Statement
Mr. Vice-President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
I have the honour to deliver these remarks on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
AOSIS extends its gratitude to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on the implementation of the mandates set out in resolution 79/226 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development.
We fully agree with the Secretary-General’s statement – the world is facing a development emergency.
Official Development Assistance is contracting. Fiscal pressures are reshaping priorities. Crises multiply while development resources diminish. Across the multilateral system, institutions are being asked to do more with less, at precisely the moment the world demands more of multilateralism – not less.
However, there is an old truth that SIDS know intimately – when the tide recedes, it reveals what was built to endure; and what was not strong enough to withstand pressure.
Today, development cooperation is experiencing its own retreating tide.
Cuts in development aid and assistance have fallen heavily on those who rely on it the most. Classrooms are left underfunded; hospitals and clinics stretched beyond capacity. Hard-won development gains made increasingly fragile.
This is why, through this Operational Activities Segment, and the UN80 Initiative, we are considering how the United Nations remains fit for purpose under increasing constraint.
But at the core of our discussions, we are asking one fundamental question: are countries receiving support that is more responsive, more effective and better able to deliver results on the ground?
AOSIS looks to the United Nations as a reliable and steadfast partner in our efforts toward development and resilient prosperity. That will not change.
However, effectiveness will ultimately be measured not by how efficiently the system restructures itself, but on how concretely it helps developing countries navigate a world where development challenges are becoming more complex, interconnected and difficult to address in isolation.
As such, the discussions advancing under QCPR implementation and UN80, we see important opportunities.
Efforts to build more agile, integrated, and responsive approaches create an opportunity to better align the system to national priorities and evolving development needs, including approaches that more effectively support multi- country office settings and the unique circumstances of SIDS.
The Resident Coordinator system remains central to delivering coherent support at country level and must continue to be adequately resourced and strengthened.
However, there is a need to improve the pool of resident coordinators with the necessary skill sets and expertise, especially for those serving within the SIDS context.
Mr. Vice-President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Small Island Developing States understand what it means to do more with less.
For decades, our countries have navigated constraints with determination, and we have learned that effectiveness is not measured solely by resources available, but by how strategically those resources are deployed and how strongly institutions remain focused on those they serve.
And so, we recognize the pressures facing the UN Development System today and the efforts to make it more effective in delivering impact on the ground.
However, these efforts cannot come at the expense of support for those facing the greatest structural challenges.
Reform must strengthen delivery, not narrow it.
Efficiency must reinforce effectiveness.
And modernization must ensure that SIDS continue to receive the tailored, country- responsive support needed to advance sustainable development and build resilience for the future.
AOSIS stands ready to work with you to help shape a UN Development System that remains ambitious, while remaining steadfast in its commitment to support those countries navigating this complex and challenging time.
I thank you.
