scope of the cooperation programs of UNCTAD. From these I would like to emphasize the need for multi-year contributions in thematic programs involving several donors, with funding as far as possible not committed in advance and distributed according to the requests received. Similarly, cooperation programs must follow a based-result management.

7. This meeting is the best opportunity to discuss these issues in depth. The Group of 77 and China is more than willing to establish a fruitful dialogue with other regional groups in order to find cooperation mechanisms that are equitable and effective in order to provide the technical cooperation pillar of the capabilities needed to meet the legitimate expectations of developing countries.

Mr. President,

8. Another important part of this session will focus on the evaluation of the activities of UNCTAD. We appreciate the work done to evaluate the project EMPRETEC, as well as four projects supported by the sixth tranche of the United Nations Development Account. We are pleased to know that such assessments are broadly positive and request the Secretariat to take into account the recommendations made, especially regarding the inclusion in each evaluation of the lessons learned.

9. Likewise, we thank the evaluation team of subprogram 1 of UNCTAD: Globalization, interdependence and development, 2008-2012. The evaluation shows that this division has made an outstanding job, especially at the level of publications, despite the limited resources. Of the recommendations in this report, I would like to emphasize the need to improve the framework for results-based management and to promote greater capacity building for development-centered globalization. The group that I represent is ready to discuss the contents of that document and find the best ways to ensure the implementation of its recommendations.

10. Finally, in this part of the agenda we underscore the need to advance in the implementation of the recommendations arising from the evaluation of UNCTAD's program on science and technology for development. We have counted for some months now with the work plan prepared by the Secretariat, so it is essential to accelerate the discussions to approve it. Regarding the implementation of the recommendations from the evaluation of the technical cooperation activities of UNCTAD aimed at the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and other structurally weak, vulnerable and small we are ready to receive the relevant report of the Secretariat and to discuss its contents.

Mr. President,

11. This meeting will last only three days. In this context, we must do our best effort to finish on time all the work we have before us. The Group of 77 and China is always keen to work together to find the necessary consensus to move forward the objectives set for this meeting. Please count in our contingent Mr. Chair to complete the challenge ahead.

Thank you very much.