Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Board, The UNDP Administrator,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the G77 and China.

The Group wishes to thank UNDP Administrator, Mr. Achim Steiner, for the report on the work of the Organization in 2023 and progress against the Strategic Plan, 2022-2025.

Developing countries continue to face unprecedented challenges that hinders their ability to recover from the negative socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the multiple crises. At the mid-way point on our way to 2030, a preliminary assessment of the roughly 140 targets with data show that only about 12% of the SDGs are on track. In addition, the world is back at hunger levels not seen since 2005; 575 million people will still be living in extreme poverty in 2030 and only about one third of countries will meet the target to halve national poverty levels.

The United Nations Development System has a crucial role to play in supporting countries national efforts to achieve the SDGs and overcoming development challenges. The Group appreciates the significant efforts by the UNDP in assisting the developing countries in this regard.

In a year marked by the convening of the Summit of the future, the Group reiterates the importance it accords to the core development mandate of the UNDP in supporting national efforts in sustainable development and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, in line with countries' national needs and priorities. UNDP's strategic support to Member States' efforts in implementing the outcomes of the Summit will be fundamental, leveraging its integrator role within the UN. The Group commends UNDP's commitment to pioneering innovative financing solutions, including through the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), climate financing, digitalization, and advancing development in crisis settings. For us, the UNDP is at the core of the UN development system, and we shall maintain its centrality therein.

We reiterate our overarching common goal to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, recognized as the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. UNDP's efforts in poverty eradication are highly needed and must remain a core focus of the UNDP work as an integral objective of all policies and be addressed as a multidimensional phenomenon and truly leave no one behind.

The Group would like to stress the importance of the adaptation efforts of the UNDP in order to respond in a flexible manner to the development challenges of developing countries while taking into account the lessons learned from the implementation of the current Strategic Plan and the Objectives of the 2030 Agenda.

It is critical that Member States fulfil their funding commitments to enable UNDP and other entities to respond to rapidly changing development conditions. Securing core funding for development activities is indispensable to achieve the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda, UNDP's Strategic Plan, and to sustain its central role in the reinvigorated development system. The Group reiterates, in this regard, the importance of meeting ODA commitments, which will remain crucial for the SDGs.

The imbalance between the core and non-core resources continues to be a matter of grave concern at a time when the challenges for development are increasing. We stress the importance of the predictability and availability of regular resources to allow UNDP to fulfill its mandate in an efficient and independent manner.

The Group emphasizes that global coordinated efforts are needed to ensure real progress towards the SDGs and the well-being of our populations. Cutting funding for development can have irreversible effects in developing countries.

As we head towards the upcoming QCPR process, the Group stresses the need to shift our collective focus from process-oriented reforms to impact-driven acceleration of the SDG implementation.

The Group welcomes the references in the report regarding the results achieved through South-South Cooperation initiatives and recalls the conclusions of the 22nd session of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation held last year. In this regard, we commend the UN Office for South-South Cooperation for achieving a satisfactory conclusion of the session.

Finally, the Group looks forward to a constructive discussion during this session of the Executive Board and we look forward to strengthening our close cooperation with UNDP with the aim of achieving long-term development and prosperity for our people.

Thank you.