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Support to the Trust Fund for a reformed Resident Coordinator System of the United Nations

Project completed

If the UN Development System is to provide efficient support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it needs to be reformed. Switzerland has been advocating for this reform. One important element is the strengthening of the UN Resident Coordinator System. With this contribution to the Trust Fund, Switzerland will keep its leadership function in the UN Development System by shaping the transition phase of two years towards the new system.

Topic Period Budget
Governance
Public sector policy
Decentralisation
Domestic revenue mobilisation
01.12.2018 - 31.12.2019
 CHF  9’400’000
The project in brief
Background The UN Development System needs to reform itself in order to step up to the challenges of the 2030 Agenda. At the strategic level, many steps have been taken under the leadership of the Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, as well as General Assembly Resolutions. The UN Secretary General has put forward a comprehensive reform package consisting of three priorities: 1) Reform of the peace and security operations; 2) Management Reform; and 3) Reform of the UN Development System. The latter is comprised of about fourty funds and programmes as well as specialised agencies. One key element therein is the the establishment of an independent, impartial and empowered UN Resident Coordinator in 129 countries. Switzerland welcomes the measures taken by the UN General Assembly to reform the UN development system. Since joining the UN, Switzerland has made a substantial contribution to shaping this reform. Switzerland led the negotiations that brought about the adoption of the far-reaching resolution in May 2018. It is time-critical to support the implementation of this reform from 1st January 2019 onwards, when the new system will come into effect. The Trust Fund for the reformed Resident Coordinator System is the main financial mechanism to do so.
Objectives Accelerate the impact of the UN development system at country level in reducing poverty and inequalities as defined in the Agenda 2030 through the establishmend of a stronger Resident Coordinator System.
Target groups

Direct: UN Development Coordination Office, Resident Coordinator Offices, United Nations Country Teams, ECOSOC

Indirect: UN Member States, civil society, private sector partners working with the UN on the 2030 Agenda

Medium-term outcomes
  1. UN Development Coordination Office has the capacity to efficiently and effectively lead the reinvigorated resident coordinator system, in line with the mandates conferred to it in General Assembly resolution 72/279
  2. Resident Coordinators have the capacity to provide strategic, efficient and effective leadership for sustainable development outcomes of UN country teams, in line with the UN Development Assistance Frameworks, national priorities and ownership
Results

Expected results:   UN Development Coordination Office has the human and financial resources to support the transition and implement the new Resident Coordinator System, including the management of the Trust Fund. Resident Coordinators have the human and financial resources to implement the Resident Coordinator System at country level, including the implementation of the new generation of UN Development Assistance Frameworks.


Results from previous phases:  

  • Systematic roll-out of operational guidelines by UN Resident Coordinator Offices completed
  • Better quality UN Development Assistance Frameworks developed
  • Joint pilot programmes enabled through financial incentives
  • Improved tracking and reporting on reform and its bottlenecks

From the previous phases, it can be concluded that the UN Country Teams require stronger leadership by the Resident Coordinators and the RC Offices can only operate effectively if they have enough resources.
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • Other UN Organisation


Coordination with other projects and actors

Support to the reform of the United Nations Development System (2017-2020): Joint Fund on the SDGs

Accountability for the 2030 Agenda: support to the High Level Political Forum to review national reports on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda

Joint Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention

UN-World Bank Humanitarian Development Peace Initiative
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    9’400’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    9’400’000
Project phases Phase 2 01.11.2021 - 31.03.2023   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.12.2018 - 31.12.2019   (Completed)

  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Public sector policy and administrative management
    Decentralisation and support to subnational government (incl. accountability)
    Domestic revenue mobilisation
    Cross-cutting topics The project supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
    Aid Type Project and programme contribution
    Project number

    7F10111

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Last update 03.01.2021