§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her criteria are for assessing the progress of United Nations reform. [106456]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe overriding criterion in the field of development is the contribution which the UN and its funds, programmes and specialised agencies make to achieving the International Development Targets for poverty eradication, agreed by the entire UN membership. Better UN performance will require continuing efforts to focus the work of UN development agencies where they can be most effective in helping meet the Targets, to link resources more closely to objectives and outputs, and to strengthen co-ordination within the UN family and between the UN and other development institutions, particularly the World Bank. The UN must also improve its response to conflict, which threatens poverty reduction in many poor countries and continue to work with others to develop and implement the statistical systems needed to measure year-on-year progress towards the Targets. The UK will continue to support the UN and its development agencies in improving their effectiveness on all these fronts.
§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress has been made in reforming the United Nations. [106455]
§ Mr. FoulkesIn the field of Development the process of institutional modernisation started by the UN Secretary General in 1997 has improved the impact of the UN, though much remains to be done. New and improved strategic co-ordinating mechanisms have been established to enhance the UN's development policy cohesion. The pilot UN Development Assistance Framework has begun to increase co-ordination between UN agencies and between the UN and other development institutions at country level and will be extended rapidly to more countries. Agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have established clearer objectives, a sharper focus on clearly defined core activities, sound finances and better management. UNDP and UNICEF have made progress in developing management systems that link resources more closely to objectives and results. We are encouraging all UN development agencies to modernise their management and organisation to increase their effectiveness in helping meet the International Development Targets.