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System-wide Coherence

63rd SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

REPORTS & ANALYSES

Secretary-General Comments on System Wide Coherence
Report by Daniel Safran-Hon, 30 June 2009
The Secretary-General commented on the status of system wide coherence in an informal session of the General Assembly concerning the issue. Convened by the two Co-Chairs – Ambassadors of Namibia and Spain and taking place on the 22 June 2009, it was the last informal consultation on this issue during the 63rd GA and will be followed by bilateral and group discussions by the two Co-Chairs leading to a plenary meeting towards the end of the current GA session.

General Assembly President Appoints Facilitators for Upcoming Negotiations on System-wide Coherence
6 March 2009
In a short letter to Member States dated 20 February 2009, the President of General Assembly, Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann announced the appointment of Ambassador Kaire Mbuende of Namibia and Ambassador Juan Antonio Yáñez-Barnuevo of Spain as facilitators of the upcoming negotiations on System-wide Coherence.

System-wide Coherence – the 62nd GA Session and the Road Ahead
by Jonas von Freiesleben, 16 December 2008
The following analysis provides an update to chapter 3 on System-wide Coherence in “Managing Change at the United Nations,” and covers events pertaining to this issue during the 62nd General Assembly session, as well as a look ahead at what might come.

62nd SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

REPORTS & ANALYSES

General Assembly Adopts Resolution on SWC: Key Issues to be Continued
17 September 2008
On Monday, 15 September 2008, Member States unanimously adopted a resolution on the process of System-wide Coherence. According to the text, the membership will continue its work on System-wide Coherence, while focusing exclusively on the issues of “Delivering as One,” harmonization of business practices, funding, governance, and gender equality & the empowerment of women.

Co-Chairs Issue Status Report on Progress Achieved During 62nd GA Session
21 July 2008
Co-Chairs, Ambassadors A. Mahiga of Tanzania and P. Kavanagh of Ireland released today their year-end status report on results achieved during the past GA session. Report is available via above link.

Co-Chairs to Deliver First Coherence Report Next Week, Gender Note Also Expected
by ReformtheUN.org, 18 July 2008
Delegates from the Asian Group of Member States met today for an advance briefing on the co-Chairs’ report on the first basket of System-wide Coherence issues.

Gender Coherence Discussions Move Toward Institutional Reform
by ReformtheUN.org, 26 June 2008
Member States decided last week (Monday, 16 June) to move toward discussions on institutional reform options for improved gender coherence, following the release of a preliminary concept note from Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

CEB Proposes “Plan of Action” for Coherence of Business Practices
by ReformtheUN.org, 13 June 2008
Member States met today (Friday) 13 June to begin discussions on the business practice aspects of system-wide coherence following the presentation of a “Plan of Action” by representatives of the Chief Executives Board (CEB).

Member States Hear Preliminary Analyses of "Delivering as One" Pilots
by ReformtheUN.org, 12 June 2008
UN country teams, agencies, and national governments – along with the facilitators of Member State consultations – have undertaken two preliminary analyses of the “Delivering as One” reform initiative.

Member States Discuss Gender Aspects of System-wide Coherence
19 May 2008
Member States met on Friday, 16 May 2008, in an informal consultation to discuss the gender aspects of System-wide Coherence.

UN Development Group Releases Stocktacking Reports on the One-UN Project
22 April 2008
As the first implementation year of the “Delivering as One” pilots’ initiative is coming to an end, the UN Development Group (UNDG) has released informal end-of-the-year stocktaking reports. Reports available via above link.

Member States Discuss Governance and Institutional Reform
18 April 2008
Member States met on Thursday 17 April 2008 in a closed all-day meeting at the United Nations to discuss System-wide Coherence, and more specifically the issues of Governance and Institutional Reform.

Member States Discussing First Basket of System-wide Coherence Issues
by ReformtheUN.org, 14 April 2008
Member States have begun consultations on the first basket of System-wide Coherence issues. Delegates met on 28 March to discuss “Delivering as One at Country Level” and on 7 April to discuss funding structures across the UN.

CHAPTER 3 of the Center's April 2008 publication Managing Change at the United Nations: SYSTEM-WIDE COHERENCE
by Jonas von Freiesleben

Member States Meet to Discuss System-wide Coherence and the One-UN Project
1 April 2008
Member States met on Friday 28 March 2008 to discuss the issue of "Delivering as One at Country Level" (One UN) as part of the continuing discussion on System-wide Coherence.

Member States Move Towards a “Basket” Approach to System-wide Coherence
by ReformtheUN.org, 21 March 2008
Member States are moving towards a “basket” approach in negotiating the elements of UN System-wide Coherence, following recommendations by the Co-Chairs of the consultations.

Member States Resume Talks on the Future of the System-wide Coherence Process
by Jonas von Freiesleben, 12 February 2008
Member States met to discuss the issue of System-wide Coherence. The meeting was the first of its kind during this session of the General Assembly. The GA President, Sgrjan Kerim, and his two newly-appointed Co-Chairs, Ambassadors Augustine Mahiga of Tanzania and Paul Kavanagh of Ireland, presided over the discussions that focused on how to integrate and improve the fragmented UN development system. The following analysis looks at some of the main statements delivered at the meeting as well as the road ahead.

Letter of 11 January 2008 from the President of the General Assembly to All Member States on the Appointment of co-Chairs
11 January 2008
The President of the General Assembly, H.E. Dr. Srgjan Kerim, today appointed Ambassador Augustine Mahiga of Tanzania and Ambassador Paul Kavanagh of Ireland as co-Chairs for the consultations on System-wide Coherence. The consultations on the issue will resume on 8 February 2008 with a meeting aimed at taking stock of last years developments.

Report of the Co-Chairs to the President of the General Assembly on the Consultations Regarding "System-wide Coherence"
4 October 2007
Today, President of the General Assembly H.E. Dr. Srgjan Kerim released the report of the Co-Chairs to the President of the 61st session of the General Assembly on the consultations regarding System-wide Coherence. The report was submitted by former President of the General Assembly, H.E. Haya Rashed Al Khalifa at the end of the 61st session of the General Assembly.

Member States Move Item to 62nd Session
17 September 2007
As Member States were unable to reach a compromise on the issue of System-Wide Coherence, the agenda item was moved to the 62nd session of the General Assembly, which begins on 18 September 2007.

First Round of Consultations on System-wide Coherence in Progress
2 July 2007
During the last two weeks of June Member States began consultations, based on a thematic approach, on the recommendations contained in the Report of the High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence on development, humanitarian assistance and the environment.

President of GA Asks Deputy Secretary-General to Brief GA on Gender
29 June 2007
On the basis of the ongoing discussions on gender and empowerment of women, within the context of the recommendations of the High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence, the President of the GA, H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, requested Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, to submit a concept note providing in-depth information on the Secretariat's proposal for the strengthening of the United Nations Gender Equality architecture.

Member States Discuss Business Practices
28 June 2007
Today, Member States took up the recommendations of the High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence on the United Nations' business practices. Statement of the Joint Coordinating Committee of the G77 and the NAM on Business Practices, 28 June 2007 EU Statement on Business Practices, 28 June 2007. Informal consultations on the remaining issues (environment, human rights and funding) will resume at the end of July 2007, as many delegations will be in Geneva for the substantive session of ECOSOC during the first three weeks of July.

Member States Engage in Discussions on System-wide Coherence
21 June 2007
This week, Member States are engaged in informal consultations on the recommendations contained in the Report of the High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence on development, humanitarian assistance and the environment. Discussions are based on cluster-areas. The Center for UN Reform will provide an update on the major trends emerged during the discussions next week.

Informal Consultations on System-wide Coherence set off
8 June 2007
On 6 June 2007, Member States convened for the first session of informal consultations to discuss the recommendations contained in the Report of High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence under the aegis of the two Co-Chairs appointed by the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Ambassador Hackett of Barbados and Ambassador Hoscheit of Luxembourg.

GA President Appoints Co-Chairs
25 May 2007
The President of the General Assembly (PGA), H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, appointed two co-Chairs, Ambassadors Hackett of Barbados and Hoscheit of Luxembourg, with the objective to begin consultations with Member States on the recommendations contained in the Report of the High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence., will report to the PGA on a monthly basis.

Secretary-General Responds to Coherence Report, General Assembly Discussion Begins
by ReformtheUN.org, 27 April 2007
On 16 April, the General Assembly met to consider the proposals of the Secretary-General’s response to the High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence’s recommendations on the issues of development, humanitarian assistance, and the environment, as well as gender equality.

GA President's Statement on System-wide Coherence
16 April 2007
Statement by H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the General Assembly, at the Debate of the Recommendations of the High-Level Panel on System-Wide Coherence of United Nations Operational Activities. Statement available via above link.

Secretary-General Responds to High-Level Report
9 April 2007
Today, the Secretary-General released his official respons to the High-level Panel Report "Delivering as one."

High-level Panel Presents Report "DELIVERING AS ONE"
9 November 2006
Today, The High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence presented to Member States an advance, unedited copy of their report. Report is available via above link.

Donor Countries Present Letter to High-level Panel
26 February 2006
A group of 13 major donor countries presented today a latter on their views on System-wide Coherence to High-level Panel member and Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg. Letter is available via above link.

Background
For more on the background of System-wide Coherence, please see the latest publication from the Center for UN Reform:

  1. Managing Change at the United Nations

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