8 June 2015
CEB Reports on 2014 Activities to Support Climate, MDGs, and Post-2015 Preparations
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In its 2014 annual overview report, the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) concludes that the Board has contributed to efforts by the UN system to enhance coordination and coherence on various programmatic, management and operational issues in support of intergovernmental mandates and priorities.

The report to the UN Economic and Social Council (E/2015/71) provides information on progress and initiatives undertaken by the UN system on the the post-2015 development agenda and climate change, among other issues.

CEB29 April 2015: In its 2014 annual overview report, the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) concludes that the Board has contributed to efforts by the UN system to enhance coordination and coherence on various programmatic, management and operational issues in support of intergovernmental mandates and priorities. The report to the UN Economic and Social Council (E/2015/71) provides information on progress and initiatives undertaken by the UN system on the the post-2015 development agenda and climate change, among other issues.

The report includes sections on: promoting system-wide preparation for and follow-up to UN conferences and summits; strengthening policy coherence and coordination; enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact of UN operational activities for development; improving and innovating administrative and management functions of the UN system; implementing the International Public Sector Accounting Standards; improving transparency and accountability; and coordination between the CEB and other jointly financed bodies.

The annual report also provides an update on the review of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which was set up in 2012, to help accelerate progress in countries experiencing difficulties in achieving one or more of the goals. By the end of 2014, the report notes, the Board had reviewed 14 countries, and the review helped UN country teams improve collaboration and bridge sectoral silos. The CEB notes that the review process: does not duplicate existing goal tracking and monitoring mechanisms; is being carried out at the level of Executive Heads, under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General, the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the President of the World Bank Group as Co-Chairs; identifies bottlenecks preventing progress in meeting the MDGs; and determines specific steps for UN system organizations to help countries to achieve results.

The report includes information on coordinating UN system-wide support in the preparation of the post-2015 development agenda, and notes that the CEB took specific steps to support Member States in the transition to the agenda. For instance, it recalls that the UN High-level Committee on Management (HLCM) and the UN High-level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) held a joint session in October 2014 that brought together over 100 senior managers from UN system organizations to consider a wide range of actions to enhance the system’s complementarities and synergies in support of the new development framework. The CEB also considered the recommendations contained in the report of the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development (IEAG) and called for the preparation of a programme of work to strengthen the internal capacity of the UN system to leverage new and innovative approaches to data in support of national data capabilities, the report says.

The report highlights action taken on climate change, noting that the HLCP, through its Working Group on Climate Change, expanded its efforts in 2014 to make the UN system’s climate-related expertise and services more accessible to Member States and other partners. The Working Group undertook: the publication of a brochure written and produced by 40 UN entities on ‘How the UN system supports ambitious action on climate change,’ which was launched at the UN Climate Summit in September 2014; and the organization of ten joint UN system side events and technical briefings on the UN system’s work on climate action during the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 20) in December 2014.

The report also informs of the establishment, by the UN Development Group (UNDG), of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Task Team – coordinated by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation – to further promote a coordinated approach to UN system policy and programmatic work on South-South and triangular cooperation. According to the report, this Task Team will focus on mainstreaming South-South and triangular cooperation into operational activities of the UN system, and further strengthen and align UN South-South policy instruments, collaborative frameworks and institutional arrangements to better equip UN resident coordinators (RCs) and country teams, and support national counterparts in implementing the post-2015 development agenda.

The CEB comprises 29 Executive Heads of the UN and its Funds and Programmes, the Specialized Agencies, including the Bretton Woods Institutions, and related organizations including the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It provides broad guidance, coordination and strategic direction for the UN system as a whole in the areas under the responsibility of the Executive Heads. [Publication: Annual Overview Report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2014] [CEB Website]

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