Economic and Social Council, 2010 Operational Activities Segment, New York, 9 July 2010

1. Outcome of the High-Level Tripartite Conference on Delivering as One: “Lessons from Country-Led Evaluations and Way Forward”Ha Noi, 14-16 June 2010 Economic and Social Council, 2010 Operational Activities Segment, New York, 9 July 2010

2. Delivering as One (DaO) • Initiated by Programme Countries themselves on a voluntary basis, originally by 8 pilot countries, today adopted by growing number of countries • Enhanced national ownership and leadership at the heart of the DaO initiative • Better alignment of UN country programme with and better support to national priorities • More coherent, efficient and effective UN at country level for better development results for the benefit of people and institutions of programme countries

3. Conference Format and Features (I) • Overall purpose: learning from Country-Led Evaluations (CLEs) to contribute to on-going efforts to improve coherence, effectiveness and relevance of the UN Development System in line with the 2007 TCPR. • Tripartite nature : reflecting essential feature of the DaO initiative at the country level (Programme countries, donors, UN). • Expanded and high-level participation: 23 programme countries, 21 donors including ministerial level and the UN represented at the highest level (DSG, UNDG Chair). • Format • Tripartite and expended Expended participations

4. Conference Format and Features (II) • Upholding the DaO reform spirit”: In a very demanding year when Viet Nam assumes the chair of the ASEAN, the decision to hold the conference in Ha Noi is testimony to the national interest and resolve of the Government to contribute to the success and acceleration of the DaO initiative.

5. Outcomes of the Conference • “Statement of Outcome and Way Forward”: adopted by the Governments of the 8 pilot countries and countries having voluntary adopted the DaO approach. • Complemented by: • Closing statement by Donors • Closing statement by the Deputy-Secretary General on behalf of the UN Development System

6. “Statement of Outcome and Way Forward” (I) • Achievements and lessons learned from DaO implementation point to strengthened relevance, coherence and comparative advantages of the UN Development System in support to country priorities. • CLEs highlight early signs of impact in terms of development results, the ultimate indicator of success of DaO in the mid to long-term. • UN reform and MDG agenda need to include a coherent strategy encompassing Middle-Income Countries.

7. “Statement of Outcome and Way Forward” (II) In order to accelerate the implementation of the 2007 TCPR and specifically the success of the DaO initiative: • Reaffirms the Kigali statement: there is no going back to doing business in the manner prior to DaO, momentum should be maintained. “The DaO is the future for UN Development activities”. • Acknowledges that DaO is ensuring greater coherence, improved strategic focus, simplified country-level programming and aid effectiveness.

8. “Statement of Outcome and Way Forward” (III) • Calls on UN Member States to promote the DaO approach across programme countries, based on the principles of national leadership and ownership and the recognition of the critical importance of ensuring timely, predictable, un-earmarked and multi-year funding through One Funds. • Noting the declining trend of ODA, calls on donors to provide such funding to ensure the sustainability of DaO approach

9. “Statement of Outcome and Way Forward” (IV) • Noting the fundamental importance of One Funds, “bed-rock for achieving relevance, coherence, and more strategic focus of the UN system at the country level” calls on Member States and Secretary-General to examine modalities for their set up and sustainable operation in Programme Countries. • Encourages the General Assembly to decide on modalities for approval of Common Country Programmes. .

10. “Statement of Outcome and Way Forward” (V) • Calls for long overdue streamlining of reporting of programme results avoiding multiple and duplicate reporting to Governments, Donors, Agency Headquarters and Governing Bodies • Calls for full empowerment of the UN RC and call for the UN System to equip RCs with the level of authority matching the responsibilities and accountabilities placed on them

11. “Statement of Outcome and Way Forward” (VI) • Calls for the UN System to implement critical changes in rules and procedures at HQs in areas such as Finance and HR. • Acknowledges the value of the UN to speak with One Voice on Policy Issues at the country level. • Requests the Secretary-General to consult with pilot programme countries to develop guidelines, benchmarks and results to be achieved in the implementation of the DaO approach, taking account of the principles of national ownership and “no one size fits it all”.

12. Statement of Outcome and Way Forward” (VII) • Welcomes the call for an Independent Evaluation (TCPR Resolution 62/208 and 63/311) and reiterates the importance of ensuring that principles of national ownership and leadership are fully respected in the process. • Recommend that the content of the Ha Noi Conference – including its final statement – be duly considered and reflected in support to the on-going UN reform process and forthcoming Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR).

13. Closing donor statement • Welcomes the “Statement of Outcome and Way Forward” • “DaO has improved the way we work at the country level” as evidenced by CLEs. We are here today because we believed DaO is the right way to go” • “ We need to take a fresh look at the way we engage with the UN Development System….It has been evident that the One Fund has been a key driver of the progress made…..and we acknowledge that predictable, multi-year and non-earmarked funding is a catalyst for reform… and can enhance the sustainability of the DaO.

14. Closing DSG statement • DaO is making a great contribution to system-wide coherence and better development results of the UN System’s on the ground. “The foundation of a more coherent, more effective and more efficient UN System at the country level have been laid”. • Pleased to take note that interest for DaO is growing around the world. Will continue to encourage country initiatives. • Aware that much remains to be done at HQs of all organizations and through the inter-governmental process • Commitment to ensure timely completion of Independent evaluation to inform the GA QCPR in 2012

15. Looking Forward: some expected early measures of DaO success • The DaO initiative is pursued by all parties at the country and central levels with equal vigor and resolve; • An increasing number of programme countries voluntary adopt DaO; • An increasing number of concrete and tangible results achieved in pilot countries are applied system-wide (formalization of One Funds, enforcement of Common Country Programmes and single reporting,….) • The content and conclusions of annual DaO inter-governmental meetings (Maputo, Kigali, Hanoi,…) find increased resonance in the system-wide debate on UN reform. • From early signs, see delivering UN better development results for people and institutions in p