PRESS RELEASE : Ensuring that every dollar the UN spends has the greatest impact on the ground – UK Statement at UN Fifth Committee [October 2022]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 October 2022.
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki to the UN Fifth Committee on the introduction of the proposed budget for 2023.
Thank you Mr Chair, Secretary-General, all
Member States have a responsibility to the UN and the people it serves to ensure the Organisation has the correct level of resource to carry out its mandates, in particular in support of the 2030 Agenda.
We will evaluate the Secretary-General’s budget proposals carefully. Programmes must use resources efficiently and effectively, to deliver results that make a real difference for those in greatest need. We will hold the Organisation to account for how it has used, and will use the resources we give it.
The United Kingdom welcomes the Secretary-General’s reforms, in particular the move to an annual budget cycle, which have contributed to a UN that is more results-orientated and better able to respond to fast changing challenges. While we see positive progress on results and responsiveness, there is always scope to go further.
We look to all programmes to ensure effective coordination and to collaborate across the UN system; to focus activities where they have comparative advantage and avoiding duplication; and to use innovation, evaluation and continuous improvement to enhance performance and mandate delivery. It is crucial that every dollar the United Nations spends has the greatest impact on the ground.
The UK notes a number of proposals to move activities previously funded through extra-budgetary contributions onto the regular budget. We support predictable and sustainable funding for UN work. But shifting more activity onto the regular budget is not always the solution, especially at a time when national budgets are under pressure. Nevertheless, we will consider such proposals on their individual merits.
Mr Chair,
Like others, we have serious concerns about certain ACABQ recommendations on the 2023 budget. Member States expect the ACABQ to provide clear, technical and evidence-based advice to inform our decision-making. But we have seen recommendations that seek to expand the ACABQ’s remit to extra-budgetary funded activities, to reopen long-standing GA resolutions. Most concerning, are recommendations that, if endorsed, could result in defunding human rights council mandates. We welcome the opportunity to engage with the ACABQ on these issues.
Finally Mr Chair, I would like to assure you and the Secretary-General of my delegation’s commitment to work constructively with all delegations to reach a good and timely outcome on the 2023 budget.