Reform of the United Nations Development System

The Reform of the UN Development System (UNDS) was designed shortly after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda to ensure the UN’s effective and collective support to countries to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Coming into force in 2019, a key pillar of the reform at country level is the reinvigorated Resident Coordinator System. Coupled with a new generation of UN Country Teams and UN Cooperation Frameworks, the UNDS is strengthened to deliver results in a more efficient, coordinated and accountable manner. A voluntary funding compact between the UNDS and member states ensures adequate and sustainable funding for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

In 2020, the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) provided a first opportunity for member states to review progress on implementing the UNDS Reform and provide renewed guidance to the UN development system based on first lessons learnt. Negotiated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the QCPR 2020 promoted, amongst others, enhanced cooperation across the development, humanitarian and peacebuilding pillars, the inclusion of climate and environment-responsive approaches into programming, the strengthening of the Resident Coordinator System and the implementation of the Funding Compact to increase quality funding for the UNDS.

Remaining Challenges for the UNDS

Coordination and Partnerships:  The UN development system consists of a complex web of organizations with at times overlapping mandates and thematically and geographically dispersed activities. The re-invigorated Resident Coordinator System has an important role to play to foster better coordination and cooperation at country level to leverage the UNDS’s agencies comparative advantages in order to jointly implement the UN Cooperation Frameworks. Importantly, also strengthened partnerships with the International Financing Institutions (IFIS) contribute to consolidating the UNDS’ offer and to better informed programming.

Funding: In recent years, the ratio of core financial contributions to the budgets of UN organizations has declined relative to earmarked contributions (contributions for specific themes, countries or projects). The relative increase of earmarked financial contributions tends to limit the ability of UN agencies to fully comply with their mandates, weakens programmatic guidance and oversight functions and challenges the envisioned shift of the UNDS’ role from project implementation to policy advice. More flexible funding would enable agencies to respond to emerging and changing needs swiftly and more inter-agency pooled funding would promote joint programming for more coherence and cooperation across the UNDS.

Complexity of business practices: The diversity in the business practices between UN organizations is a challenge to more efficient operations. Recently the UNDS has made good progress in harmonizing businesses practices, notably through the establishment of a business operations strategies, common premises, global shared services and Common Back Offices.

Accountability for results and transparency are indispensable to ensure continued trust in and support to the UNDS. As a member state, Switzerland uses its influence in the different governing boards of the UN development system to hold the UNDS to account and promote transparent and inclusive governance systems. To promote institutional learning and accountability for system-wide result, Switzerland has supported the establishment of the UN System-Wide Evaluation Office and maintains close partnerships with the Evaluation Offices of different UN entities.

Switzerland’s role

Contributing to a more effective and efficient UN Development System is one of the main goals of Switzerland at the United Nations.
Switzerland has facilitated the QCPR negotiations as well as the ECOSOC resolutions monitoring the implementation of the QCPR since 2001.

Promoting the implementation of the QCPR is a priority for Switzerland’s multilateral cooperation. Switzerland provides support to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) which is responsible for reporting on the QCPR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and, through the UN Secretary General, issues annual reports on the implementation of the QCPR which are discussed at the ECOSOC. UNDESA also is the main provider of expertise to member states.

Switzerland also advocates for the implementation of the QCPR and UNDS Reform in the governing bodies of UN agencies at global level as well as in its multilateral dialogue with UN partner agencies at country level.

Please consult the documents for further information: