December 2014: In a series of videos from the UN System Staff College (UNSSC), high-level UN officials provide updates on ‘Making the UN Development System Fit For Purpose.’ Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and Chair of the UN Development Group (UNDG) Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Advisory Group, and John Hendra, UN Senior Coordinator ‘UN Fit for Purpose for the Post-2015 Development Agenda’ are featured in the December 2014 interviews.

According to Albrectsen, on 1 January 2016, the UN will have to by ready to work “side by side with the Member States” to support the implementation of post-2015 development agenda. She emphasizes five driving elements of “fit for purpose,” as identified by the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB): universality, integration, human rights, equality and data for development. She observes that there is no longer a concept of “North monitoring South,” but an agenda that applies to everybody, with monitoring and accountability as collective actions. On bringing together the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainable development, Albrectsen notes that ‘Delivering as One’ is a minimum for the UN system. She also calls for: “standing by human rights in a much greater way than before;” and taking “tough stands” with governments to direct resource flows towards the most vulnerable.

Hendra says “fit for purpose” is being discussed among Member States, in countries, and within the UN system. He highlights six critical areas for immediate to medium-term action: integrated policy support at all levels; a better pool of resources (e.g. by bringing together development and humanitarian financing where it makes sense); driving forward and implementing the data revolution; taking a more systemic, system-wide approach to assessing risk and promoting resilience; making the UN more consultative not only with civil society but also with the private sector, parliamentarians and other stakeholders; and increasing transparency, including on financial and human resources.

Hendra describes as ‘very timely’ the ECOSOC dialogues on the ‘Future Positioning of the UN Development System’ and the post-2015 negotiations. Finally, he notes that many expect the post-2015 outcome document to include two or three paragraphs on the need for the UN to become more fit for purpose for the implementation of the agenda. [Albrectsen’s Presentation] [Hendra’s Presentation] [UNSSC Webpage] [IISD RS Story on ECOSOC Dialogues on Future Positioning]