UNDS AND THE 2016 QCPR: A VIEW FROM URUGUAY, A DAO COUNTRY

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1 UNDS AND THE 2016 QCPR: A VIEW FROM URUGUAY, A DAO COUNTRY

2 UNDS and the 2016 QCPR: a view from Uruguay, a DaO country The 2016 QCPR is a key milestone in setting the stage for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda over its first four years. As the SG pointed out Several new functions of the development system are emerging in the face of the changing world economy and the growing demand from Member States and the requirements of the 2030 Agenda. The Agenda s universal nature, and its promise to leave no one behind, also have implications for the functions of the United Nations in middle and high income countries where different forms of inequality are deepening political, economic and social divides A/71/63 E/2016/8 [298] In this presentation, we draw attention to the work done by the UN in Uruguay, a DaO country since 2007, and to the opportunities and challenges related to the more general discussion at the QCPR level that emerge when analysed from a very field based, grounded view. 2

3 Uruguay Surface: 176,215 sq km. Population: (2014). GDP: $57.47 billion (2014; market prices; current US$) GDP per capita: USD (2014, current US$) HDI: 0,793; 52th (2015). Life expectancy at birth 77 (2014, total, years) Adult literacy rate: 98% (2014). Gini coefficient: 0,386 (2015). Poverty 9.7 % (2014). Extreme poverty 0,2 % (2015). Infant mortality: 7.4 (2015). 3

4 Uruguay in the UN Strong supporter of multilateralism. Founding member. Security Council non-permanent member ( ). Delivering as One Country (DaO) since 2007 (one of the 8 original pilot countries). Active contributor to UN peacekeeping forces from start: currently 1,432 troops, 4 peacekeeping missions (MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, UNMOGIP, UNOCI). 4

5 United Nations context in Uruguay Strong commitment of the Uruguayan Government to continue its leadership and work under the Delivering as One framework adopted in 2007 as part of the pilot experience. Commitment clearly expressed in the creation by law in 2010 of the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation (AUCI as per its Spanish acronym) within the sphere of the Presidency. AUCI s main responsibilities are the planning, design, supervision, management, coordination, execution, evaluation, follow up and dissemination of activities, projects and programmes of international cooperation, both received and provided by Uruguay, in accordance with national development priorities. 5

6 UN in Uruguay Resident and Non Resident Agencies and associated organizations ECLAC FAO IAEA ILO OHCHR PAHO/WHO UNAIDS UNCTAD UNDP UNEP UNESCO UNHCR UNODC UNOPS UNFPA UNICEF UNIDO UN Women WB IOM (associate) 6

7 UN in Uruguay The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) ensures inter-agency coordination and decision-making at the country level. It allows individual agencies to plan and work together, as part of the Resident Coordinator system, to ensure the delivery of tangible results in support of the Government s development agenda. The UNCT is led by the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), who is the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General. The RC reports to the UN Secretary-General through the Chair of the UN Development Group. The UNCT in Uruguay is committed to promoting the coherence of the UN System as mandated by the Quadriennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) and following the recommendations expressed in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as well as though broad national experience and lessons learned since 2007 within the DaO framework. 7

8 DaO in Uruguay Uruguay was one of the original eight DaO country pilots and the only one from Latin America (today, 53 countries have adopted the DaO framework). Three UNDAF cycles: o ; o ; o All under the DaO framework. Uruguay has learnt several lessons from its DaO experience, namely: o A cooperation strategy that focuses its efforts in providing technical assistance and high level policy advice to improve public policies to overcome vulnerability gaps that still exist in the country. 8

9 DaO in Uruguay o A flexible approach since 2007 with basis on the five basic DaO pillars: One Programme, Common Budgetary Framework, One Leadership, Operating as One, Communicating as One. o Clear Government leadership in all stages of joint work (from participation in common governance structures, to design, implementation, management and follow up of joint programmes, projects and activities). o A dully empowered Resident Coordinator and Resident Coordinator s Office that ensure, in close joint work with the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation (AUCI) and national couterparts, technical and normative expertise, alignment with national priorities, the implementation of coherent common processes and above all, the efficiency and coherence of the whole process. 9

10 The UN in Uruguay working under DaO: some achievements Governance mechanisms that facilitate and reinforce joint work between the Government and the UN based on inter-agency (commitment by the whole United Nations) and inter-institutional (joint work by the different government sectors, subnational governments, private sector, civil society organizations and representatives from vulnerable sectors: e.g. poor children and adolescents, Afro-descendants, etc.). All work undertaken by the UN - in agreement with national priorities- has been framed under strategic areas that reflect most Government priorities. This approach has generated a culture of joint work and permanent collaboration between the Agencies, Funds and Programmes, and has increased the relevance of the UN work to national counterparts. In other words, the work carried out under the DaO s umbrella has not only contributed to strengthening public policies in strategic areas, but also to deepen the prominent role that Uruguay has always showed with respect to United Nations and to multilateralism in general. 10

11 Policy advice The current UN role in Uruguay A former MIC, recent HIC country like Uruguay already designs sophisticated public policies and has achieved considerable results. However, national authorities have asked the UN to support national efforts on critical policy issues and to better support policy making, implementation and monitoring of national priorities under the SDG umbrella. Given the relative small presence of the UN in the country, such policy advice will necessary draw on the diversity and expertise available across the UN system through the different pillars of the UN Human Rights, Peace and Security, and Development. Normative support Even though Uruguay has an excellent record of compliance with international normative standards and agreements including international human rights commitments (all nine core international human rights instruments duly signed and ratified, open invitation to all Special Rapporteurs, timely submission of country reports, etc.), its authorities have clearly expressed interest in the availability at the national level of the UN expertise and normative added value. The RC and the UNCT as a collective entity, strive to add value to national efforts against all forms of inequality and discrimination, including gender inequality and gender based violence. 11

12 Capacity development Capacity development, operational support and service delivery have been core functions of the UN in Uruguay. More than 20 joint programs have been implemented through the DaO framework. As well as many mandate specific agency projects, most of them to strengthen national capacities. Maximizing the UN role as an impartial partner for bringing together diverse stakeholders and actors The UN has played a highly valued role in bringing together social actors, ensuring inclusiveness and continuous engagement with diverse stakeholders. For example, the design and implementation of public policies (e.g. national defense and social security) were informed and facilitated by national dialogues processes coordinated by the UN. In 2016, a National Social Dialogue convened by the President himself to discuss a national agenda for 2050 within the SDGs framework will be facilitated by the UN. 12

13 Some challenges in light of the 2030 Agenda The 2030 Agenda and integrated landscape requires an integrated approach. The interdependent nature of the SDGs require a very horizontal and flexible approach. But, limitations within the Dao framework remain particularly with regard to Operating as One, mostly due by the persistence of different agency-specific policies and procedures DaO performance and effectiveness is also heavily dependent on resources, especially those available for the Delivering as One Fund (Coherence Fund in Uruguay): in a HIC context, such kind of resources have proven difficult to access. Based on Uruguay s DaO experience, the RC system is the cornerstone at the country level of the development, human rights, peacebuilding and humanitarian arms of the UN. But, an empowered RC system with a fully implemented mutual accountability framework is needed so all UNCT members share a similar incentives. 13

14 Some challenges Change in business practices at the country level needs strong leadership from HQs. The development of the Business Operations Strategy (BOS) and similar initiatives is a strong starting point. But, implementing BOS at the country level requires a more unified voice coming from HQs. Much has been done at the country level to harmonize and simplify business practices. However, the removal of current barriers that prevent further harmonization and simplification calls for a strong voice and action coming from HQs to the UNCT representatives. The UNDG SOPS Plan of Action for Headquarters is an excellent roadmap for advancing in this direction. We need to take DaO further forward in order to overcome some of its limitations: more DaO is needed, not less. 14

15 Thank you UNITED NATIONS URUGUAY Office of the UN Resident Coordinator Montevideo Uruguay Paraguay 1470, piso 5 Montevideo-Uruguay Tel: (598) Fax: (598)