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GGI Director Moderates UNGA81 Launch of the Alliance Supporters of the UN Development System

New York City

Over 23 Member States joined UN leaders to discuss how the New Alliance can leverage UN80 reforms to make the UN Development System more effective at country level.

How can the UN Development System be reformed to strengthen its impact on the ground? During the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the Alliance “Supporters of the UN Development System” addressed this question at its official side event. Germany and Jordan hosted the event at UN Headquarters in New York. GGI Director Dr. David Passarelli moderated the discussion.

The Member States of the Alliance presented their common position on the UN80 Initiative, the “10 Steps for a successful UN80 Initiative”, to the wider UN membership and UN institutions.

In her opening speech, H.E. Reem Alabali Radovan, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, said effective reform needs a stronger culture of listening to one another.

Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Alliance Member States then shared their views:

  • H.E. Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Kenya
  • H.E. Éléonore Caroit, Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Nationals Abroad, France
  • H.E. Neale Richmond, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Ireland
  • H.E. Pascalle Grotenhuis, Deputy Minister for International Cooperation, the Netherlands

In the interactive dialogue moderated by Dr. Passarelli, the panellists focused on pressing questions such as:

  • Should the Resident Coordinator be the undisputed leader of the UN Development System at country level?
  • Can the UN Development System truly deliver as One while agencies continue to work in silos and compete for funding?

Also speaking at the event, H.E. Mariana Betsa, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, and Guy Ryder, UN Under-Secretary-General for Policy, stressed that the Alliance’s common position is key to an impactful reform of the UN Development System.

In her closing remarks, H.E. Zeina Toukan, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan, said these questions increasingly need to be tackled across regions, with both programme and donor countries at the table. The Alliance, which brings together 23 Member States from all UN regional groups, provides a critical platform to do so.

More photos from the event are available here.