Governmental Forums, Diplomacy, G7, G20, G77

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MS. DAYANA RIOS, MINISTER COUNSELOR IN THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 132: PROPOSED PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 2014-2015, STUDY ON RECOSTING AND OPTIONS FOR THE ORGANIZATION IN DEALING WITH FLUCTUATIONS IN EXCHANGE RATES AND INFLATION, AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE DURING THE MAIN PART OF SIXTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 10 December 2014)

Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on this agenda item.

2. The Group of 77 and China would like to thank Mr. Johannes Huisman, Director of the Programme Planning and Budget Division, for the introduction of the report of the Secretary-General contained in documents A/69/381, and Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chairman of the ACABQ, for introducing the related report of the Advisory Committee under this item.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The Group of 77 and China reiterates its long term position that recosting is a fundamental element of the budgetary methodology agreed by Member States. The existing recosting methodology ensures that activities planned for the biennium are not negatively impacted by exchange-rate and inflation fluctuations, which are an unavoidable reality for an Organization of global presence. Moreover, the current methodology is technically crafted in order to allow that budgetary tools used in the regular budget, such as vacancy rates, are not transformed into budget cutting tools.

4. We reiterate, in that regard, our position that the current methodology is technically sound and integral part of the political agreement on the budgetary methodology.

Mr. Chairman,

5. The Group of 77 and China shares the view expressed by the ACABQ that the analysis conducted by the High Level Panel of Experts contains several limitations which calls into question the utility of its recommendations and of other options presented in the report. Moreover, the Group of 77 and China notices with great concern that the Panel recommendations went well beyond the mandate given by the General Assembly. Resolution 68/246 requested the Secretary-General, and I quote "to commission an independent study on recosting and options for the Organization in dealing with fluctuations in exchange rates and inflation".

6. However, the Group was unpleasantly surprised to see that the report not only exceeds its mandates, but also enter into discussions and make recommendations that directly contradict General Assembly resolutions. The study addresses issues related to the work undertaken by the International Civil Service Commission and make recommendations in contradiction to GA decisions that established the post-adjustment multiplier methodology and conferred to the ICSC the mandate to define it. The Panel also makes a recommendation on the use of vacancy management, disregarding intergovernmental decisions on that matter. The Group recalls Resolution 66/246, by which the General Assembly reaffirmed that vacancy rates are a tool for budgetary calculations and should not be used to achieve budgetary savings.

Mr. Chairman,

7. The Group of 77 and China deeply regrets that despite commissioning a report by technical experts on fluctuations in exchange rates and inflation, the Panel decided to divert the debate on the accuracy of the budget to enter into the political discussion, which has been promoted by some Member States in the last years, of establishing a cap to the budget. This approach, by itself, disqualifies the report and the recommendations it presents.

8. The G-77 and China reject any discussion related to the implementation of a "cap", which would result in indiscriminate cuts affecting the substantive work of the Organization. Establishing a cap is tantamount to absorbing practices, which have significant impact on the performance of the planned activities of the Organization.

9. The Group will not allow that its flexibility on discussing ways to improve accuracy of the budget be used as subterfuge to seek budget reductions with impact on programmed activities, as it happened with the decision to defer consideration of recosting in the previous biennium.
10. The Group further notes with concern that the report of the Panel suggests "a package of actions" and recommends deadlines for their implementation. These statements put into question the technical nature of the work of the Panel, which seems to have prepared a political deal for the consideration of the General Assembly.

Mr. Chairman,

11. While this Committee faces a heavy workload in the following days, with the responsibility of taking decisions on a great number of time bound issues, it is the Group's view that the report in front of us does not justify any change to the current budgetary process and methodology as established in resolutions 41/213 and 42/211.

Thank you.

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY AMBASSADOR SACHA LLORENTY, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO TAKE ACTION ON THE REPORT OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FINANCING (New York, 8 December 2014)

I have the honor to deliver the statement on behalf of the 134 members of the Group of 77 and China.

Mr. President,

The Group of 77 and China, wishes to thank you, for convening this important meeting today and allowing Member States to express their views and statements on the contents of the report and its options for policies on sustainable development financing. We expect these views and statements to be reflected by the Secretariat as an integral part of the resolution to be adopted at the end of this meeting.

In fulfilling the mandate of paragraph 257 of the Rio+20 Outcome Document, the consideration of this report by the General Assembly reaches out to all Member States and relevant stakeholders, especially those who have not been given the opportunity to present their views during the elaboration of the report. Unfortunately the rules of procedure applied to participation and interactions of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts were far more restrictive.

We believe that the present GA meeting is a most timely occasion to make up for the outreach deficit of the Intergovernmental Committee.

Mr. President,

The Group regards the report of the experts not as a document that galvanizes full agreement in every detail, but as one input - among others - to build a common and future agreement on the tools of financing and the means of implementing the sustainable development goals.

The Group believes that the world economic crisis is not yet over, and that its effects are still being felt in developing countries. And considers that we need to see improvement of the international environment, in order to achieve the objective to promote sustainable development, globally and in every nation and free humanity from poverty and hunger.

The Group believes that the Monterrey Consensus and the Doha Declaration provide the conceptual framework, including in the context of the post-2015 development agenda, for the mobilization of resources from a variety of sources and the effective use of financing required for the achievement of sustainable development. Therefore we should not only focus on how to mobilize domestic resources, but also on how to mobilize international finance and further strengthening the systemic aspect of an enabling environment, such as the importance of having a stable financial and trading multilateral system which provide adequate policy space and national ownership for developing countries in their pursuit of international agreed development goals.

Mr. President,

The Group recognizes at the outset the positive recommendations of the report, such as giving due consideration to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" (CBDR) of developed and developing countries and their respective capabilities, as stated in principle 7 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. On the road to Addis Ababa, we must also take guidance from OP247 of the Rio+20 Outcome Document, which underscores that SDGs are "(...) universally applicable to all countries, while taking into account different realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities".

It is also positive the recognition of the experts to the complimentary and voluntary nature of South-South cooperation, vis-à-vis North-South cooperation, in accordance with the Nairobi Outcome (2009), as well as Decision 18/1 of the High-Level Committee on South-South Cooperation and its recommendations. We do regret though the omission of references to the need of scaling-up the financial and human resources of the UN Office on South-South Cooperation.

Mr. President,

The Group regrets though that core mandates of the Rio+20 Outcome Document have not been taken into account by the experts, especially those related to the Sustainable Development Goals (as adopted by GA resolution 68/309) and possible arrangements on a facilitation mechanism on development, dissemination and transfer of clean and environmentally sound technologies (as adopted by GA resolution 68/310).

The Group is also concerned with the report departing from the Monterrey/Doha conceptual framework, as much as not addressing financing for sustainable development according to the Rio+20 consensus.

In this regard, the concept of Global Public Goods (GPGs) must be pointed out as a concern, since it unravels the idea of a balanced integration of the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, and their inter-linkages.

We understand that the GPGs may have acted as a "quick-fix" solution to help the experts make do without the SDGs, still in the making at that time, then we must admit that the welcoming of GA Resolution 68/309 has filled a crucial gap and granted centrality to the report of the OWG on SDGs as the main basis for mainstreaming sustainable development goals into the post-2015 development agenda.

The importance of a UN institutional follow-up framework has not been given due attention in the report of the experts and should thus be further discussed by Member States in the months ahead.

Debating the follow-up process will also involve assessing the relentless impact of the international financial and economic crisis over the implementation of the development agenda, as well as the remedies and reforms expected to enable the international community and its most vulnerable segments to put in place effective sustainable development strategies to free humanity from poverty and hunger by 2030.

Mr. President,

The report of the experts presents to Member States options to be yet discussed in the preparatory process for the third international conference on financing for development. In light of the consensus earned by the SDGs and the existing common principles and agreements achieved at the UN, the Group presents the following additional remarks on the experts' report:

(i) CBDR will continue to be pivotal in discussing a strategy for financing sustainable development;

(ii) the basket of 115 options on policies presented by the experts must be examined against the background of the report of the OWG on the SDGs and its 17 goals and 169 targets therein contained. We should retain the centrality of the SDGs, to ensure the holistic approach to sustainable development mandated by Monterrey and Rio+20 processes;

(iii) The Global Public Goods (GPGs) suggested by the experts must correspond to the 17 goals of the SDGs in their entirety;

(iv) reform and mobilization of domestic resources, including through partnerships and blended finance, must not trump the centrality of international trade and systemic issues for catalyzing sustainable development;

(v) the private sector is not a silver bullet for sustainable development without scaling up ODA in favor of national capacity building and regulatory framework policies, particularly in those countries with special needs;

(vi) ODA must not be redefined so as to encompass peace and security aspects that divert resources from development-oriented initiatives. Ensuring peaceful societies and empowering institutions must not be used as conditioned assistance for Member States. Aid effectiveness must continue to strictly apply to North-South cooperation, since the Busan follow-up processes and its related initiatives refer to plurilateral arrangements. without explicit mandate from the General Assembly.

(vii) The Group advocates the need to resume the debate on a UN institutional follow-up mechanism as well as on a framework of accountability to partnership initiatives with the private sector;

(viii) some options suggested by experts regarding management of resources and energy must be followed by corresponding leading initiatives of developed countries in terms of granting improved access to technology and its patents, especially those related to clean and environmentally sound technologies.

Mr. President,

Let me congratulate you once again for convening this meeting. My Group also thanks the co-facilitators of the process, which enters its second substantive informal session tomorrow, for their dedication and ultimate patience for bridging the differences on such a sensitive and important issue.

The Group of 77 and China is a diverse Group, but one which understands the value and importance of working together around the importance of financing ambitious and transformational Sustainable Development Goals with corresponding ambitious and transformational Means of Implementation.

Thank you.

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MS. DAYANA RIOS, MINISTER COUNSELOR IN THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 132: PROPOSED PROGRAMME BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM 2014-2015, REVISED ESTIMATES RESULTING FROM RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS OF ECOSOC AT ITS SUBSTANTIVE SESSION OF 2014, AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE DURING THE MAIN PART OF SIXTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 1 December 2014)

Mr. Chairman,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on this agenda item.

2. The Group of 77 and China would like to thank Ms. Linda Wong, Chief of Service II, Programme Planning and Budget Division, for the introduction of the report of the Secretary-General contained in documents A/69/609, and Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chairman of the ACABQ, for introducing the related report of the Advisory Committee under this item.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The Group of 77 and China notes that decisions of the ECOSOC at its substantive session of 2014 calls for additional requirement of USD 56,300 for the biennium 2014-2015. The Group of 77 and China supports the provision of the necessary resources to finance the resolutions and decisions adopted by the ECOSOC at its substantive session in 2014. In this regard, it is our expectation that the requirements for the support of the Secretariat to the resident coordinator system, in the amount of USD 13 million, will be fully reflected in the context of the programme budget for 2016-2017,

4. The Group would like to once again stress the importance of providing the necessary resources to finance all decisions of intergovernmental organs of the Organization in the field of social and economic development. We continue to believe on the need to allocate adequate resources to implement mandates arising from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Mr. Chairman,

5. In conclusion, I wish to assure you of the readiness of the Group of 77 and China to engage in open, inclusive and transparent negotiations on this very important agenda item.

I thank you.

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY HONOURABLE MR EBRAHIM PATEL, THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AT THE INTEGRATION SEGMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (New York, 31 March 2015)

Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset, I would like to thank you for convening this meeting of the Integration Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) entitled "Achieving sustainable development through employment creation and decent work for all".

We look forward to the enriching discussions during this Integration Segment, which will unravel the persistent and emerging challenges to our development-and explore policy options to enhance job creation and sustainable human development.

Mr President,

Allow me to utilize data and the figures that were sourced from the ECOSOC's "Key facts on employment and decent work," to illustrate a few points on the issues of paramount concern to this Segment.

As we look towards a transformative global development agenda beyond 2015, it is important to reflect on the fact that global employment grew at an average annual rate of 1.7 per cent between 1991 and 2007. However, since the emergence of the global economic crisis, employment growth slowed to 1.2 per cent per annum between 2007 and 2014. It is estimated that global unemployment stood at 201.3 million in 2014. About 277 million jobs would need to be created over the coming five years to close the crisis-related global jobs gap and to absorb the increase in the labour force.

Of great concern is the fact that the share of jobs in the agricultural sector, in developing countries fell from around 53 per cent in 1991 to 35 per cent in 2013. In least developed countries, about 60% of total employment is still located in agriculture, 42 per cent in the case of lower middle income countries and around one-fifth in emerging economies.

Youth unemployment rate reached 13.0 per cent in 2014, which is almost three times higher than the unemployment rate for adults. Given that the youth constitutes almost a quarter of the global population, the issue of employment creation becomes even more critical for economic growth and sustainable development. Africa, with 200 million people aged between 15 and 24, has the highest concentration of young people anywhere on the planet and thus requires particular attention.

Almost half of the world's employed population is still working in vulnerable conditions, and is predominantly women, who face huge obstacles in accessing basic necessities and decent work. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa account for most of the vulnerable employment globally.

With regards to wage, productivity, and inequality, it is noted that while real wage growth in 2013 reached 6 per cent in Asia and nearly 6 per cent in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, it amounted to less than 1 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean and also Africa. The combination of slow employment and wage growth has contributed to a long-term decline in the labour income share in most countries. In developing countries, the middle class currently makes up more than 34 per cent of total employment. In the advanced economies almost 25 per cent of total income went to the richest 10 per cent in society in 2011.

These huge disparities and inequalities need to be addressed if we are to attain equitable and balanced development. This can only be achieved through a coordinated international effort to develop new thinking and forging a new dialogue on appropriate strategies to spur inclusive economic growth and employment creation. In doing so, governments must be afforded their policy space to deal with their inherent and peculiar domestic economic challenges based on their own realities. Development must not be imposed but rather be in line with the domestic economic strategies and objectives of Member States.

The current world economic situation makes it all the more necessary for developed countries to fulfill their commitment regarding Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the developing countries and to also provide genuine debt relief to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Mr President,

The Group would also like to emphasize that development goals cannot be credible if they are not backed by the recognition of a need for an urgent reform of the global financial and economic governance structures. The Group therefore, calls for the implementation of the 2010 International Monetary Fund (IMF) Governance and Quota Reform. It is critical that the IMF is well resourced to be able to respond to members who are facing financial and economic crisis. The failure to implement the agreed reforms is compromising the ability of the IMF to access the necessary resources to perform this critical function. In addition, the Group looks forward to the related commitment to further advance a more comprehensive reform process of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). In building a more equitable and enabling international environment for development, it is necessary to move away from a model based on profitability to one that focuses on productivity, with the rewards going to productive efforts rather than to the interests of the speculative market economy.

Mr President,

It is the conviction of the Group that the United Nations is in a unique position as a universal forum, to strengthen international cooperation for promoting development in the context of globalization, in particular the integration of developing countries into the globalizing economy to enable them to take full advantage of all their potentials for economic growth and development. Therefore, the United Nations must play a fundamental role in the promotion and the strengthening of international cooperation and coherence, coordination and implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including the unmet Millennium Development Goals and the outcome of the post-2015 development agenda, which are currently high on the agenda of negotiations in development issues.

Mr President,

The Group therefore believes that it is imperative for the United Nations to spearhead global efforts of assisting Member States in achieving sustainable development through employment creation and decent work for all through its platforms and universal coverage. This can be done, inter alia, through the available tools in the United Nations development system and the attendant focus on strengthening the current South-South Cooperation Office through human and financial means. While focusing on these critical political economic dimensions, we should be cognizant that North-South Cooperation remains the main imperative and bedrock in opening up the glaring and unpalatable development bottlenecks that affect the developing countries in the main.

We therefore call upon all participants and stakeholders attending this Segment to have a common goal and resolve to work together in creating synergies to assist in putting steam into the locomotive to bring into fruition decent employment to benefit the entire global workforce seeking employment and to bring hope to those who have given up looking for work. This would engender possibilities to catalyze world economic growth to assist millions the world over, to come out of poverty and thus joining the main economy as opposed to being left out in the periphery of development.
Thank you!

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY THEMBELA NGCULU (MR), COUNSELLOR OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION TO THE UNITED MATIONS, ON CONCLUSION OF THE THIRD SESSION ON THE POST-2015 DEVELOPEMENT AGENDA (New York, 27 March 2015)

Co-facilitators,

I have the honor to deliver the following remarks on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

In response to the invitation for inputs on the way forward the Group wishes to submit its views as follows:

Tweaking of SDGs and Targets.

The Group noted the remarks of yesterday by the Co-facilitators that a revised proposal on the revision of the SDGs and targets will be circulated in the near future having taken into account the inputs submitted by Member States in this session. It was further mentioned that the revised text would be employed as a basis for further engagement. While the G77 and China cannot hinder efforts of the Co-facilitators to find common ground on this issue, it is important to state once again that the Group is opposed to the re-opening of the OWG/SDGs Report and in this regard reiterates its position that the said Report including the chapeau, SDGs and targets and reservations made by the Member States must be entirely integrated into the post-2015 development agenda.

The Group took note of the remarks by the Co-facilitators that the Member States must consider entrusting them with the responsibility to revisit targets without clear figures and percentages (Xs), as one option to address perceived challenges in some targets. The Group notes that the modalities and criteria for that exercise were not even announced. Any unilateral attempt by the Co-facilitators risks being rejected as any action in this process should be member-states driven.

Next Session on MoI.

The Group noted the proposal by the Co-facilitators to hold a joint meeting with the Financing for Development track during the next session that will consider the means of implementation (MoI). The Group regards the issue of the MoI as critically important to the achievement of the post-2015 development agenda. Accordingly, this topic should receive the highest attention of the Member States and adequate time should be allowed to exchange views on the practical actions that will be taken by our development partners to address this question. An integral part of the means of implementation is technology transfer and development. Member States must use the opportunity to further engage on the practical steps to bring this debate to its logical conclusion and establish the technology mechanism in the context of the post-2015 development agenda.

We are cognizant that the issue means of implementation will certainly arise in the context of the upcoming FfD meeting. It is the view of the Group that there is no contradiction in discussing this essential question of MoI in both tracks to give it the maximum attention it deserves and begin to narrow the existing gaps in earnest.

Development of global indicators.

The Group noted comments by the Co-facilitators that the Statistical Commission could be in a position to present the preliminary indicators by June/June. It is the understanding of the Group of 77 and China that, according to the roadmap decided by the Un Statistical Commission, the indicator framework will be finalized at its 47th Session in March 2016. We believe that while indicators will not be negotiated by Member States in the context of the intergovernmental process of the post-2015 development agenda, Member States can provide broad political guidance to the Statistical Commission and UN Agencies participating in the elaboration of indicators in the context of the of the Follow-up and Review. Once the indicator framework is finalized by UN Statistical in March, it can be submitted to the follow-up mechanism of Post-2015 Agenda to be agreed by consensus.

In this connection, the Group would like to highlight that it is of the utmost importance that the terms of reference of the Inter- Agency and Expert Group on SDGs indicators and its proceedings should be formalized at the earliest possible in order to provide the necessary legitimacy and transparency to this process.

As we mentioned earlier in this session it is important to ensure that channels of communication are established to afford Member States an opportunity to provide inputs to the Statistical Commission as its undertakes this indispensible task of developing global indicators in order to ensure that that the process is not only open and transparent but Member States are in a position to provide inputs in this process. In this line, we do also request that briefings by the Chief of the Statistical Commission on the progress of their work can be scheduled in all the remaining sessions of the post 2015 intergovernmental process so that Member States can be in position to provide the appropriate political guidance to their work. We need to ensure participation of representatives from developing countries through the provision of travel assistance.

The Group takes this opportunity to express its appreciation to the Co-facilitators and the Secretariat for ensuring that capital-based experts participate in our sessions through provision of travel support. Capital-based experts provide valuable inputs and support particularly to our small delegations in New York.

I thank you.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset let me thank the Co-facilitators for sharing their proposal that seeks to adjust and amend 19 targets in the proposed SDGs framework.

The 134-member Group of 77 and China wishes to put the following on record:

- Consistent with previous pronouncements on this issue the Group remains averse to the re-opening of the Report of the Open Working Group on SDGs. Accordingly the Group firmly rejects any attempts to re-open the agreed Report of the SDGs by undertaking the so-called "technical proofing" under the guise of the proposal received from the Co-facilitators. In this regard the Group would like to reiterate what was articulated on Monday at the beginning of this session that the said Report must not be reopened and must be entirely integrated into the post-2015 development agenda including the chapeau, SDGs and targets and reservations made by the Member States.

- Since the Report of the OWG-SDGs was adopted through a GA resolution in its entirety, any attempt to adjust its contents may necessitate another negotiation of a GA resolution to accommodate the proposed amendments. Unfortunately the Group would not like to go in that direction. The Group doesn't believe there will be time for this exercise in the inter-governmental process of negotiations and such an undertaking risks unraveling the entire Report. The Report of the OWG-SDGs represents a delicate political balance that resulted from an intergovernmental process that lasted for almost 18 months and any attempt to adjust or temper with its contents could not only dislodge the political balance but interfere with the agreed timeframe for negotiation and adoption of the post-2015 development agenda.

- The Group notes that the text was only presented to the Member States around midday on Monday, 23rd March, on which Member States views were sought. For purposes of predictability the Group appeals to the Co-facilitators to share any new documents well in advance in order to allow adequate time for consultations, coordination, appropriate response and value addition to the process of negotiations.

- As we engage in the process of negotiations it remains of uttermost importance to ensure adherence to agreed procedures and transparency. The Group would appreciate clarification on the origins of the text, how it was compiled and which stake-holders were involved in that exercise.

The Group avails itself of this opportunity to re-affirm its remains commitment to provide political parameters to the UN Statistical Commission and in this connection would appreciate it if clear channels of communication with Member States could be established to ensure further engagement and provision of inputs into the process of developing the much-needed global indicators.

I thank you.

COSTIS, as a global initiative of the South, devises strategies and implements programmes for building Science, Technology and Innovation capacity (STI) for economic growth and sustainable development in the developing countries. This Work Plan lists the global strategies and programmes to be implemented by COSTIS.

The general objectives of COSTIS are to promote:

Science-driven economic development in developing countries;
South-South and North-South cooperation in the development and application of science and technology in developing countries.

The specific objectives of COSTIS are to:

Encourage governments in developing countries to take appropriate actions to develop their scientific enterprise through self-reliance, adequate allocation of resources and other necessary support;
Promote the integration of science and technology into the national development plans of developing countries with a view to facilitating the solution of national problems;
Further the South's contribution to, and involvement in, frontier science and technology programmes, which are most likely to have a strong impact upon the economic and social development of developing countries;
Further the South's contribution to, and involvement in, global science projects;
Support the establishment of new international center of excellence for sustainable development in the South, and enhance cooperation among existing ones;
Promote the development of collaborative programmes between members of the Consortium and scientific institutions and organizations of the South in areas of science, technology and the environment that are of critical importance to the development of the countries;
Advance relations between scientific institutions and organizations in the South and their counterparts in the North through the development of bilateral links and cooperative programmes;
Promote the sharing of experiences and best practices in harnessing science and technology for sustainable development in the South;
Undertake any other activities that will further the objectives of the Consortium.

Guidelines and procedures for applications for funding from PGTF

What is the deadline for submitting applications for funding from PGTF?

Applications should be submitted not later than 30 April of each year.  Late project proposals will not be considered.

What is the amount of PGTF support available?

The maximum amount of PGTF support available for any given project in 2015 will be US$35,000.

Is there a PGTF funding application form?

Prospective applicants should fully fill in the mandatory project proposal model format and summary checklist in any of the working languages of the Group of 77 (Arabic, English, French and Spanish).

Applications that are not submitted fully in compliance with the requirement of the model format and summary checklist will not be considered.

What additional documents should be provided?

In the case of nationally executed projects, applications should be accompanied by letters of endorsement from the countries that will benefit directly and/or participate in the activities of this project. Such endorsement letters should contain a clear indication of the institution, as well as name, position and signature of the person providing the endorsement.   

In the case of project proposals submitted by institutions (e.g., non-governmental organizations, regional and sub-regional organizations, etc.), a copy of the relevant decision of the respective governing bodies and countries involved in the project should be provided.

What are the eligibility criteria for PGTF projects?

Applicants should familiarize themselves with the Guidelines for Utilization of PGTF before preparing and submitting a funding application.

Major project eligibility criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Project proposals submitted for funding from PGTF should address the sectoral priorities contained in the Caracas Programme of Action on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries, that is Trade, Technology, Food and Agriculture, Energy, Raw Materials, Finance, Industrialization and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, as well as in the Havana Programme of Action in the areas of South-South cooperation.
• Projects utilizing the PGTF should be of such a nature that they lead to balanced and general benefits for the member countries of the Group of 77 and China.
• These projects should be designed so as to have a maximum multiplier effect, and in the case of regional projects, serve as pilot projects for other regions. In this context, projects which are purely national in nature will not qualify for funding. Also, bilateral projects will not be eligible.
• The Fund should not be used as a substitute for resources available to the United Nations agencies for undertaking activities in favour of South-South cooperation.
• The projects that are selected should not duplicate existing projects in developing countries and should make optimum use of capacities which already exist in developing countries at the national, regional and inter-regional levels.
• Any project, in order to be considered for PGTF assistance must necessarily have a cooperative component, i.e. any activity which involves deliberate and voluntary sharing, pooling or exchange of economic or technical resources, knowledge, experience, skills and capabilities between three or more developing countries for their individual or mutual development.
• For large projects that go beyond the capacity of the PGTF, the Fund may be in a position to finance only a component of these projects.
• All project proposals should include inputs from other sources of an amount at least equal to the resources requested from PGTF. These inputs should be secured by the sponsors prior to submission of the proposal to PGTF.
• No more than one (1) project proposal per annum may be submitted for funding from the PGTF by any given institution or organization.

What is the procedure for submission of PGTF funding applications?

Applications should be forwarded with a cover letter or note verbale on official letterhead addressed to the Chair of the Group of 77. Currently, the Chair of G-77 for the year 2015 is H.E. Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations.

Applications should be delivered to the following mailing address:

Executive Secretariat of the Group of 77
United Nations Secretariat Building
Room S-0512
New York, NY 10017
United States of America

A copy of the application may also be submitted electronically to the following email address: secretariat@g77.org

How and when are applications considered?

The applications for PGTF funding are examined by a Committee of Experts between 1 July and 15 August of each year. The Committee’s recommendations for funding are submitted for final approval to the Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 held in late September of each year at UN Headquarters in New York.

How are PGTF resources disbursed?

If funding is approved, the beneficiaries will be notified officially by the Chair of the Group of 77 in October/November and requested to submit a detailed draft project document (based on the project proposal using the identical format) in electronic format to the UN Office for South-South Cooperation hosted by UNDP.

Once the draft project document is reviewed and adjusted as appropriate, it is sent by the UN Office for South-South Cooperation to the relevant UNDP country office requesting it to finalize and sign the project document and record it in Atlas (UNDP’s Enterprise Resource Planning system). 

After the UNDP country office returns a copy of the signed cover page of the project document and informs the UN Office for South-South Cooperation of the project number in Atlas, the latter releases the authorization for the 90% of the approved funding. The remaining 10% is released contingent upon the project sponsors submitting the final substantive and financial reports.

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MS. PAMELA LUNA TUDELA, MINISTER COUNSELLOR OF THE PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA, AT THE SECOND ROUND OF SUBSTANTIVE INFORMAL SESSION OF THE PREPARATORY PROCESS FOR THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT, ON ENABLING AND CONDUCIVE POLICY ENVIRONMENT (New York, 9 December 2014)

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

At the outset I would like to thank the cofacilitators for convening this substantive informal session and also the moderators and speakers for their presentations.

"International monetary and financial system; regulations to balance access to credit with financial market stability"

The ongoing world financial and economic crisis and its impacts on development underscores the importance of a global, universal and integrated response by the international community to address systemic fragilities and imbalances inherent in the international financial institutions (IFIs). This requires serious actions to resolve the structural problems of financial instability and unavailability of liquidity for developing countries in need to generate the necessary sustained growth and development.

The capacity of the IFIs to provide liquidity in times of systemic crisis is an important element in ensuring global financial stability. However, a global mechanism for ensuring the swift and sufficient availability of substantial resources to stabilize market conditions in times of systemic liquidity crisis continues to be lacking. In this regard, the Group believes that efforts should focus on enhancing the various layers of the global financial safety net and on strengthening coordination among the mechanisms at different levels.

In the context of structural reform of the IFIs, the Group strongly believes that developing countries must be equitably represented in these institutions and have a strengthened voice in global economic governance. Moreover, it is critically important that the financial sector is transparent and properly regulated to reduce speculative investment so that the capital markets can be mobilized to achieve sustainable development and play a constructive role in the global development agenda.

"International tax cooperation for development"

The Group of 77 and China maintains that while there is increasing recognition of the central role of tax systems in development, the fact remains that there is still no global, inclusive norm-setting body for international tax cooperation at the intergovernmental level. There is also not enough focus on the development dimension of these issues.

The Group of 77 and China reiterates its call to change the status of the Committee of Experts on Tax Matters, transforming it from experts acting in their own capacity, to an intergovernmental subsidiary body of the Council, with experts representing their respective governments.

This transformation is necessary and important in order to allow all member States, including developing countries, to have an equal say on issues related to tax matters. The role of the United Nations on international cooperation in tax matters is especially important as it is the only true global forum with universal relevance and participation.

"Debt crisis prevention and resolution"

The ongoing debt crisis has once again highlighted the gaps in the international financial architecture with regard to timely and effective solutions to sovereign debt distress. Debt sustainability, effective debt management, and the guarantee of an adequate debt repayment capacity that does not impair national growth perspectives are core factors to be considered in the efforts carried out by Member States to attain national and international development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

In past decades and more so recently, a new concern has emerged relating to the activities of vulture funds, their highly speculative nature and the systemic implications of their actions which pose a risk to all future debt-restructuring processes, both for developing and developed countries.

We consider it is essential for the stability and predictability of international financial architecture, to ensure that agreements reached between debtors and creditors within the context of sovereign debt restructuring processes are respected, allowing payment flows to be distributed to cooperative creditors as agreed with them in the process of consensual readjustment of the debt. We must count on instruments making reasonable and definitive agreements between sovereign creditors and debtors, allowing them to confront debt sustainability problems in an orderly fashion.

In that regard, the Group welcomed the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of resolution 68/304 "towards the establishment of a multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes", and the Modalities for implementing this resolution, with the purpose to elaborate and adopt, through a process of intergovernmental negotiations, a multilateral legal framework for sovereign debt restructuring processes with a view, inter alia, to increasing the efficiency, stability and predictability of the international financial system and achieving sustained, inclusive and equitable growth and sustainable development, in accordance with national circumstances and priorities.

Thank you.

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MR. JULIO MOLLINEDO CLAROS, MINISTER COUNSELLOR OF THE PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE INFORMAL CONSULTATION ON THE MODALITIES FOR POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA (New York, 3 December 2014)

Distinguished Co-Facilitators,

I have to honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The Group values this opportunity to share its views on the food-for-thought paper that you have provided. We would at the outset like to thank you for your efforts in preparing and sharing this paper which is helpful to frame our discussions.

Distinguished Co-Facilitators,

The Group firmly believes that the mandate provided by GA resolution 68/6 for the adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda is through a process of intergovernmental negotiations.

As such, this process must be member-state driven and conducted as per standard modalities for intergovernmental negotiations in the General Assembly underpinned by the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and ECOSOC.

For this purpose, it is essential that member states negotiate and adopt a detailed modalities resolution prior to the commencement of the intergovernmental negotiations.

The resolution on the modalities of the Post-2015 Summit, which is yet to be adopted pending agreement on the dates, does not in any way indicate that a further modalities resolution on the intergovernmental negotiation process is not needed. On the contrary, in the view of the Group, OP 15 of this resolution clearly mandates that a new modalities resolution must be adopted to constitute the agreement among member states on all related issues.

A modalities resolution is also a must to provide transparency and clarity to all member states and all other stakeholders regarding the process, working methods, scope and timelines of the intergovernmental negotiation process.

The Group would therefore request you to provide a definite roadmap for negotiations among member states so that a Modalities resolution is adopted before the commencement of drafting sessions as envisaged by you.

Distinguished Co-Facilitators,

Regarding the proposed timeline of the negotiating sessions, the Group believes that sessions should not be clustered together too closely and that adequate time must be made available between sessions to enable the Group to effectively coordinate positions and for delegations from developing countries to effectively participate in the drafting sessions.

The preparatory process must facilitate the effective participation of delegates from Capitals. Delegates from developing countries must be supported to ensure their participation.

Distinguished Co-Facilitators,

In terms of scope, the Group does not support the idea of the so-called 'technical proofing' of the targets contained in the SDG report. Any re-opening of the SDG document will inevitably disturb the delicate political balance contained in the SDGs and this will not be helpful for negotiating and adopting an ambitious post-2015 development agenda.

On the development of indicators, more discussion and clarity is needed for an acceptable way forward.
The Group of 77 and China is also concerned about the concept "UN fit for purpose". It is indispensable that, before start to negotiate the agenda, more information about the implications, scope and objectives should be provided to all Member States. G77 and China does not support the idea of linking Human Rights, Peace and Security with the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

While coordination with other processes may be useful, we are not sure how this process can be coordinated with the negotiations under UNFCCC which has its own timeline and integrity. While we need to foster coherence, we also need to be cautious in creating artificial linkages with distinct negotiation processes which may not necessarily be helpful.

For the Group of 77 and China is also important to guarantee the full and effective participation of all delegations from the developing countries in the negotiation process. This implies that the UN Secretariat should provide the necessary resources for the participation of at least one delegate from all developing countries in all the preparatory meetings.

Distinguished Co-Facilitators,

The Group believes that a strengthened and revitalized global partnership is essential for the success of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and must be a priority of the intergovernmental negotiations. The discussions on a strengthened global partnership will no doubt benefit from the discussions under the FfD process, but these discussions cannot be artificially restricted to any one process.

In particular, the Group of 77 and China emphasizes the need to allocate adequate time for deliberations on the institutional arrangement of a mechanism to facilitate clean and environmentally sound technologies for developing countries. Since Rio+20, member States have discussed institutional options for such a mechanism and the structured dialogues held during the 68th General Assembly year provided us with concrete recommendations in this regard. We noted with appreciation the reference on the issue of technology facilitation, but we believe that there is need for reference to the establishment of a mechanism and to the relevant UN documents on this issue, including GA resolution 68/310, adopted by consensus less than three months ago.

We trust that you will conduct the consultations in the coming days with a view to the adoption of the modalities resolution to be adopted as soon as possible so that substantive negotiations can begin at an early date.

Before concluding, let me assure you of the full cooperation from the Member States of the Group 77 and China.

We thank you once again.

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY MS. DAYANA RIOS REQUENA, MINISTER COUNSELLOR IN THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE PLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 132: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY IN THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE FIFTH COMMITTEE DURING THE MAIN PART OF THE SIXTY-NINTH SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY (New York, 1 December 2014)

Mr Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 132: program budget for the biennium 2014-2015: Information and Communications Technology. The Group would like to thank Mr. Yukio Takasu, Under-Secretary General for Management for introducing the Secretary-General's report on Information and Communications Technology as well as Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu- Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, for introducing the Advisory Committee's related report.

The Group would also like to congratulate and welcome Ms. Atefeh Riazi, Assistant-Secretary General, and Chief Information Technology Officer on her recent appointment and would like to assure her of our continued support in discharging given responsibilities.

Mr Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China has always supported management reforms initiatives which aim at increasing efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, credibility and accountability in the Organization. The Group wishes re-emphasizes the fact that any reform including on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), must aim at supporting the work of the United Nations in the areas of peace and security, development and human rights.

The Group believes that the Organisation should not continue to be consumer of the ICT equipments, systems and services but its Revised Strategy should aimed at ensuring the ICT provide support to Organisation to effectively deliver its given mandate as well as facilitate Member States in decision making processes at the most efficient, effective, user friendly, secured, reliable and cost effective manner.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group of 77 and China expresses concern on the continued existing of high level of fragmentation of the ICT environment in the organization. The Group is deeply concerned that, despite many initiatives and efforts, offices and departments continue maintain their own independent ICT units, resulting in a legacy of decentralized, non-standardized and fragmented ICT environments which has built up over decades and leading to the proliferation of duplicate, incompatible and outdated systems, a limited ability to share and process information, incomplete coverage of user requirements and a lack of transparency regarding ICT expenditure and staffing across the Organization.

The Group notes that this fragmentation also drives up and constitute high costs of operations and prevents the Organization from realizing economies of scale.

The Group of 77 and China recalls that, in the previous the Board of Auditors identified three key limitations of the ICT strategy adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 63/262 namely, insufficient emphasis on the enterprise resource planning system; insufficient prioritization of information security issues; and insufficient recognition of peacekeeping activities, which account for some 75 per cent of overall ICT expenditure.

The Group also recalls that the Board observations on the lack of an effective governance and accountability framework for managing the ICT affairs; the lack of clarity on how the ICT changes envisaged were essential to business needs or to the core objectives of the United Nations; the lack of a clear definition and understanding across the Organisation of the role and authority of the Office of Information and Communications Technology and its Chief; an insufficient number of ICT professionals with the skills required to lead business transformation initiatives; insufficient consideration of the decentralized and autonomous nature of the entities; and the lack of a clear identification of genuinely Organization-wide activities that require strong central control and those that require or merit operational freedom.

The Group will be interested to learn in detailed as to how these observations have been addressed in the current proposed strategy.

Mr. Chairman,

With regard to the ongoing initiatives, the Group of 77 and China notes that part of the activities being undertaken by the OICT are interrelated and interdependent of ongoing reform initiatives, and emphasizes the need for harmonization and rationalization on their implementation in order to ensure coherence and synergies in planning for the future related activities. The Group also emphasizes the need for the future proposals including the 'global service delivery model' to ensure high level of harmonisation with the ongoing activities under Revised ICT Strategy and other initiatives to avoid waste and duplication of resources and efforts.

Turning to the proposal for a revised information and communications technology strategy, the Group has taken note of the key features of the strategy as well as related strategies to be carried out in five years period and looks forward for detailed discussion during our informal deliberations. The Group will also be interested to learn in details how the strategy is aligned with ongoing initiatives such as Umoja, IPSAS, GFSS and human resource management reforms. The Group will careful scrutinize the training element of the ICT in the Organisation with the aim to ensure the in-house capacity are adequately available to deliver the mandated activities;

Mr. Chairman,

While we note that the proposed revised strategy is based on a consultative approach involving all Secretariat ICT units, the Group believes that, there is a need and a room for further consultation and collaborations in particular with the offices away from headquarters, peacekeeping and other field based offices to guarantee expected benefits. The Group will be interested to learn in detail to what extent consultations reached other stakeholders working with the Organisation in the field such as agencies, funds and programmes.

With regard to ICT governance and management framework, the Group has taken note that distribution of responsibility for ICT delivery across multiple centres in numerous geographically dispersed centres may present some management challenges. In this regard we would like to emphasize the need for robust governance, management and accountability arrangements, strong leadership, comprehensive standards and procedures and effective communication and coordination to ensure risk mitigation and the successful implementation of the proposed strategy;

Mr Chairman,

Turning to the role of Chief Information Technology Officer, the Group has taken note of the information provided by the Secretary General as well as views of the Advisory Committee and we look forward for detailed discussion with the aim of ensuring the CITO deliver the given responsibilities in particular those related to the overall direction and performance of ICT activities in the Organisation in line with the given mandate.

With regard to the cost benefit analysis of the ICT Initiatives, like the Advisory Committee, the Group of 77 and China recognizes that the cost-benefit analysis will evolve over time as the implementation of the proposed strategy progresses and that it is an important tool in the decision-making process for evaluating projects and determining their feasibility and that such an analysis should be prepared at the outset of the project. It is our expectation that the information on the projected cost and benefits of the initiative will be presented to Member States in a timely manner and that any savings derived from the initiatives will be directed to support development related activities.

Mr. Chairman,

The Group attaches great interest to initiatives aimed at addressing information security in the organisation and we are on full support of the interim urgent measures to address this situation. The Group is expecting an update on the progress achieved in the implementation of recommendations to strengthening information and systems security across the Secretariat. We have taken note that the first phase of the action plan was completed in 2013 and that full implementation was expected to continue in 2014. The Group looks forward for an update on the status of implementation of the Action Plan during the seventieth session, including details on related expenditures.

In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China would like to re-assure you of our continued support to the Secretary General's efforts to reform and modernize the ICT and looks forward to engage constructively during informal consultation with the aim of reaching positive outcome that address key deficiencies facing the Organisation in this area.

I thank you Mr. Chairman.

REMARKS ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY AMBASSADOR KINGSLEY J.N. MAMABOLO, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS, CHAIR OF THE GROUP OF 77 , AT THE HIGH-LEVEL INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE: THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR ACTION, "WATER FOR LIFE": PROGRESS ACHIEVED AND LESSONS LEARNED FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (New York, 30 March 2015)

Mr President,

I have the honour to present these remarks on behalf of the 134 member states of the Group of 77 and China.

The Group's participation in this High-level interactive dialogue is informed by the reality that the inability to provide clean water to communities contributes to poverty, inequality, poor health and under-development. It is also informed by the knowledge that water is essential for our efforts to develop our agricultural sectors, industrialise our countries and to develop our economies.

The international community has always recognized this need and sought to address water-related challenges faced by millions in the world. As early as 1992 through the Earth Summit in Rio right through to the Millennium Development Goals, pledges have been made to increase access to safe drinking water, lessen the burden of the affordability of water, curb the mismanagement of water resources, and improve sanitation and hygiene levels. While some gains have been made in this regard, a huge challenge still remains ahead of us.

United Nations member states have in recent years sought to move the international community closer to this ideal by reaffirming the human right to safe drinking water through Resolution 68/157 entitled "The human right to safe drinking water and sanitation". There was acknowledgement through this resolution that improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation has a direct bearing on health, poverty eradication, nutrition, education and development.

The right to safe drinking water and sanitation reinforces the right to an adequate standard of living and mutually feeds into the right to life and human dignity.
However, this right will continue to remain elusive for millions especially in developing countries, if water is insufficient, unsafe, inaccessible or unaffordable.

Mr President,

The report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals that was endorsed by the General Assembly Resolution 68/309 as constituting 'the main basis for integrating sustainable development goals into the post-2015 development agenda' has proposed a stand-alone goal on water. The goal "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all" not only calls for access to safe and affordable drinking water. It also calls for the improvement of the quality of water by reducing pollution and eliminating the dumping of waste and chemical materials; increasing recycling and water use efficiency. Attaining the water related sustainable development goal would also include implementing "integrated water resources management at all levels, including through trans-boundary cooperation as appropriate" and protecting water related ecosystems.

What is evident in both the MDGs and the SDGs is that water is intrinsically linked to the attainment of the other goals - the eradication of poverty and hunger; the promotion of sustainable agriculture; ensuring health; access to sustainable energy; economic growth; industrialization; combating climate change; sustainable consumption and production; terrestrial ecosystems and combating desertification.

There has therefore been some considerable effort to improve access to water precisely because of this perceived linkage with poverty, health, nutrition, education, gender equality and economic growth.

Mr President,

It is the Group's considered view that any effort aimed at improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation and better management of water resources needs to be informed by the recognition that the need is highest in developing countries where access to safe drinking water is not there. It should also be borne in mind that the need for better infrastructure to ensure access to safe drinking water is greatest in developing countries.

The Group is therefore fully supportive of sustainable development goal 6 which calls for the expansion of "international cooperation and capacity building support to developing countries in water and sanitation related activities and programmes". Towards this end, support to developing countries should be geared to achieving, among others, water management; the protection of coastlines, oceans and seas; the protection of marine resources; and chemical and waste management.

Capacity building should also include a sharing of technologies, experiences and best practices on the effective use of water, not only as a basic necessity but also as an energy source. Support should be provided to developing countries in their efforts to improve the development and deployment of clean technologies, management, conservation, and sustainable use of water and water-related energy resources.

International partners could also increase investments for activities targeted at developing facilities for providing access to fresh water and sanitation and strengthening national and regional water management systems
.
In conclusion, Mr President,

Our work towards the Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa and the Post-2015 Development Agenda should be informed by the vision of bringing to reality for millions of our people the right to access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

I thank you!

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF 77 AND CHINA BY THEMBELA NGCULU (MR), COUNSELLOR OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON THE THEMES FOR INTERACTIVE DIALOGUES FOR THE SUMMIT ON THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA (New York, 26 March 2015)

Co-facilitators,

It is an honor for me to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The Group wishes to welcome the initiative by the Co-facilitators to organize a debate on the themes for interactive dialogues for the Summit which will take place in September to adopt the post-2015 development agenda. We thank the Co-facilitators for circulating a list of six themes last night for consideration by Member States

Co-facilitators,

Clearly the time to prepare for this debate was rather short as the Group of 77 and China would need to properly coordinate its position on this important topic of the themes, in order to ensure that we provide concrete and constructive inputs in this process.

At the outset I wish to state that the basis for the themes for the interactive dialogues for the post-2015 Summit should be the inter-governmentally agreed outcomes of the recent Summits and member-driven processes, in particular the Rio+20 Conference and the Report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. With this approach Member States will easily narrow any arising gaps and ensure conclusion of the process in time to form part of the post 2015 development agenda.

We note that the Summit will be the last gathering of the Heads of State and Government related to development, before the deadline for the MDGs. It would be appropriate for the Summit to consider the transition from the MDGs framework to the SDGs and the broader post-2015 development agenda. It is the view of the Group that the Summit will be an opportunity to exchange lessons learnt at the highest political level and prepare the ground for the implementation of the successor development framework.

In this connection the Group maintains that poverty remains the greatest global challenge afflicting developing countries and therefore poverty eradication must remain the overriding objective of the post-2015 development agenda. In addressing this global challenge our efforts must be underpinned by the Rio principles in particular principle 7 i.e. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities. The Group reiterates its long standing view that for developing countries poverty eradication remains the sin quo non for the realization of sustainable development and the post 2015 development agenda must seek to translate this belief into concrete action. Additionally, it remains critically important, as we consider themes to catalyze efforts and deepen integration of the three dimensions of Sustainable Development to ensure global responsiveness to the needs of developing countries.

Co-facilitators,

It would be remiss of the international community not to reinvigorate a debate on the urgent need to strengthen global partnership as the failure for some regions to realize MDGs could be largely attributed to lack of delivery on MDG 8. For the agenda to be truly transformative and successful, necessary means of implementation should be made available to developing countries. We must ensure access by developing countries to financial assistance and capacity-building while also ensuring that we move with the necessary speed and establish the technology mechanism in the context of the post-2015 development agenda to ensure its speedy operationalization.

The SDGs elaboration process has revealed a set of common cross-cutting issues such as inequalities both within and among nations that need synergistic approach in implementation. To address the scourge of inequality the international community must ensure that gender equality, women empowerment, indigenous peoples and people living in vulnerable situations, such as migrants and persons with disabilities, the elderly and young people and climate change among others, receive the necessary attention in the context of the post-2015 development agenda.

The Group of 77 and China would like to make an appeal that in refining themes for the interactive debate the Co-facilitators must take into account the above-mentioned imperatives.

With this preliminary input the Group of 77 and China believes that the Co-facilitators have a basis on which to engage and further consult with Member States.

I thank you.

The following policies build on the objectives of COSTIS to provide adequate guidance for the formulation of its strategic actions and programmes:

Implement cooperative actions to improve the quality of science, technology and innovation policy making capacity in the developing countries, providing means for policy makers to better analyze challenges and opportunities of new technologies and to devise effective national policies;
Strengthen the human resources skills base in the developing countries by increasing the number of scientists, technicians and engineers, and leveraging the skills needed to conduct economically relevant R&D, and to evaluate and adapt technology;
Promote the exchange of experiences and cooperation with developing countries that have a competitive advantage in areas such as information technology, communications and bio-engineering;
Promote South-South research cooperation, by linking R&D institutions and other centers of excellence to establish strategic programmes of R&D, and improving the quality of regional cooperation with the use of knowledge currently available in existing centers of excellence;
Promote interdisciplinary dialogue among scientific organizations of the North and the South;
Strengthen the capacity of regional economic bodies to mainstream science and technology into their programmes and projects;
Promote partnerships with the private sector to help create education systems which become a resource for economic growth;
Promote a broader vision for information society development, including digital inclusion strategies, to leverage the potential of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the South;
Promote capacity in local private industry, including high technology business development;
Promote innovative ways and means of financing science and technology;
Build indigenous science, technology and innovation capacity;
Promote and strengthen the role of women as full partners in the science and technology disciplines;
Promote regional cooperative mechanisms to address regional needs for sustainable development;
Strengthen the codes of practice and guidelines of the scientific and technological community in the South to increase environmental awareness, contribute to sustainable development, and facilitate the accountability of science and technology;
Strengthen national and international cooperation, including the non-governmental sector, to apply codes of practice and guidelines regarding environmentally sound and sustainable development;
Promote the implementation of appropriate construction technologies, and the dissemination and transfer of successful experiences on how to appropriate construction technologies;
Promote the use of alternative energy resources;
Promote adequate approaches to water management in the South, by building sustainable rainwater harvesting and ground water recharge capacity, and basic environmental drainages capacity for a better utilization in the habitat;
Promote global quality in health and facilitate the implementation of local health innovation systems;
Enhance diagnostic capacity and control measures of major transmissible diseases in the South, such as malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS;
Enhance diagnostic and control measure capacity of trans-boundary animal diseases;
Promote sociological and cultural challenges of adopting appropriate technologies by building STI capacity to meet global quality in agriculture;
Promote the implementation of local systems for delivering agricultural innovations, and the development and diffusion of appropriate technologies to rural areas.

• Statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China by Mr. Mahlatse Mminele, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations, at the Dialogue on the longer-term positioning of the United Nations Development System (Session II) (New York, 30 January 2015)
• Statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China by Mr. Mahlatsi Mminele, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations, at the first drafting session of the preparatory process for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (New York, 28 January 2015)
• Statement by H.E. Ambassador Kingsley J.N. Mamabolo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations and Chairman of the Group of 77, on the occasion of the stock-taking session on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (New York, 20 January 2015)
• Statement by Ambassador Kingsley J.N. Mamabolo Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations and Chairman of the Group Of 77 on Behalf of the Group of 77 and China at the Open Debate of the Security Council on the theme "Inclusive development for the maintenance of international peace and security" in connection with agenda item "Maintenance of international peace and security" (New York, 19 January 2015)
• Statement by H.E. Ambassador Kingsley J.N. Mamabolo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations and Chairman of the Group of 77 on the occasion of the stock-taking session on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (New York, 19 January 2015)
• Statement by His Excellency Mr. Luwellyn Landers, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, at the Handover Ceremony of the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 (New York, 8 January 2015)

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• Caracas Declaration of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Group (Caracas, Venezuela, 21-23 June 1989)
  (Languages: English | French | Spanish | Arabic)
• Ministerial Declaration adopted on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Group of 77 (UN Headquarters, New York, 24 June 1994)
  (Languages: English | French | Spanish | Arabic)
• Ministerial Declaration adopted on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Group of 77 (São Paulo, Brazil, 11-12 June 2004)
  (  Languages: English | French | Spanish | Arabic)

• Declaration "For a new world order for living well" adopted by the Summit of Heads of State and Government on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Group of 77 (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Plurinational State of Bolivia, 14-15 June 2014)
  (  Languages: English | French | Spanish | Arabic)

• Joint Declaration of the Group of 77 (Geneva, 15 June 1964)
• Charter of Algiers (Algiers, Algeria, 10-25 October 1967)
• Caracas Programme of Action adopted by the High-level Conference on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries (Caracas, Venezuela, 13-19 May 1981)
• Cairo Declaration on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries adopted by the High-level Meeting on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries (Cairo, Egypt, 18-23 August 1986)
• San Jose Declaration and Plan of Action adopted by the South-South Conference on Trade, Investment and Finance (San José, Costa Rica, 13-15 January 1997)
• Bali Declaration on Regional and Subregional Economic Cooperation of the Developing Countries (Bali, Indonesia, 2-5 December 1998)
• Bali Plan of Action on Regional and Subregional Economic Cooperation of the Developing Countries (Bali, Indonesia, 2-5 December 1998)
• Declaration on the occasion of the Twenty-first Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 (New York, 26 September 1997)
• Declaration on the occasion of the Twenty-second Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 (New York, 25 September 1998)
• Declaration on the occasion of the Twenty-third Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 (New York, 24 September 1999)
• Declaration of the South Summit and Havana Programme of Action (Havana, 10-14 April 2000)
  ( Other languages: English | French | Spanish| Arabic)
• Statement on the occasion of the Twenty-fourth Ministerial Annual Meeting of the Group of 77 (New York, 15 September 2000)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish)
• Tehran Consensus on South-South Cooperation (Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 22 August 2001)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish)
• Declaration on the occasion of the Twenty-fifth Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 (New York, 16 November 2001)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish)
• Declaration on the occasion of the Twenty-sixth Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 (New York, 19 September 2002)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish)
• Declaration by the Group of 77 and China on the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference at Doha, Qatar (Geneva, 22 October 2001)
• Dubai Declaration for the promotion of science and technology in the South (Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27-30 October 2002)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | French | Spanish)
• Declaration by the Group of 77 and China on the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference at Cancun, Mexico (Geneva, 22 August 2003)
• Declaration on the occasion of the Twenty-seventh Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 (New York, 25 September 2003)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish)
• Marrakech Declaration on South-South Cooperation and Marrakech Framework of Implementation of South-South Cooperation adopted on the occasion of the High-level Conference on South-South Cooperation (Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco, 16-19 December 2003)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish)
• Declaration on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the Group of 77 (São Paulo, Brazil, 11-12 June 2004)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish)
• Declaration on the occasion of the Twenty-eighth Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 (New York, 30 September 2004)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish
• Conclusions and recommendations of the High-level Forum on Trade and Investment (Doha, Qatar, 5-6 December 2004)
• Second South Summit (Doha, Qatar, 12-16 June 2005):
  Doha Declaration  Arabic | English | French | Spanish
  Doha Plan of Action   Arabic | English | French | Spanish
• Statement on the occasion of the Twenty-ninth Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 (New York, 22 September 2005)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish

• Statement adopted by the Special Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 (Putrajaya, Malaysia, 29 May 2006)
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• Conclusions and Recommendations of the Meeting of the Ministers of Science and Technology of the Member States of the Group of 77 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3 September 2006)
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• Ministerial Statement adopted by the 30th Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (New York, 22 September 2006)
• Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 31th Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (New York, 27 September 2007)
• Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 32nd Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (New York, 26 September 2008)
• Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 33rd Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (New York, 25 September 2009)
• Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 34rd Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (New York, 28 September 2010)
• Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 35th Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (New York, 23 September 2011)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish
• Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 36rd Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (New York, 28 September 2012)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish
• Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 37th Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (New York, 26 September 2013)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish
• Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 38th Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 (New York, 26 September 2014)
  ( Other languages: Arabic | English | French | Spanish

• Preliminary position of the Group of 77 and China on the Report of the Secretary-General: Renewing the United Nations: A Programme for Reform (A/51/950), 14 October 1997
• Preliminary position of the Group of 77 and China on the Report of the Secretary-General: Renewing the United Nations: A Programme for Reform (A/51/950), 29 October 1997
• A Commentary on "Renewing the United Nations: A Programme for Reform": A policy brief prepared by the South Centre at the request of the Group of 77