AS DELIVERED
Administrator Steiner, thank you for your opening remarks and for your honest assessment of the challenges before us. Indeed, it is a sobering moment, but one in which we have the chance to rally around shared solutions and, as you have reminded us this morning, find practical ways forward. As an ever-increasing number of the most vulnerable face an increased risk of poverty, and important development gains are at risk, UNDP’s role has never been more important.
Under your stewardship, UNDP continue to be at the forefront of efforts to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and to work across diverse fields including climate change, development finance, humanitarian crises, and democratic governance. We appreciate your detailed elaboration in your report of UNDP’s specific achievements as well as your commitment to documenting successes, contributing to the evidence base of what works, and sharing lessons learned. The United States will remain your strong partner in all of this important work.
We know that you must make difficult choices in an environment where resources are significantly constrained. In these circumstances, we must ask ourselves whether program investments are addressing the needs of the most vulnerable and helping to mitigate against worst case outcomes. In this regard, we would like to highlight the need to continue to prioritize prevention and resilience as emphasized in UNDP’s current strategic plan.
Mr. Administrator thank you for highlighting in your report the importance of effective management, oversight, and internal controls. We appreciate your leadership in responding to the concerns that member states have raised about management oversight of UNDP’s operations. The United States conveyed key messages on our shared oversight responsibility in the Joint Statement to the Executive Board yesterday. Working alongside you, we want to do everything we can to ensure that UNDP can maintain the full trust and confidence of its donors at this pivotal moment when you have so much critical work to do.
Thank you, Administrator, for the conversation today and thank you to UNDP staff for their efforts in these very challenging times. We do look forward to continuing this conversation.
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