System-wide Coherence Discussions Underway in General Assembly

New York, 26 June 2007 – Two co-chairs working on behalf of the President of the General Assembly have begun consultations on the recommendations of the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence. During the week of 18 June they convened three informal consultations in the plenary, each with a thematic focus – Humanitarian Issues and Recovery, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, and Governance and Institutional Reform. Representatives from countries participating in the One UN pilot program – a recommendation for the Panel – also gave a briefing on “Delivering as One at Country-level.”

The co-chairs, Ambassadors Christopher Hackett of Barbados and Jean-Marc Hoscheit of Luxembourg, intend to convene as many consultations as possible before the close of the 61st GA session in early September. The next consultation – this Thursday, 28 June at 3 pm – will focus on Business Practices of the UN. Upcoming consultations are expected to include environment, human rights, and funding.

Click here for government statements made in consultations

The 20 June consultations on Humanitarian Issues and Recovery were opened by John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. He suggested that system-wide coherence would make it easier for UN actors to communicate about humanitarian issues. Holmes made recommendations for improving communications and coordination between countries in a humanitarian disaster, and he discussed funding targets for the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

Comments were based on a summary of recommendations from the High-level Panel.

• Views on this topic differed on the value applying a “cluster approach” to humanitarian reform. The cluster approach refers to designating one agency to head a project with other relevant agencies and organizations within the UN as well as non-governmental organizations in order to utilize all available expertise while retaining coherence on the project.
• Many delegations voiced strong support for the cluster approach as it had been implemented in some humanitarian aid projects, where it proved to be successful. Egypt, however, preferred the membership to conduct a broader review before endorsing the cluster approach.
• Most states agreed that partnerships should be strengthened between humanitarian organizations within the UN (Red Cross, Red Crescent movement) as well as with NGOs and national governments.
• Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) was an issue widely recommended for the cluster approach, as it is seen as a problem lying beyond the capacity of any single organization.
• Speakers also supported the idea of national governments taking preliminary action when a country is confronted with a national emergency; the UN would offer its support thereafter. In this regard, the role of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) launched in March 2006 was praised and expected to continue.
• Some delegations expressed concern, based on experience with gaps in aid, about the transition from relief to development after a natural disaster.
• Long-term food security was discussed and delegations agreed on the need for a review of the primary agencies – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Regarding the consultation process, the Non-aligned Movement and Group of 77 voiced concern that the report does not express the views of all member states. They stated that their preference for an integrated process in which decisions are made on the report as a whole and that the process should not be bound by “artificial deadlines.”

In the 21 June consultations on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro opened with a comment on the need for structural changes within the UN regarding gender issues. She asserted that gender problems reflect problems within the UN. She also called for focused assistance for countries who request aid in reforming gender issues within their own country. She mentioned the necessity for sufficient and effective resources and recommended the establishment of an inter-governmental gender task force.

• Member States largely were in agreement that a new gender architecture should be developed. The new single entity dedicated to gender equality would combine the three existing organizations that focus on gender issues at the UN: UNIFEM, the Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues, and the UN Division for the Advancement of Women.

• India and the United States dissented; India suggested that a single entity could not handle the need for “action on multiple fronts” and suggested that “some fragmentation ... is necessary to confront an issue whose footprints can be found in such multiple areas.” The delegation also recommended identifying the root causes for lack of follow-up to previous commitments on gender, before undertaking a new round of reform. The US supported India’s position and added that there is no need for a new USG role on gender issues, as long as the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General have a high regard for gender issues.

• For other delegations as well, the idea of creating a new Under-Secretary-General post to head the gender entity was controversial.
• Concern was expressed that gender issues should be viewed primarily from a grassroots perspective, which would lead to change at the national level.
• Overall, delegations expressed significant support for moving this agenda forward.

Background

The current stage of System-wide Coherence efforts began earlier this month when the PGA-appointed co-facilitators decided to address the Panel’s report holistically, rather than dividing up the issues for separate consultations or separate working groups. As part of the holistic approach, Member States will address all major components of the report in consultations, and none of the Panel’s recommendations will be allowed to move forward to action without Member State consultations. The co-chairs have identified eight “major components” of the report:

1. Delivering as One at Country Level
2. Humanitarian Issues
3. Environment
4. Governance and Institutional Reforms
5. Funding
6. Gender
7. Human Rights
8. Business Practices

The eight components have provided the structure for the current round of consultations with Member States.

The co-chairs are required to report to President Al Khalifa on a monthly basis, beginning at the end of June.

Next Steps

The structure for the remainder of the process remains “an open question,” said the co-chairs in a 22 June NGO briefing. Due to the upcoming ECOSOC session in Geneva and many delegations’ concerns about being able to participate in both processes, the co-chairs plan to pause consultations for the first two or three weeks of July and resume upon their return to New York. Their next step is to analyze views presented in each consultation, look for answers to the questions raised, and consult with the Deputy Secretary-General. By the middle of July they aim to have further developed the process going forward.

The co-chairs will be drawing on discussions taking place in other processes on overlapping issues with the Panel report, such as environment, to expedite their consultations.

The co-chairs have welcomed input from non-governmental organizations and other civil society groups throughout the consultations process.

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