Madam President,
At the outset, allow me to thank UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin for his insightful and comprehensive statement on UNFPA progress and achievements, as well as on the challenges ahead of us.
I would also like to thank UNFPA for the report before us, which includes a clear analysis and information on UNFPA performance and results.
Madam President,
2012 was an important year for the organization. It saw a change in leadership in UNFPA, with the appointment of two Deputy Executive Directors, Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen and Kate Gilmor as Deputy Executive Directors for Management and Programs, respectively.
Today, as we are approaching the last part of the revised strategic plan and gearing up towards drafting the next strategic plan, it is clear that we have a skilled executive leadership at the helm of the organization. On behalf of Israel, I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the hard work being done by the Executive Director and his deputies. Israel has full confidence in your stewardship.
I would also like to acknowledge the presence of two new regional directors who are with us today: Mr. Mohamed Abdel Ahad, regional director for Arab States and Mr. Benoit Kalasa, regional director for west and central Africa. A warm welcome and Shalom to you both from Israel.
Madam President,
Israel commends the efforts undertaken by UNFPA to implement the revised strategic plan and the ICPD Program of Action. We are pleased to see that in 2012, like in previous years, a high percentage of country programs achieved indicator targets for at least 75% of their annual work plan. Strong performance is also reflected in the achievement of 90% of output targets.
Israel congratulates UNFPA for its contribution towards achieving a positive outcome at the Commission on Population and Development, as well as for its engagement in the ongoing discussion on the post 2015 development agenda. We also would like to commend UNFPA for its leadership in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, which is also a priority for my delegation.
Madam President,
Let me offer a few specific comments on the report before us:
On management results:
We are pleased to see that the percentage of CPDs that meet results-based management (RBM) and evidence-based programming criteria has increased significantly, to 92 per cent as of June 2012. We acknowledge the Executive Director’s personal role as the Chair of the Programme Review Committee (PRC) and encourage him to continue his efforts to promote and foster RBM culture in the organization.
We note the decrease in the number of UNFPA staff trained in results-based management by all UNFPA regions. We encourage UNFPA to step up its efforts to ensure systematic training to as many UNFPA staff as possible.
On reporting:
The report before us contains a much improved results analysis in relation to targets and indicators of both the development results framework and the management results framework. We encourage UNFPA to continue its work to further improve results reporting, taking into account the guidance provided by the QCPR.
The report shows a steady decrease in UNFPA participation in joint programmes since 2010. We would welcome more information on the reasons behind this decline. We would also welcome, in future reports, more information on joint programming and on UNFPA partnership with other agencies.
Madam President,
Let me now move on to the work on the development of the next strategic plan 2014-2017.
I would first like to commend UNFPA for an inclusive, consultative and participatory process for developing the next strategic plan. Member states benefited from several rounds of consultations and were given the chance to provide inputs as the work progressed.
Israel appreciates the quality and depth of the work done in rethinking the business model, revisiting the funding arrangements, developing the result framework and linking resources to results in the framework of the integrated budget. UNFPA is definitely moving forward in the right way, and we welcome the general direction that the new strategic plan is taking and its priorities.
First, in the context of the funding arrangements, we welcome the differentiated approach and encourage UNFPA to make sure that the mechanisms for allocation of resources, which underpins the funding arrangements, are aligned with the strategic priorities.
Second, in the context of the result based framework – we appreciate the work currently being done to build a robust, measurable, results framework and encourage UNFPA to continue its work with sister agency to identify a set of common indicators, to enhance harmonization in light of the guidance provided by the QCPR.
Third, we are pleased with the work done on the business model to further refine the organization’s strategic focus, inter alia through the endorsement of the bull’s eye approach. We also welcome an emphasis on the most vulnerable and excluded people and the rights-based approach.
We believe however, that more work needs to be done, especially in regard to the regional dimension of the plan. Regionalization is certainly an area where UNFPA needs to invest more thinking and energy. This would ensure that UNFPA responds more effectively to global, regional and national priorities, and that countries receive the support they need.
Madam President,
UNFPA has a unique mandate—and assumes a crucial – and even a leadership - role in the global development architecture. It is clear that today, more than even before, UNFPA is more accountable, and more responsive to the needs of women, mothers, and young people. UNFPA today is more focused, more efficient, and more result-driven organization than ever before.
Improving maternal health, reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, especially in light of the slow progress on MDG 5; increasing access to sexual and reproductive health; and promoting sexual and reproductive rights require UNFPA to continue sharpening its planning to generate stronger results in these core areas. Israel is confident that UNFPA will ably carry this mission forward towards a world where all people – women, adolescents and youth - are offered hope. We stand ready to do what we can to support UNFPA in its vital work.
Thank you, Madam President.