Mr. Chair,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the Overview and crosscutting issues of the financing of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

2. The Group notes that the overall resource requirements for UN peacekeeping operations for 2024/2025 is USD 5.69 billion, which represents a decrease of USD 639.6 million or 10.1 percent compared with the approved resources for the 2023/2024 budget period with the largest decrease mainly from the closure of MINUSMA, downsizing of MONUSCO and the scheduled drawdown of ATMIS.

3. The Group will carefully consider the resource requirements of the missions in order to ensure that resources are commensurate with the mandated tasks and operational environment on the ground and the Group will also be actively engaged in the discussion on the policies of administration and management of peacekeeping operations.

4. The Group reiterates that the Secretariat must implement relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly through financial discipline and adherence to the delivery of mandates laid down in relevant resolutions without the Secretariat unilaterally deciding which mandates carry a high priority or not.

Mr. Chair,

5. The Group notes that there are 905 vacant posts, with 21 posts having been vacant for more than 24 months while there are still requirements on the establishment of new posts. The Group expresses its concern about this high number of vacant posts in civilian staffing and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that vacant posts are filled as expeditiously as possible as this high level of vacancies stand to impede mandate implementation.

6. On the issue of representation, the Group recalls that the Secretary-General has been requested to intensify his efforts to ensure proper representation of troop and police-contributing countries, particularly at the senior and policymaking levels, in the field missions and the relevant departments, and will be interested in understanding targeted programmes, initiatives and relevant aspects of senior managers' compacts geared towards addressing the issue of representation for TCCs/PCCs, especially from the developing countries that continue to make huge contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts.

7. The Group is of the view that the selection of candidates from un and underrepresented Member States should be encouraged in peacekeeping operations based on equitable geographical representation while providing an equal opportunity for all member states to contribute and participate in the UN operations and upholding international peace and security in a proportionate manner.

8. Regarding nationalization, the Group notes with concern that only one international volunteer position is proposed for nationalization even after numerous requests to consider and propose options for greater nationalization of functions when formulating budget submissions. We encourage the Secretary-General to propose to nationalize more posts and enhance national capacity-building efforts in his next reports.

9. On the quick impact projects and programmatic activities, the Group continues to believe that they play a key role in establishing and building confidence in the missions and implementation of their mandates, and they should be enhanced while relying on previous experiences and lessons learned, in order to help build confidence in missions, their mandates and political and peace processes within their areas of operation.

Mr. Chair,

10. The Group also notes the initiatives that are aimed at improving the safety and security of peacekeepers as a critical aspect of peacekeeping operations. We continue to emphasize that the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, particularly resolution 2518 (2020), should be fully implemented to avoid casualties and we encourage the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts to mitigate the risks to the safety and security of all personnel in peacekeeping operations including improving the casualty evacuation performance. The Group stands ready to support initiatives for the safety and security of peacekeepers.

11. On the use of information and communication technology, the Group will be interested in understanding how the different software and systems and other ICT capabilities, including Unite Aware, Situational Awareness Geospatial Enterprise (SAGE), Integrated Planning, Management and Reporting (IPMR), Comprehensive Planning and Performance Assessment System (CPAS) complement each other and the efforts to avoid duplication in function of these systems, especially in terms of resource requirements.

Mr. Chair,

12. Regarding the support account, the Group is of the view that the level of support functions should be scalable to the number, size and scope of peacekeeping operations and that the support account should broadly correspond to the evolving mandate, number, size, and complexity of peacekeeping operations in the field in order to achieve greater cost effectiveness while providing backstopping support. We look forward to the report of the Secretary-General on the review of the support account. The Group will, however, be interested in understanding why this report is scheduled to be introduced in the main session, which is not a traditional peacekeeping session.

13. On the report of the Office of the Internal Oversight Services, the Group notes that the Office issued 65 internal audit and evaluation reports containing 358 recommendations relating to peace operations, we also note that six recommendations had not been accepted by management, and a total of 338 recommendations were closed during 2023, an increase compared with 2022 period.

14. The Group further notes that of the 531 audit and evaluation recommendations issued to peace operations (including in prior years) that were open at the end of 2023, 128 (24 percent) had been open for between 12 and 24 months, while 126 (24 percent) had been open for more than 24 months compared with 29 percent and 16 percent respectively during the previous year. The Group trusts that OIOS will continue to work closely with the entities to address the slow and selective implementation of its recommendations.

15. In conclusion, Mr. Chair, the Group will engage constructively with a view to concluding this agenda item successfully in a timely manner.

I thank you.