STATEMENT BY CHAIR OF THE AFRICAN GROUP AT THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL: 18TH PLENARY MEETING - 2025 OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT SEGMENT

STATEMENT BY H. E. TESFAYE YILMA SABO

PERMENANT REPRESENTATIVE OF ETHIOPIA TO THE UN

NEW YORK, 21ST MAY 2025

Madam Deputy Secretary-General, 

Excellencies, 

Distinguished Delegates,

1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group.

2. We thank the Deputy Secretary-General, in her capacity as Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, for her presentation of the report and for her continued leadership in advancing a more coherent, accountable, and effective UN development system.

3. The African Group welcomes the detailed insights provided in the report on the functioning and evolution of the Resident Coordinator system and the Development Coordination Office. We are particularly encouraged by the strong evidence of improved collaboration among UN entities on the ground, the growing alignment with national priorities, and the enhanced convening power of Resident Coordinators in our countries. In this regard, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 has served as a critical reference framework, guiding development alignment and coordination efforts across UN agencies on the continent.

4. We encourage you and the Secretary-General to continue your efforts in this regard.

5. We note with appreciation that the report reflects high satisfaction among host governments—particularly in Africa—with the performance and leadership of Resident Coordinators. 

6. We are also encouraged by the continuous efforts to ensure that Resident Coordinators are equipped with the right profiles and skill sets, tailored to the specific needs of programme countries.

7. The African Group values the work of the Development Coordination Office in strengthening the capacity of Resident Coordinator Offices, including through technical support, performance management, and regional coordination. We also recognize the progress in addressing complex settings, transitions, and cross-border challenges—many of which are highly relevant to the African context. More than 50% of African countries face multidimensional vulnerabilities, highlighting the urgency of adequate and stable financing for coordination systems.

8. We emphasize the importance of ensuring predictable and adequate financing for the Resident Coordinator system. 

9. While we welcome the General Assembly’s recent decision to increase the share of the regular budget, we remain concerned that the system still relies heavily on voluntary contributions.

10. Stable funding is essential for sustained, high-quality development coordination, especially in countries with complex development needs. The system needs sufficient resources to deliver on our growing expectations as we accelerate our efforts to achieve the SDGs.

11. The African Group also welcomes the efforts to improve the configuration of UN country teams and strengthen regional coordination mechanisms, including support from regional DCO offices. 

12. The work done in areas such as climate action, youth employment, and food systems—especially through regional platforms and joint programming—demonstrates the value of coordinated, cross-border responses.

13. Looking ahead, we encourage the UNSDG and DCO to continue focusing on:

1. Strengthening the integration of policy, financing, and partnerships at country level;

2. Scaling up support for the six transformative pathways and the four enablers, with tailored attention to regional and national specificities;

3. Enhancing the involvement of non-resident agencies to ensure the full breadth of UN expertise is accessible to all African countries.

14. In closing, the African Group reiterates its strong support for the Resident Coordinator system and the broader reform of the UN development system. With over 60% of the continent’s population under the age of 25, ensuring inclusive and future-oriented development coordination in Africa is more crucial than ever.

15. We look forward to continued engagement with the UNSDG Chair and DCO to ensure that the UN remains a trusted, responsive, and effective partner in delivering sustainable development across the African continent.

Thank you!