Within the framework of the UN General Assembly consultations on UN System-wide Coherence, member States met on 28 March 2008 at UN headquarters in New York, US, to consider the issue of Delivering as One at Country Level, on 7 April 2008 to discuss the UN’s funding structure, and on 17 April 2008 to address governance and institutional reform.

On 28 March, UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro noted that significant progress had been achieved on the “One budgetary framework,” as well as on increased accountability and national ownership, while cautioning that new priorities must be set for 2008, including closing the funding gap. Several members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the Group of 77 also drew attention to the funding gap, underlining that savings must be channeled back into the system. Discussions on funding on 7 April focused on achieving a better balance between non-core and core funding, resource mobilization and reviewing funding mechanisms. On 17 April, delegates heard briefings on the Resident Coordinator system at country level, and subsequently discussed governance, primarily on the intergovernmental level. Discussions centered, among other things, on the balance between national ownership of development strategies and mechanisms for intergovernmental oversight, and several delegates noted that coherence at the country level needs to be reflected at the central level.
Links to further information
Co-Chairs Mahiga’s (Tanzania) and Kavanagh’s (Ireland) statement, 17 April 2008
Co-Chairs statement, 7 April 2008
Co-Chairs’ statement, 28 March 2008
Center for UN Reform Education, press release 18 April 2008
Center for UN Reform Education, press release 8 April 2008