27 September 2016: The UN Secretary-General issued the final edited version of a report providing recommendations for the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) forthcoming negotiations on the 2016 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR). The draft text for the QCPR negotiation is expected to be released on 17 October 2016.

The final report, titled ‘Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of Operational Activities for Development of the UN System: Recommendations,’ calls for: aligning the functions of the UN Development System (UNDS) with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; supporting the UNDS functions with appropriate funding flows and financing mechanisms; guiding the UNDS through governance structures that allow the system to be accountable for system-wide results; and improving coherence and coordination to respond to the integrated, universal and targeted calls of the 2030 Agenda.

On aligning the UNDS functions to the 2030 Agenda, the report underscores the importance of: tailoring UNDS functions in response to different country needs; addressing poverty in all its forms and dimensions; strengthening the regional dimension of the work of the UNDS; clarifying the role of the UN in developed countries; moving towards a system-wide approach to South-South and triangular cooperation; promoting and protecting human rights; and achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

On funding for the delivery of the 2030 Agenda, the report calls for: establishing clarity on core functions and their financing logic; broadening the donor base and enhancing the core resource base; strengthening and institutionalizing structured financing dialogues; developing well-designed and sufficiently resourced pooled funding mechanisms; attributing an incremental cost to all strictly earmarked contributions; giving priority to innovative financing approaches; mitigating risks around innovative financing; strengthening partnerships with international financial institutions (IFIs); adhering to a common standard for reporting on contributions and expenditures; and moving towards an integrated financing approach at the country level.

On system-wide transparency, accountability and governance, the report highlights the need to review the composition and working methods of governing bodies, and to convene dedicated meetings of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to strengthen horizontal guidance.

On improving the functioning of the UNDS, the report recommends to: adopt flexible, cost-effective and highly collaborative business models and organizational arrangements at the regional, subregional, national and subnational levels; review the field architecture of UN entities; create harmonized definitions to enhance coherence; build transformative and empowered leadership; strengthen and reposition staff capacities at all levels; facilitate and incentivize a mobile global workforce; advance gender balance throughout all UN ranks; adopt a flexible system-wide approach to partnership; ensure appropriate oversight, transparency and accountability of partnership efforts; develop system-wide guidelines and a joint approach on the development, humanitarian and peacebuilding nexus; move towards greater coherence at the country level; and ensure measures to safeguard and mutually reinforce development and humanitarian funding.

In order to improve coherence, coordination and moving towards integrated action, the report calls for: maximizing the ‘Delivering as One’ approach; a “different kind” of regional support for Delivering as One; aligning UN Headquarters with efforts on the ground; mapping the mandates of entities to align them with the 2030 Agenda; taking steps to strengthen the Resident Coordinator (RC) system and ensure impartiality and fairness; ensuring appropriate funding in support of the RC mandate; bestowing appropriate authority on the RC; implementing and adapting the standard operating procedures in all countries; rolling out the business operations strategy for all; scaling up integrated service centers; and reviewing rules, regulations and procedures to facilitate support for South-South and triangular cooperation.

The UN Secretary-General report on recommendations complements the report of the UN Secretary-General on the implementation of UNGA resolution 67/226 on the QCPR (A/71/63-E/2016/8), issued on 31 December 2015. It draws from inputs from the UN Development Group (UNDG), UN Member States and experts who engaged in the ECOSOC Dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the UNDS in the context of the 2030 Agenda, as well as inputs from the Independent Team of Advisors (ITA) appointed by the ECOSOC Bureau to offer specific recommendations on the Dialogue process.

According to the QCPR website, the UN Secretary-General’s report on recommendations (A/71/292/Rev.1) supersedes the UN Secretary-General’s report A/71/292 issued on 4 August 2016. [Report of the UN Secretary-General: Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of Operational Activities for Development of the UN System: Recommendations (A/71/292/Rev.1)] [IISD RS Story on Advance Unedited Report] [QCPR Website] [IISD RS Story on QCPR Training] [IISD RS Policy Brief on QCPR Preparations] [IISD RS Story on QCPR Report of UN Secretary-General (A/71/63–E/2016/8)]