(6th meeting) Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS (Second regular session 2026)

I Thank Yeah.
I misdemeanor.
I Good afternoon, colleagues.
We will resume the interactive dialogue with the UNDP administrator.
We have the list of delegation who would like to have an intervention.
We will resume the list.
I see distinguished representative of Iran.
Do we have Iran here? No.
Iran is not here, so we move to the next one, Malaysia.
Do we have Malaysia here? Please.
You have the floor.
Mr.
President.
Thank you, President, and thank you to the administrator for his candid and forward looking statement.
First, allow us to join in condolence to the victims and family of those affected in the earthquake in Nepal.
President, Malaysia values its close and longstanding partnership with UNDP.
This partnership has been instrumental in advancing our national development priorities through policy expertise, capacity building, and the sharing of knowledge and best practices.
Malaysia also recognizes UNDP's invaluable contribution to developing countries in advancing nationally determined priorities and accelerating progress towards the 2030 agenda.
We share the administrators conviction that development must remain central to our collective efforts.
This conviction will guide Malaysia's engagement as we take our seat on Ecosoc for the term 2027 to 2029 and is reflected in the priorities we will highlight today.
In this regard, Malaysia welcomes UNDP's continued emphasis on national ownership on partnerships tailored to the priorities and circumstances of program countries.
Development cooperation is most meaningful when it strengthens national capacities and translate global commitments into tangible improvements in the lives of people everywhere.
We particularly value UNDP's efforts to advance south south and triangular cooperation.
Developing countries have valuable experiences, knowledge, and solutions to share.
By facilitating these exchanges, UNDP can help strengthen cooperation that is responsive to national priorities, inclusive and mutually beneficial.
At the same time, Malaysia underscores the importance of adequate, predictable, and flexible financing to support the achievements of the SDGs.
As development financing evolves, new approaches should remain guided by national ownership and country priorities while complementing international development cooperation.
Malisia also supports the broader objectives of the Secretary-General UN ET initiative.
We welcome efforts to improve coordination and efficiency across the UN system, while ensuring that national priorities and effective delivery remains at the forefront.
President, Malasia remains confident in UNDP as a trusted, responsive and effective development partner and looks forward to continuing our close cooperation towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Before ending, it would be remiss of me to not extend our heartfelt appreciation to miss Isaiah Kwa and miss Udnaja for their service to UNDP.
A special thanks to Mis Kani for her invaluable contribution to the Ase Pacific region and the warm friendship that we have shared.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, Malaysia.
I now give the floor to distinguished representative of Belgium.
Mr.
President, Mr.
Administrator, allow me first also to pass our condolences and feelings of sympathy towards the victims in Nepal by the floods.
Belgium, thank you, Mr.
Administrator, for your statement and for UNDP's continued efforts to adapt to a rapidly changing financing landscape.
Belgium welcomes UNDP's work to help partner countries raise more domestic revenue, borrow on fairer terms, and mobilize private capital at scale.
As one of UNDP's ten multi year core funding partners, Belgium understands that core resources are catalytic.
They enable UNDP to take risks where others cannot, maintain a presence where others withdraw, and leverage investment flows that vastly exceed the initial contribution.
Equally important, core resources are what underpin UNDP's normative role.
They allow UNDP not only to deliver programs, but also to promote standards, shape policy, convene actors and support countries in pursuing the development pathways grounded in the principles and values of the UN.
This convening and normative function remains one of UNDP's most significant comparative advantages.
Against that backdrop, the projected loss of up to 40% of impact is more than a budgetary concern.
It raises fundamental questions about the UN system's ability to remain present, relevant, and influential where it is most needed.
Belgium therefore encourages fellow member states to increase their support to core resources.
At the same time, Belgium would welcome further clarity on three points.
First, on gender equality, Given UNDP's mandates and the disproportionate impact that funding reductions can have on gender programming, we would welcome an update on how gender responsive budgeting and the implementation of UNDP's gender equality strategy are being safeguarded.
More broadly, as UNDP places greater emphasis on impact throughout the decision making process, how does it ensure that preventive, protective, and stabilizing interventions are adequately valued? Second, on climate and environment, Belgium would welcome a fuller picture of how UNDP's investment facilitation model, including investment accelerator and SDG investor maps, are being aligned with NDC implementation efforts and adaptation finance needs in the lead up to Cop 31.
Third, on results and accountability, we welcome the positive Mopan assessment, and we also noted the stronger focus on outputs than on strategic results.
We had some questions, but I will refrain because Mr.
Administrator, you answered those this morning already.
To conclude, Belgium supports UNDP's efforts to adapt and innovate while preserving the normative and development mandate that makes the organization unique within the UN system.
I thank you.
Thank you on Belgium.
I now give the floor to distinguished representative of the European Union.
Thank you, President.
I'm delivering this statement on behalf of the European Union as a donor.
We would first like to express our solidarity with the people of Nepal.
Dear Administrator, thank you for your introductory statement and your precious remark.
Three points in reaction.
First, we welcome your emphasis on adapting the development model to today's realities.
This makes reform indispensable.
In that sense, UN AT is a defining text for the UN development system.
We welcome your leadership and UNDP's active engagement in 14 of the 31 UN AT work packages.
Individual entities should contribute their technical and operational expertise within a coherent country level framework with resident coordinators as the main entry point for engagement with the UN development system at country level.
Support UNDP's leadership on expertise on demand as an initiative demonstrating the potential to provide countries with more coherent and accessible expertise and we support UNDP's extensive shared service infrastructure, notably its quantum platform, as well as the alignment of UNDP country programs with cooperation frameworks.
We also welcome the submission of terms of reference for an independent assessment of a possible UNDP UNP structural reform.
It must identify the model offering the greatest improvement in development impact, coherence, and value for money.
Second, we take note of UNDP's focus on moving from aid to investment and on helping countries build the policies, institutions, and investment environments that allow finance to flow.
This is strongly aligned with the EU's global gateway approach, particularly where UNDP can help strengthen governance, regulatory frameworks, public financial management, sustainable finance, and institutional capacity.
We also welcome UNDP's focus on fragile and crisis affected settings where development must begin from day one.
UNDP can add value by helping restore institutions, services, livelihoods, and local markets while working coherently with the wider UN system.
Finally, we are pleased with the finalization of the FSD plus guarantee agreement with UN CDF and look forward to signing it during UGA High level week.
As the first UFSD plus guarantee agreement with the UN entity, it sends a strong signal of confidence in multilateral cooperation.
The sustainable cities guarantee facility should help turn urban investment into tangible improvements for people from affordable housing and safer public lighting to stronger transport links, digital connectivity, and climate resilient urban services.
In conclusion, allow me to express our appreciation to all UNDP staff for the crucial work they do, including in challenging situations and to reaffirm the EU support to UDP as well as our commitment to continued collaboration in pursuit of assured goals.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I now give the floor to distinguished representative of Spain.
Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
First of all, we would echo the expression of solidarity with the people of Nepal.
Spain is grateful to the administrator and the entire UNDP team for this dialogue.
We'd like to reiterate our firm support for the organization, especially at a particularly complex time.
Since our last executive board, we've made important steps to strengthen the strategic partnership between Spain and UNDP.
First of all, we want to in particular welcome the arrival of UNDP to Madrid, which is a true milestone in our relationship.
On the 16th of July, headquarters agreement was signed, which opens this new stage in the presence of UNDP in Spain and our relationship with the organization.
We're proud to welcome UNDP in Madrid.
This decision is first and foremost, a show of trust and the result of many years of cooperation and shared commitment to sustainable development and multilateralism.
However, it is also an opportunity to look forward and further strengthen our partnership bringing the UNDP closer to our cooperation policy to our institutions and to our partners.
Spain is fully committed to support this new phase and make Madrid a true home for the UNDP.
Secondly, we have concluded negotiations on a new strategic partnership framework, Spain UNDP 2026, 2029, and we hope to be able to sign it with the administrator during his next visit to Spain.
This new framework will make it possible to give more predictability and depth to our relationship and align it with the new strategic plan of the UNDP.
The framework identifies four major priorities for our joint work, financing for sustainable development and combating poverty and inequalities, democratic governance, institutional strengthening, and climate action towards fair environmental transition, resilience in the face of crisis, and strengthening the humanitarian development piece nexus.
We want to in particular highlight our cooperation financing for development and continue working together in implementing the civil commitment and the Civil platform of action.
With this in mind, we welcome the organization this October of a dialogue on financing of the SDG 2026.
Lastly, this political commitment is supported by growing financial commitment.
Spain has increased significantly in the past few years, its contributions to the regular budget of the UNDP in 2026.
Our core contribution has been further increased, which is additional support to the organization in the context of relocalization.
Mr.
Administrator We want the arrival of UNDP to Madrid to open up a new phase in a relationship based on trust, a greater institutional presence, a new strategic framework, and a strengthened political and financial commitment.
You can count on Spain as a strong partner and committed partner of the UNDP.
We hope to welcome you very soon Madrid.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Spain.
Next, I would like to intro our distinguished representative of Republic of Korea.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We join everyone in this room expressing solidarity and sympathy to people of Nepal.
And I also thank the administrator for the comprehensive briefing.
The international development landscape faces compounding challenges.
Public financing in many member states remain constrained while crisis and demand for support continue unabated SDG achievement stand at around 35% with notable gap across goals and visions.
The Republic of Korea, having received UNDP support for nearly three decades in the past, had witnessed firsthand how the outcomes of development cooperation can transform our country's trajectory.
Building on this confidence, we continue our partnership with the UNDP, and I would like to stress three points.
First, the link between humanitarian and development activities need strengthening.
Action in crisis and fragile settings cannot stop at emergency relief.
We needed to extend into early recovery and resilience, reviving livelihood, local market and basic services.
Investing in this continent also allows limited resources to break the cycle of responding to the same crisis again and again.
This course for what the administrator has stressed today, development should begin from the start.
We welcome UNDP's moving beyond crisis flagship and look forward to seeing its concrete outcomes.
Second, while taking note of the recent MP assessment, the result and impact of UNDP activities need to further strengthen.
Only when UNDP's work make real change on the ground can member state build the trust to deepen their partnership.
This end, it is essential for UNDP to fully respect country ownership, align with the priorities of program countries and harmonize its activities with those of other UN entities.
At the same time, each member has its own policy, practice, and circumstances alongside the rising domestic request for strong visibility and accountability related to its contributions.
A track record of quality project with enhanced results and impact will provide the foundation for continued financial support, including co funding.
Third, partnership need greater diversification.
Securing a variety of funding sources is critical.
UNDP's work also needs to draw in private sector engagement, creating opportunities, solutions, and innovation.
We share this interest and look forward to exploring avenues for cooperation.
The Republic of Korea reiterates its commitment to continuing partnership with the UNDP to ensure better development, results and impact.
I thank you.
Thank you, Republic of Korea.
I now give the floor to Distinguished representative of Portugal.
Administrator, Alexander D Kruu, let me begin by thanking you for the constructive engagement with the executive boards and for the strategic direction you have provided to UNDP since taking office.
Portugal appreciates how UNDP is adapting to an increasingly context development landscape while maintaining a strong focus on country level delivery and results.
We particularly value its emphasis on effective and inclusive governance, institutional capacity and resilience to crisis alongside digital and AI transformation and gender equality as key enablers of systemic change and sustainable development.
We recognize the progress made under the UNA initiative, including the ongoing assessment of a potential merger between UNDP and UNPS.
We believe that any changes should ultimately strengthen the organization's ability to fulfill their respective mandates and deliver meaningful impact for people and countries.
The changing financing landscape is another important dimension.
We welcome UNDP's efforts to mobilize and diversify financing, including through domestic resources mobilization, private capital and innovative financing, while ensuring that these efforts complement development cooperation and remain aligned with national priorities and development needs.
Finally, south south and triangle cooperation remains an important avenue for sharing knowledge, strengthening capacities and developing solutions to shared challenges while promoting the complementarity of actions and leveraging financial resources.
UNDP's extensive country presence and ability to connect countries and partners give it an important role in facilitating these exchanges with country ownership and mutual benefit at the center.
MSA administrator, looking ahead, how do you see UNDP further adapting to rapidly changing development landscape, including through UN 80, while strengthening its impact and delivery at country level? I thank you.
Thank you, Portugal, and now invite distinguished representative of Indonesia.
Mr.
President, Administrator, Excellencies, at the outside, Indonesia aligns itself with the statement made by Uruguay on behalf of the G 77 and China.
We also join others in expressing our deepest condolences and solidarity with the government and people of Nepal.
Indonesia thanks the administrator for his remarks and reiterates our strong support for UNDP and its central role in advancing nationally determined development priorities.
We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to AG Kani Mija as she concludes her tenure.
Her recent visit to Indonesia reflected her close engagement with countries in our region and UNDP's commitment to understanding development realities on the ground.
We wish her every success in her future endeavors.
Mr.
President, allow me to highlight three key points.
First, on development financing, we remain concerned by declining ODA and core resources.
Adequate, predictable and flexible core funding remains indispensable.
We nevertheless will welcome complementary efforts to help developing countries translate national priorities into bankable projects, mobilize additional financing, and strengthen South South and triangular cooperation.
UNDP's work in Indonesia on sustainable finance and local development demonstrates the value of such partnerships.
Second, evolving development models must better reflect the priorities and circumstances of developing countries, including through productive capacities, technology transfer, and capacity building.
We welcome UNDP's emphasis on artificial intelligence and encourage cooperation that enables developing countries to ensure equitable access to its benefits, particularly in areas such as climate change, creative economy, and youth.
Third, on UN 80, Indonesia supports greater coordination, efficiency, and measurable results.
Reform should remain member state led, evidence based, and anchored in national ownership, while safeguarding development mandates and strengthening rather than disrupting country level delivery.
I thank you.
Thank you, Indonesia and now we know distinguished representative of Mexico.
W.
Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Thank you, Administrator.
We'll start by expressing our solidarity with the people of Nepal in connection with the events that took place, but we also align ourselves with the joint statement made this morning by the Philippines.
We are only three years away from taking stock of the results of the Agenda 2030.
In this context, we believe that development must be achieved through our joint efforts rather than through isolated projects, and in particular in a context that compels us to rethink the very foundations of the multilateral system and the mechanisms to deliver results.
This is why Mexico acknowledges cooperation of UNDP with the national government and local governments to bolster an effective balance in the administration of resources and strengthening institutional capacities.
Also, we're grateful for cooperation between the UNDP and governments to strengthen sovereign credit ratings, develop frameworks for sustainable bonds, and improve public finances.
We also acknowledge support to promote economic inclusion and financial inclusion people and communities in a situation of vulnerability, including initiatives geared towards women in situations of vulnerability.
With this in mind, we'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge some specific advances of the new country program of UNDP.
First of all, linkage of multi factor partnerships focused on substantive equality to it comprehensively address structural inequality, social cohesion, and territorial resilience.
Two, support for resilience, recovery and reconstruction after disasters, highlighting the program of recovery in Acapulco after the John and Otis hurricanes, which included economic reactivation for the benefit of small business of the tourism sector.
Three, technical support and implementing environmental commitments in particular in climate change, biodiversity, preservation of ecosystems, and technological transition four.
Cooperation to advance in the implementation of the Treaty on the High Seas, the BBNJ through strengthening legal, institutional scientific and technical capacities for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.
Five, support and exploration of innovative mechanisms such as the issuance of social, green, and sustainable financial instruments to align public and private financing with national priorities.
I'd like to highlight that the different program units of the UNDP in Mexico have raised a total of $15 million this year.
Lastly, I'd like to conclude by stating that we hope that our strategic cooperation will continue to generate greater benefits for our society and for mainstreaming Agenda 2030 and all public policies at all nations.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mexico.
I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.
Look at that.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Chairman.
We welcome the administrator of UNDP.
We'd also like to thank him for an honest and detailed response that he gave to the answer.
The Russian Federation values many years of partnerships with the program as part of the Russia UNDP Trust Fund.
We are counting on the resumption of that in full.
We support the important role the UNDP plays in implementing the UN 80 initiative.
I'd also like to express our condolences to all victims of the destructive flooding on the Chinese Nepalese border.
We are compelled to note with regret the ongoing politicization of the development work by Ukraine, the representative of Ukraine at a time when multilateral discussions on the aforementioned topics are taking place in other chambers of the UN headquarters.
Russian Federation has already delivered its statement.
When Ukraine is systematically striking residential houses, children, medical workers, as well as passenger transport, this has a very clear cut name, terror against the civilian population.
This has nothing to do with development, it's incompatible with development.
As for energy, well, what's genuinely dangerous are deliberate strikes waged by the Kyiv regime on the NPP.
Thank you.
Russian Federation, colleagues, that was the last delegation in the speaker's list.
I want to go back to the UNDP administrator.
No.
No Administrator for his response, please.
Yes, thank you.
Maybe reacting on a few elements that have been raised is the link to UNAT and what role can UNDP play in the reforms and play in the overall objective to be realized with UNA.
I think we heard many of you talk about the need for reducing duplication, for more coherence in the work that we bring, for making sure that you can get access to the highest quality that is available and UDP is collaborating in 14 out of the 31 workstreams, but the one that really I think responds the best to the concern that we just mentioned is expertise on demand.
I've had the occasion yesterday also to talk about what expertise on demand brings.
But really, if we want to maintain our broad country presence, and it is top of our agenda.
We also need to understand that all type of expertise being present in all countries is not something which is efficient and is not something which is affordable either.
But making sure that there is a system such as expertise in demand, which makes sure that the highest quality services that are available in the UN system are being brought to that specific country where presence is there.
That is, I think what brings those elements together of high quality, but at the same time, affordability and also a country presence which is efficient and where we make sure that the presence of each organization that is in a country is really bringing something in addition.
And is not creating any overlap.
This was a question which was being asked by the Netherlands, but I think we had similar questions from Myanmar, Pakistan, and some other countries.
Pakistan, I think, also asked questions on what tools do we have to broaden the funding base and to make that we can keep a high level of investment.
We've talked a lot about our investment accelerator flagship.
I think we mentioned also the cooperation with UN CDF and the joint fund that UNDP and UN CDF is creating together to really show that if we bring both our qualities to the table, we have something which is actually very, very powerful in doing the necessary policy reforms, but also um, bringing the first level of more risk appetite capital that is necessary to show that investment is possible and is available.
There were questions also on gender, on climate, and then what could be a potential impact of core funding reductions.
I think we have to be clear on that and I've said it also in my introduction.
Today, approximately 75% of the projects that we do have a gender component.
They have a gender component because very often we fund that with core funding and because we think it's really important.
As I said in my introduction, this is not ideology, this is good development.
It's good economics.
Good development includes the full potential of population and core funding enables us to bring that gender element.
If the core funding reduces, that is being put under pressure and knowing that the topic of gender is already one which on the funding side is under pressure.
We should be fully aware that putting those priorities across the board, as you expect from us, it becomes harder.
Now, I'm not saying that it becomes impossible and I'm not saying that we will not do the triple effort to make sure that we continue doing so.
I'm just telling you that you are that type of reduction in core funding makes it more difficult for us to guarantee it at the level that we bring it today.
There was also a question on how do we make sure that investment accelerator and others are well, um, well developed into the other systems of financing related to climate, with the nationally determined contributions, and so on.
I would say investment accelerators something that enables in doing that.
I mean, what we have in our nationally defined contributions is the basic scheme, and we will have the occasion in different cop meetings to evaluate where we are and to see how we can create more enablers in the climate agenda.
Investment accelerator is one of the ways in which we do it.
I think that the key discussion that in the years to come that you will have, being it on the SDGs or being it on the climate objectives, it's not so much about the objectives themselves.
I think the objectives themselves and the goals they are good.
The key discussion is what are the enablers? How do we make sure that you have more enablers to attain those goals to attain those objectives.
Maybe last element that I would want to address before we conclude is on national presence.
Many of you have talked about this.
Australia did the Netherlands did El Salvador, did Bhutan, did Vietnam, and Lao have talked about national presence.
As said, top of our agenda.
Make sure that we keep that.
But that means that we will need to do it in a more differentiated way and really have a country presence that is tailored to the national priorities.
Many of you have talked about national ownership.
We totally agree with that.
So in line with national priorities, in line with the specific capabilities that are needed, in line with the economic circumstances in which we work and also the type of funding that we have.
Maintaining that and doing it in a different way, I think will also lead to a better presence.
Presence is important with the quality of the presence and being adapted of the presence, I think is a very important one.
Maybe overall conclusion, this session.
First of all, I would like to really thank you for a very, very fruitful discussion.
I think in the introduction I indicated the type of discussion that we wanted to have and that discussion has taken place.
We'd like to emphasize a few things.
First of all, Many of you have talked about our staff.
Many of you have thanked our staff and staff that many of you work with or many of your teams work with on a daily basis and it's really heartwarming to hear that.
I mean, the 22,000 people working for UNDP, they don't work for UNDP by accident.
It's a choice to work for UNDP and it's a choice to work in the development pillar and that's because they are passionate about it.
Be thanked by you really means a lot to them and a lot to us.
On the reform side, I think there is quite some convergence across this executive board and everyone who intervened on the need for reforms, the need for reforms in the context of UNA, but also the need for reforms for UNDP itself.
I think many paths have come forward on how we can diversify our funding, how we maybe need to look at the way financial allocations are being done in UNDP, and for many of these things, we will come back to you because these are decisions that need to be made by the board and we will present you all options and consult with you, obviously, and we really count on you to be part of that discussion.
I think there was also quite some convergence on the role that UNDP plays and the role that you expect us to continue playing.
Despite the financial circumstances that you explained, I've heard almost from every one of you that we do play an important role.
You value what you do, and you expect us to continue playing an important role in the years to come and you can count on us that we will do everything to continue answering to your expectations.
Of course, as UNDP, we can only be as strong as you enable us to be strong.
And that is related to the mandate that we have, but that is also related to the financing, but especially to the type of financing that you give us.
I would like to repeat what I said before.
Obviously, we would love all of you to give us more funding, but we understand that is not easy.
We understand that all of you are also in fiscal constraints, and we understand that you have to make choices, and there are many competing choices in which if you have to invest.
So if you cannot do more, Please think about core.
That really is the key message that I want to give to you.
The quality of the type of funding that we get, making sure that there is sufficient amounts going to core funding enables us to leverage other types of funding which otherwise we would not get and really I hope this is the message that you take back to your capitals and in the discussion with your teams is that we are in understanding of the financial reality of the world of today.
But that you have a choice in the way you finance us.
That very strong push towards earmarked funding, we understand where it comes from, but rebalancing it more in the direction of core enables us the role that you expect us to play.
But overall, thank you for a great discussion.
I'm quite sure we will be seeing each other again in the in the months to come.
I wish you a good ending of this executive board week.
I know you still have quite some discussions to do where I'm excluded from.
My apologies.
It gives me a bit of time to do other things, but really, I wish you good discussions in the days to come.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, colleagues.
We have come to the end of this session and let me thank Mr.
Descx and his team for the opportunity to have this important dialogue and for your active contribution.
So this concludes your distinguished colleagues.
This concludes this interactive dialogue with the UNDP administrator.
The meeting is adjourned.
Colleagues, we will resume shortly.
Our next session.
Please stay with us as we change the podium.
Yes.
Thank you for your very friendly words.
Appreciate I.
Distinguished delegates, colleagues, please take your seats.
We will resume the session.
Maybe.
Distinguished delegates, colleagues, please take your seats.
We will resume the session shortly.
Colleagues, please take your seats.
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, good afternoon.
I declare open the sixth meeting of the second regular session, 2026 of the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA, and UNPS.
We will proceed to agenda item four, UNDP Country Programs and related matters.
Under this item, the board will consider the UNDP Cory program documents for approval as well as extensions of country programs.
I am pleased to welcome to the podium, miss Kani Vigna Rajah, Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific, miss Ivana Zvkeic, Assistant Administrator and Director Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS, miss Michelle Must, Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, and miss Iata De, Assistant Administrator and Director at the Interim Regional Bureau for Africa.
Colleagues, 12 country program documents are before the board for review and approval in accordance with the Executive Board decision 2014 slash seven.
For Asia and Pacific, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam, for Europe and the CIS, Albania and Tajikistan, for Latin America and the Caribbean, Argentina and Guatemala, for Africa, Cameroon, Eritrea, Mali, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
The board is also requested to take note of the first one year extensions of the country programs for Bangladesh, Guinea Bissau is approved by UNDP administrator and approve the second one year extension of the country program for Libya and the fifth one year extension of the country program for Myanmar.
This item is scheduled to conclude at 4:30.
It's too ambitious.
I therefore encourage delegations to keep the interventions concise so we may accommodate as many speakers as possible.
Delegations unable to take the floor may submit their statement through e statements.
Any outstanding questions may also be shared with the Executive Board Secretariat for transmissions to UNDP.
Before considering the new country program documents, we will first take action on the country program extensions contained in the document DP slash 2026 slash 28.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the executive board wishes to take note of the first one year extension of the country program for Bangladesh and Guinea Bissau as approved by UNDP Administrator.
It is so decided.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the executive board wishes to approve the second one year extension of the country program for Libya and the fifth one year extension of the country program for Myanmar.
I see no objections.
It is so decided.
We will now consider the country program documents for Asia and the Pacific.
I now give the floor to miss Ignaja to present the country program documents for the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam.
Please, you have the floor.
Mr.
President, I'm presenting the country program documents for Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam.
UNDP's new CPDs frame its support on ambitious next stage policy, institutional capacity building that follows, financing foundations and people's capabilities to help build new systems and deepen societal trust in countries core institutions.
There are also signals to confidence to investors and support countries achieve their next stage of development ambition.
The three country programs before you are examples of these paradigms in action, tailored to their distinct contexts, anchored within their respective UN SDCFs and strongly aligned to national development plans.
In Lao PDR, our program is designed to support the nation's graduation from LDC status while safeguarding hard won development gains.
Our focus is on strengthening core institutions, expanding fiscal and economic resilience, and promoting sustainable and inclusive value chains that generate new skills and new jobs.
In Thailand, we are partnering with a nation on the cusp of high income status that is increasingly contributing to regional and global solutions.
UNDP's role is that of a policy innovator and connector, helping to accelerate green economic transformation and address remaining inequalities and development gaps.
We continue to leverage our global expertise to support Thailand's ambitions for OECD accession and carbon neutrality.
In Vietnam, where the ambition is to achieve high income status by 2045 and net zero by 2050, our program focuses on enabling a successful green transition, modernizing public services with digital and AI behind inclusive, resilient growth.
By supporting policy reform, finance frameworks, and national and sub national institutions to undertake nationally driven reforms, UNDP is helping create the conditions that encourage both public and private investment behind this country's very ambitious development vision.
UNDP stays present and continues to play a critical integrator role, leveraging the collective strengths of the broader UN development system to bring solutions across sectors and themes as today's development challenges are rarely unidimensional.
These three programs reflect our commitment to helping countries navigate these transitions and accelerate progress, also on each country's ambition to contribute to regional and sub regional cooperation.
So we thank the governments and partners who contributed to the preparation of these CPDs and look forward to the endorsement of the executive board.
Thank you.
Thank you, miss Maja.
Now, colleagues, The floor is open for statements and questions.
I see distinguished representative of China.
You have the floor, sir.
Mr.
President, China supports the Executive board's adoption by consensus of the new country program documents for Asia and the Pacific.
Last August, UNDP's CPD for China 2026 to 2030 was reviewed and approved by the Executive Board.
Its implementation is well underway.
China stands ready to conduct exchanges with the relevant countries, learn from each other, and strengthen the sharing of experiences in CPD implementation.
CPDs represent the foundation and guide for UNDP's field work.
Program countries take seriously the potential impact of UN AT reforms on country programs.
China believes that all reform measures should be fully led by member states and should be put into implementation only after rigorous deliberations and broader consensus.
China supports the board in playing a key role in the reform process and looks forward to further reducing the administrative costs for development agencies, streamlining business processes, and improving evaluation mechanisms to ensure that institutional efforts and development resources are truly channeled to program countries, thus consolidating the foundation for CPD implementation.
I thank you.
Thank you, China, I now invite distinguished permanent representative of Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Mr.
President, the Law PDR would like to express its appreciation to ASG Gannebrn Raja for presenting the new country program documents or CPD.
We welcome the UNDP Country Program document for the La PDR for 2027 2031.
We highly values UNDP as an important long standing development partner.
The new CPD reflects our national context and development trajectory while reinforcing our shared commitment to achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and leaving no one behind.
We particularly welcome its alignment with our tenth National Socio Economic Development Plan, the La PDR Smooth Transition strategy for LDC graduation, and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2027 2031.
Over the past years, the LPIDR has made important development gains and continues to advance towards graduation from LDC status.
At the same time, we face persistent challenges, including fiscal constraints, climate vulnerabilities, and the enduring impact of unexploded ordinance.
In this context, we appreciate that the new CPD responds to these challenges through three mutually reinforcing priorities, improving people's well being and capabilities, strengthening accountable, responsive and inclusive institutions, and advancing a greener, more diversified and climate resilient economy.
We also welcome UNDP's continued support in strengthening human capital and public service delivery, promoting effective governance and institutional modernization, expanding development financing and fiscal space, and supporting sustainable value chains and livelihoods.
These areas are highly relevant to our national priorities and will contribute to more inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.
My delegation also appreciates the extensive consultations undertaken with the government of the LPDR and relevant partners in developing the CPD.
We look forward to its effective implementation through continued coordination among the government, UNDP, the UN system, and development partners.
In conclusion, the LPDR expresses its full support for the CPD for 2027 2031 and looks forward to its endorsement by the executive board.
We remain committed to continuing working closely in partnership with the UNDP and other development partners in advancing sustainable development and effectively implementing CPD.
I thank you.
Thank you, Ambassador.
I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Vietnam.
You have the floor.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
Vietnam would like to thank the UNDP, particularly the Regional Bureau and the UNDP Country Office in Vietnam, as well as every who has been involved in the preparation of the country program document for Vietnam.
Again, a special thanks to Assistant Administrator Carney for your extensive work relating to Vietnam over the past more than 25 years.
We welcome the CPD before the executive board today and express our full support for its approval.
The new country program comes at a particularly important juncture for Vietnam.
We are entering a new stage of development with the aspiration, as assistant administrator mentioned, to become a high income developed country by 2045, while pursuing our commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
The CPD before us reflects these ambitions and is closely aligned with Vietnam's national development priorities, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Vietnam for the same period.
This is because the program was developed through close consultation and coordination with the government and relevant stakeholders, which is, in our view, a reflection of the strong national ownership, as well as the close partnership between Vietnam and UNDP.
The CPD's four mutually reinforcing areas, namely climate action and environmental sustainability, economic and digital transformation, inclusive human development, and good governance and rule of law respond well to Vietnam's priorities in the next stage of our development.
We look forward to working closely with UNDP and all partners to translate the new country program into concrete results, and we call on all development partners and relevant stakeholders to continue their close coordination active engagement and to contribute resources to support the effective implementation of the country program.
On its part, Vietnam continues to provide the Green one UN house for UNDP and all other UN agencies to use as their office in Vietnam for the continued work in our country.
And thank you very much, Mr.
President.
Thank you, Ambassador.
I now invite distinguished representative of Thailand.
Thank you, Mr.
President and thank you also to ASG Coy for the succinct presentation.
Thailand also wishes to express its appreciation to the Regional Bureau and to UNDP, Thailand for the constructive and inclusive consultative consultations, excuse me, that informed the preparation of Thailand's country program document for 2027 to 2031.
We very much value the UNDP's engagement with our line agencies and relevant partners and stakeholders, as well as its efforts to incorporate feedback.
The draft presented today is a reflection of this inclusive and consultative process.
In this connection, allow me to highlight three points.
First, the comprehensive and participatory CPD process provides a strong foundation for ensuring that the UNDP's support remains coherent, responsive, and aligned with Thailand's national development plans, the SDGs, and the upcoming UN Sustainable Development Cooperation framework.
Second, this program document arrives at a defining juncture in our development trajectory as we accelerate our journey toward high income status by 2037 and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as well as our OECD accession process.
Third, we appreciate the continuity between the current CPD and the new one.
The final draft reflects both the challenges facing Thailand and our aspirations for the future while building on the progress made under the current CPD.
The upcoming CPD carries forward many successful projects, including SDG localization initiatives across all 77 provinces, the flagship Thailand Policy Lab and our sovereign sustainability linked bonds, Asia's first such bond.
It also addresses the pressing challenges such as our rapidly aging society and recognizes the accomplishments, namely our historic equal marriage legislation.
Mr.
President, under the upcoming CPD and with the support of the UNDP, Thailand will further strengthen its role as an international development partner through South South and triangular cooperation, including as the Asean Coordinator for sustainable development cooperation.
Closing, we look forward to continuing our longstanding and close cooperation with the UNDP, and we count on the support of the executive board members in the endorsement and implementation of Thailand's upcoming CPD.
Lastly, we also take this opportunity to bid farewell to ASG Connie and thank her for the excellent collaboration.
We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Thank you.
Thank you, Thailand.
I now want to go back to miss Vja for her reflections, please.
Only to say thank you so much to all three countries where we've had excellent consultation and engagements, but also to say thank you very much from my end to the whole executive board, all our member states.
This will be my last board, so it gives me a chance to say what a privilege it has been to serve with you in this stage.
I still have three months to go, so you're not rid of me yet.
But I look forward to engaging and conversing with you as I wrap up my UNDP and UN assignment.
Thank you.
Thank you, Kenny.
Allow me also to thank you on behalf of my government and my country, Tajikistan, for your service and for the great partnership I had with you and support, of course, and wish you every success in your future endeavor.
Miss Vagnaza.
Colleagues, this concludes the review of the country program documents for the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam in accordance with the Executive Board decision 2014 slash seven.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the Executive Board wishes to approve this UNDP Cory program documents.
I see none.
It is so decided.
We will now consider the country program documents for Europe and the CIS.
I now give the floor to miss vkevic to present the country program documents for Albania and Tajikistan.
Please.
Thank you, Chair and distinguished members of the executive board.
I'm honored to present the country program documents for Albania and Tajikistan prepared in close collaboration with national authorities and partners and of course, aligned with the national priorities 2030 agenda, the UNDP strategic plan, and respective UN cooperation frameworks.
These CPDs respond to different contexts but share a common ambition to translate development gains into a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.
The Albania CPD supports three interlinked priorities.
On inclusive human capital development, UNDP will support skills, employment and social protection systems, including school to work transitions and future ready vocational education.
On sustainable economic transformation and inclusive green growth, UNDP will help foster a green and digital economy while advancing climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, and disaster risk management.
On governance, justice, and human rights, UNDP will support public administration and public financial management reform, anti corruption, justice, human rights, local accountability, civic space, and responsible digital and AI governance.
The Tikistan CPD is organized around three priorities.
On learning skills and income opportunities, UNDP will support a shift from remittance dependence towards domestic job creation and economic diversification through entrepreneurship, skills, and regional integration.
On effective governance, justice and human rights, support will strengthen digital public services, access to justice, civic participation, and resilient health systems.
On climate action and environmental resilience, UNDP will advance adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity, integrated water resource management, sustainable energy, and disaster preparedness.
The area based portfolio approach will bring governance, livelihoods, and environmental interventions together where poverty and vulnerability are most concentrated, including in the border regions.
I would like to thank and recognize our key funding partners across the two country programs for the funding of the previous programs and for the one that we're adopting today, and I thank the executive board for the consideration and welcome any questions.
Thank you.
I thank miss vkic for her presentation.
Colleagues, I now open the floor for comments and your interventions.
I now invite distinguished representative of Tajikistan.
You have the floor.
Mr.
President, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, at the outset, allow me to express our sincere condolences to the government and people of Nepal following the recent tragic events.
Mr.
President, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the UNDP team for the preparation of the country program document for Tajikistan for 2027 2030, as well as for the comprehensive and inclusive consultation process undertaken with the national and local stakeholders.
Tajikistan welcomes the proposed Cory program and its alignment with our national development priorities, the UN cooperation framework, and the sustainable development goals.
We particularly welcome the programs focus on three interconnected areas, learning skills and income opportunities, good governance, justice, and human rights, and climate action and environmental resilience.
These priorities are aligned with Tajikistan's national government agenda and our efforts to strengthen human capital, promote economic diversification and productive employment, improve public services and institutions, and enhance resilience to climate change and disasters.
We also appreciate the programs focus on climate action, sustainable natural resource management, water and environment resilience, and disaster preparedness, which are important component of Tajikistan's efforts to strengthen resilience and promote sustainable development.
For Tajikistan, national ownership, institutional capacity, and sustainable remain essential.
We therefore particularly we therefore particularly welcome the nationally implemented nature of the program and the central role of national institutions in its implementation and oversight.
We look forward to working closely with the UNDP and development partners to ensure effective implementation, measurable results, and the sustainability of the program's outcomes.
In conclusion, Mr.
President, we thank the UNDP team and all partners for their constructive cooperation throughout the preparation of this document.
Tajikistan welcomes the approval of the country program document for 2027 2030 and looks forward to its effective and successful implementation.
Thank you.
Thank you, Tajikistan colleagues.
This concludes the review of the country program documents for Albania and Tajikistan in accordance with the Executive Board decision 2014 slash seven.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the Executive Board wishes to approve this UNDP Cory program documents.
I see none.
It is so decided.
We will now consider the country program documents for Latin America and the Caribbean.
I give the floor to miss Mused to present the country program documents for Argentina and Guatemala.
You have the floor.
Mr.
Chair, distinguished members of the executive board, Excellencies, dear colleagues.
Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to the governments of Argentina and Guatemala for their leadership in shaping the country program documents we present today for your consideration, as well as to national partners who contributed through broad consultations.
Both programs are firmly anchored in national development priorities and derived from the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation frameworks in each country.
They are aligned with the UNDP's strategic plan, our regional program and build on lessons from previous program cycles as identified in audits, evaluations, and consultations.
I will now move to Spanish, the original language of the SCPDs.
Look The country program for Argentina is based on the recognition of the important strengths of the country which to build on.
Among them, high level of human development, the second highest in the region, solid productive capacities based on its human capacity and abundant natural resources.
However, there are still structural and macroeconomic challenges that have limited growth and have maintained persistent levels of vulnerability.
Since 2024, the government has fostered a process of macroeconomic stabilization with initial positive results.
The challenge in the future is to translate the stability into sustained improvements in the lives of people.
Through our country program, the support of UNDP will focus on one, promoting human development by supporting initiatives in food security, early childhood and health, strengthening public policies.
To offer more integrated and effective responses.
Two, promote economic growth, productivity, and competitiveness working with the public and private sector to strengthen productive capacities, promote financial inclusion, and sustainable management of natural resources.
Third, modernize institutions and strengthen the rule of law and security by supporting digital transformation and the use of AI in the public sector to improve efficiency, transparency, and access to justice.
The program document for Guatemala acknowledges the macroeconomic stability achieved and the positive steps toward consolidating its democracy.
However, it also acknowledges there are still significant challenges, poverty and inequality that disproportionately affect indigenous communities, challenges related to the rule of law and the risks related to climate change that limit progress towards full development.
In the framework of the new country program, the UNDP support will be focused on first strengthening a democratic governance and the rule of law, promoting transparency and accountability, access to justice, supported by digitalization and citizen participation.
Two, contributing to human development by supporting a system of an inclusive social protection and promoting the economic empowerment and decent work, especially for women, young people, and indigenous peoples.
Three, strengthen sustainability and resilience by strengthening environmental management, promoting climate financing mechanism, and community resilience in the face of climate change.
Distinguished members of the executive board, excellencies colleagues.
These programs reflect UNDP's commitment to supporting national development priorities through trusted partnerships, evidence based solutions, and high quality technical assistance to deliver development results in line with UNDP strategic plan.
Both documents anticipate significant government co financing, demonstrating strong national ownership and commitment to their expected results in line with our mandate.
Mr.
Chair, considering the priorities presented, we request the approval of the country program documents for Argentina and Guatemala as we look forward to working with national authorities and partners to deliver concrete development outcomes aimed at leaving no one behind.
Thank you.
Thank you, miss Musched for your presentation.
Colleague, the floor is open for statements and questions.
I invite distinguished representative of Guatemala, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Grateful for the presentation by the Regional Director, Madam Michelle Musett and also I would like to welcome the resident representative, Mr.
Carlos Benz Verdun, as well as the team of the country office for its leadership in elaborating the program document for the country 2027 2030.
Rick, Guatemala acknowledges the work of UNDP in preparing this strategic instrument, and in particular during the process of dialogue and consultations that Conducted with national institutions in drafting it.
We value that the document reflects the main priorities of the country and shows a close alignment with the National Development Plan cantons A Guatemala 2032, national priorities of Development, the general policy of the government 2024, 2028, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
We consider particularly positive the orientation of the program towards strengthening democratic governance and the rule of law, human development, and environmental sustainability.
These are areas that are essential pillars to move towards an inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.
We'll also highlight the stress on institutional modernization, digitalization of public management, transparency, and the use of evidence for decision making.
These are aspects that will contribute to improving the effectiveness of public policies and provision of services to the population.
Likewise, actions aimed at strengthening the national system of social protection are very important.
Reducing multidimensional poverty, promoting economic empowerment of women and young people, and expanding opportunities for persons in situation of vulnerability.
In the environmental sphere, we'd like to underscore the importance attached to the adaptation to climate change, sustainable management of natural resources, reduction of the risk of disasters, and strengthening community resilience.
These are elements that are particularly relevant for a country that is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
At the same time, we'd like to highlight a few recommendations that would contribute to a successful implementation of the program.
First of all, it's very important to continue strengthening interinstitutional coordination and governance of the program with clearly defined responsibilities and an effective coordination between the various national entities involved.
Secondly, It is very relevant to strengthen the mobilization of resources and financial sustainability, taking into account that is an important part of the resources and vision will depend on additional financing, which will need to be raised during the implementation period.
Thirdly, it will be very valuable to deepen the territorial approach, intercultural and inclusive approach so that the the benefits of the program reach indigenous peoples, rural populations, and territories with the greater gaps in development.
Lastly, we encourage the full use of digital transformation, innovation, new technologies, and South South cooperation to accelerate sustainable development and strengthen the institutional capacities of the country.
Guatemala reaffirms its readiness to continue working with the UNDP to contribute to the well being of our population.
We would invite members of the executive board to give positive approval to the country program.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Guatemala.
Met, please you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
I just want to thank Guatemala for your intervention and your expression of support and endorsement for the country program and in particular, your words about the capacity of our team on the ground.
This is It's very important in terms of the tangible realities of development.
I simply want to reiterate to you, Mr.
Chairman and members of the executive board, and those with us reiterate the commitment of UNDP, Latin America and the Caribbean to continue supporting your national priorities of development in line with our mandate.
Thank you.
Thank you, miss Muched.
Colleagues, this concludes the review of the country program documents for Argentina and Guatemala in accordance with the Executive Board decision 2014 slash seven.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the executive board wishes to approve the UNDP Cory program documents.
See none.
It is so decided.
We will now consider the country program documents for Africa.
I give the floor to miss De to present the country program documents for Cameroon, Eritrea, Mali, Mozabique, and Zimbabwe.
You have the floor.
Thank you, honorable president of the UNDP Executive Board.
Distinguished member of the Executive Board, esteemed representative of the government of Cameroon, Eritrea, Mali, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
Dear colleagues, Lens, ladies and gentlemen, allow me first to express condolences to the people of Nepal and especially all the families of the victims and our team there.
Pleased to present for your approval the joint UNDP, UNFPA, UOPS Executive Board to the Executive Board, the country Program documents for Cameroon, Eritrea, Mali, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
The first CPD extension for Guinea Bissau has been approved by the administrator and is presented for information.
These CPDs were developed through inclusive consultation with the respective government and a wide range of stakeholders, including UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral partners, as well as civil society organizations and the private sector.
The program are fully aligned with national development priorities, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the African Union Agenda 23, 2063, the Agenda 2030, and the UNDP Strategic Plan.
Across the five programs, we will advance inclusive economic transformation and jobs, resilience, inclusive governance, innovation, as well as digital transformation and financing for sustainable development while leaving no one behind.
In all our program countries, implementation will be firmly anchored in national ownership, government leadership, government respect of state university state sovereignty.
We thanks member state for the constructive engagement and comments throughout the review process.
Mr.
President, distinguished member of the executive board, allow me to briefly highlight the strategic direction of each program.
For Cameroon, the country program built on Caroon significant economic, human, and natural resources potential and focuses on three mutually reinforced priorities, which are inclusive economic transformation, inclusive governance, resilience and social cohesion, and ecological transition, climate resilience, and energy access.
For Eritrea, we place particular emphasis on productive capacity and economic diversification, climate resilience, and sustainable natural resource management.
Promoting innovation, MSMEs, clean energy, and strong national institutions and data system.
In Mali, the program will focus on building a robust, inclusive and sustainable economy and advancing transformative governance, strengthening livelihood institutions, decentralization, rule of law, and social cohesion, particularly for women, youth and internally displaced persons.
For Mozambique, the program will focus on governance decentralization, justice and service delivery alongside diversified and climate resilience economic transformation, including jobs, MSMEs, resilience infrastructure, green, and blue growth and stabilization in the North.
Zimbabwe, the program The program focuses on economic transformation, strengthening governance and climate resilience with emphasis on private sector development, digital innovation, skill clean energy, sustainable natural resource management, and improved service delivery.
Mr.
President, distinguished member of the executive board, together, these five country programs reflect different national contexts, but a common ambition to translate national priorities into integrated development solution that can deliver greater impact at scale while strengthening national capacities and mobilizing the partnership and financing needed to sustain results.
We respectfully request the board's approval for the country program document for Cameroon, Eritrea, Mali, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
We also note that the first CPD extension for Guinea Bissau has been approved by the administrator and is presented for information as earlier mentioned.
In closing, I wish to extend our deep appreciation to the government of these five countries, to member states, and to all our partners for the collaboration and support.
Let me also take the opportunity, Mr.
President, to thank the member of the board for the continued support to UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa and to all our programs and the countries under the Bureau's coverage.
Thank you for your attention.
Mercy Buku Mu Brigade.
Thank you.
Thank you, miss, for your presentation, colleagues, the floor is open for your statements and questions.
I now invite distinguished permanent representative of Chad on behalf of the Africa Group.
Please, you have the floor.
First of all, I would like to join the previous speaker in expressing our condolences and sympathy to Nepal, China, and all countries whose nationals are victim of the flooding that hit the Nepal China border.
Mr.
President, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African members of the executive board, namely Coivar, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tunisia, Zambia, and my own country Chad.
The African member states congratulate all the countries with country program documents for 2027 2031, as well as requests for program extension have been submitted to the board for review and adoption, including Cameroon, Eritrea, Guinea Bissau, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
The African group welcomes the joint efforts made by these countries and their respective UNDP country teams which have led to the development of the country program document, as well as the framework for cooperation with UNDP.
With regard to the circumstances, the African group reiterate the essential role of the UNDP in supporting developing countries, particularly those facing special circumstances and emphasize the importance of maintaining appropriate support tailored to the specific situation in accordance with the principle of ownership and national leadership.
These principles necessitate ensuring that the country program is aligned with the national priorities of the country concerned.
The African group supports the adoption of all country programs, document presented and wish them every success in their implementation for the benefit of their respective people.
I thank you.
Thank you, Ambassador.
I now invite distinguished permanent representative of Mali.
You have the floor.
President President Thank you, President.
Mr.
President, I'm delighted to see you steering our proceedings today.
I wish you every success.
I'd also like to thank the AI Regional Director for Africa Thank you for the outstanding presentation of the country program.
But also, we're grateful for the collaboration that's been undertaken.
Mali fully subscribes to the statement delivered by Chad on behalf of the Africa group.
At this stage of our proceedings, I'd like to recognize and commend the exemplary, fruitful partnership between Mali and UN agencies and programs, specifically the UNDP.
UNDP is well known by Malians.
It's very much appreciated in Mali because it's led on and climate change and climate resilience as well as development.
We are very grateful.
In fact, the government of Mali is very grateful to the UNDP for standing side by side, shoulder to shoulder with the Malian people against a very difficult, complex backdrop.
Over the years, the partnership between Mali and the UNDP has become a powerful lever of multilateral action with a view to achieving development and building capacity.
The goal being to achieving the development priorities of my country.
The new cooperation, UNDP Mali Program is part and parcel of this trend.
In fact, the, the cooperation document for the period 2027 2030 was crafted jointly with the UNDP following an inclusive participatory process involving national consultations, bringing together Also the private sector and civil society.
It is very much aligned with the development priorities set by my government, in particular, the 2063 Mali vision and the national strategy for the emergence and sustainable development of Mali.
It is thus in keeping with the principles of governance and cooperation enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of Mali.
The government welcomes the fact that this new program translates into concrete steps, our efforts aimed at bolstering national resilience, accelerating the social and economic transformation, and promoting inclusive, transparent, and effective governance.
Speaking on behalf of the government of Mali, we'd like to recommend that this program, covering the period 2027, 2031, be adopted and to move towards implementation, including by mobilizing technical and financial resources.
The government is delighted that this document stresses rightly so, domestic resource mobilization, national implementation, priority setting in terms of the interventions and South South cooperation, including between Mali and the Alliance of Sahel States and this is under the second pillar development.
This is why faced with myriad challenges, including security challenges, Mali remains very much ready to continue mobilizing domestic resources so as to contribute to achieving the priorities set on humanitarian action, resilience, and development.
I wish to applaud the remarkable work being done by UNDP, international and local staff, those deployed on the ground, they are often working in what I know are difficult conditions.
May each and every one of those staff here that we are infinitely grateful for the work they're doing in the service of making our population more resilient in the service of my country.
By way of conclusion, we would like to extend our sympathies and condolences to the brother people of Nepal, China, and all other countries affected by the natural disaster over the last few hours.
I thank you.
Thank you, Your Excellcy I invite distinguished permanent representative of Zimbabwe.
You have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We thank It UNDP *** Director, administrator, and Director at the Interim Regional Bureau for Africa for presenting the country program document for Zimbabwe for 2027 2031.
Zimbabwe endorses the CPD and appreciates the inclusive and constructive and consultative approach that guided it preparation.
We particularly value the emphasis on national ownership the use of national systems and close alignment with Zimbabwe's development priorities.
We wish to highlight the following five points.
First, we welcome the incorporation of Zimbabwe's development blueprint, the National Development Strategy to as indicators, national targets, and national data sources.
This will help ensure that UNDP support remains anchored in Zimbabwe's own planning and implementation and monitoring frameworks.
Second, we welcome the strong focus on job creation, MSMEs growth and formalization, access to finance, digitalization, and productive value chains, as well as support for mineral beneficiation.
These priorities are central to translating Zimbabwe's productive capacity and natural resource endowments into decent employment, greater domestic value retention, and broad based growth.
Third, economic transformation must also be sustainable and resilient.
We therefore welcome the measurable targets under the climate and resilience pillar, including increasing the share of renewable energy from 43% to 46% and supporting 450,000 people to strengthen their resilience by 2031.
Their alignment with Zimbabwe's third national determined contributions provides a strong basis for integrating climate action with energy security, livelihoods, and development.
Fourth, we appreciate the continued emphasis on human capital development and health, including the objective of strengthening service coverage from 72% to 90% stronger health systems, reliable data and resilience supply chains are also essential to building a healthy and productive population.
Finally, effective partnerships will be critical to delivery.
In the present challenging liquidity environment, greater coherence across the United Nations system, coordinated action in the strategic use of comparative advantages will be essential to maximize development impact.
In closing, Zimbabwe commends the UNDP for the strong spirit of partnership reflected in the country program document.
We look forward to working closely with the UNDP and other partners translate these commitments into tangible, measurable, and sustainable results for the people of Zimbabwe.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you, Ambassador.
I now give the floor to distinguished permanent representative of Eritrea.
You have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Eritrea, thanks the UNDP team for presenting the country program document for Eritrea for 2027 2031.
We welcome the program and appreciate the constructive consultations undertaken with the government of Eritrea and its partners.
The new CPD comes at an important juncture as Eritrea is in the process of finalizing the UN's cooperation framework.
We therefore welcome the CPD's recognition of Eritrea's national priorities and its flexibility to ensure continued alignment with the National Development framework as it's finalized and implemented.
I take this opportunity to thank miss Nal Valci, the resident coordinator, and UNDP Eritrea team for their diligent work and support throughout the process.
Mr.
President, we particularly welcome the CPD's emphasis on national ownership, institutional capacity, economic diversification, productive capacity, food security, climate resilience, and sustainable energy, and opportunities for youth and women.
Eritrea attaches particular importance to strengthening national institutions and welcomes the recognition of government institutions as primary implementing partners for Eritrea.
National ownership is not simply a principle, it's a prerequisite for sustainable development.
UNDP support should therefore enforce national systems, expertise, and institutions rather than create parallel structures.
We also welcome the emphasis on South South cooperation and triangular cooperation.
Developing countries have considerable experience, knowledge, and practical solutions to share with one another and UNDP can play a useful facilitating role in connecting these capacities.
Mr.
President, adequate and predictable financing remains critical to achieving the objectives of the program.
Eritrea encourages UNDP to continue mobilizing resources while ensuring that financing arrangements remain responsive to nationally determined priorities and do not impose additional conditionalities inconsistent with national ownership.
We appreciate the CPD's attention to data and statistic capacity, which is essential for evidence based planning and for enabling countries to measure their own development progress.
Closing, Eritrea values its longstanding partnership with UNDP.
We look forward to working closely with UNDP throughout the 2027 2031 program cycle and to ensuring that implementation remains responsive to Eritrea's evolving national priorities and once finalized its cooperation framework.
We thank the UNDP Country team, the Regional Bureau for Africa, and the executive board members for their constructive engagement and Eritrea supports the country program document and looks forward to its endorsement by the executive board.
I thank you.
Thank you, Ambassador.
I now give the floor to distinguish permanent representative of Mozambique.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
First, allow me to join colleagues in expressing our condolences to Nepal and China for the loss of life and devastation caused by the extreme weather.
Mr.
President, Mozambique welcomes the presentation of its country program document for the 2027 23rd cycle and takes this opportunity to reaffirm the value it places on its longstanding partnership with UNDP, a partnership that has delivered tangible results on the ground across successive program cycles.
We commend the inclusive and participatory methodology applied in developing this CPD.
By engaging relevant stakeholders at multiple levels throughout the process, this approach has meaningfully strengthened national ownership, which is a prerequisite in our view for any program of this scope to deliver lasting impact.
Mozambique particularly welcomes the CPD's focus on two mutually reinforcing priorities, which are strengthening institutions, peace, and inclusive governance, and advancing sustainable, climate resilient and nature positive economic transformation.
These priorities are well aligned with the government on strategic framework as reflected in the five year government program and the national development strategy.
Mr.
President, effective implementation will require an integrated, coordinated approach among the relevant United Nations entities on the ground and the government of Mozambique.
Only through genuine cohegence among partners, can we maximize synergies, avoid duplication, and ensure that support translates into meaningful, measurable improvements in the lives of the Mozambiican people.
Mozambique calls upon member states, donors, and development partners to mobilize the necessary resources for the effective implementation of the CPD.
We are confident in its transformative potential and in the difference it can make for our people.
And finally, Mozambique reiterates its readiness to work closely and constructively with UNDP in the implementation of the program and looks forward to continued close partnership towards achieving our shared development objective.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you, Ambassador.
And now invite distinguish representative of Cameroon.
President Mr.
President, at the outset, I would like to extend our condolences, as well as express our support to the people of Nepal who have been hit so hard.
Mr.
President, my delegation aligns itself with this statement delivered on behalf of the Africa group by the permanent representative of the Republic of Chad.
We would like to thank the UNDP for its presentation of the country program for Cameroon, for the 2027 2031 period.
This is the fruit of a consultation process which was undertaken with the government of Caroon and other national stakeholders.
My delegation welcomes the fact that this new program is fully in keeping with our national development priorities enshrined in the National Development Strategy 2020, 2030.
The S&D 30, as we call it in Cameroon.
The objective being to accelerate the structural transformation of Cameroon, promoting inclusive growth, reducing poverty, and buttressing governance.
We have the United Nations Framework for Sustainable Development 2027 2031.
Thus, we're contributing to the achievement of the SDGs, Mr.
President.
Now, this overview of the country program sets forth the strategic orientations of the UNDP for the period 2026, 2029 in Cameroon, in particular, the four strategic objectives related to prosperity for all, effective governance, resilience in the face of crisis, and a healthy planet.
My delegation notes with satisfaction the fact that UNDP activities in Cameroon for the period 2027, 2031 will be structured around the three main strategic priorities, which are in keeping with SND 30 and the UN SDCF.
The first priority is inclusive and sustainable economic transformation.
Priority two, inclusive governance, resilience, and social cohesion.
Priority number three covers the environmental transition, climate resilience, and energy.
Mr.
President, these three priorities emphasize the need to focus on structural transformations, bolstering synergies between economic development, governance, peace, resilience, and environmental sustainability.
My delegation particularly appreciates The integrated approach the UNDP has put forward, which seeks to harness out comparative advantages as regards governance, the economic transformation, stabilization and recovery, as well as climate and the environment, all the while strengthening partnerships with IFIs, the private sector, development partners as well as other United Nations development system partners.
Thus, we are working to align national priorities with what's happening in the various regions and to mobilize public, private, and climatic funding for the benefit of our national priorities being achieved.
Now my government attaches particular importance to national ownership.
Seeking measurable and lasting results, heightened incorporation of data into decision making, as well as capacity building for national and local level institutions.
We would like to welcome the fact that the monitoring and evaluation mechanism as part of the program clearly shows alignment with the S&D 30 priorities.
It is also a way of closely involving national authorities in this oversight process.
By way of conclusion, Mr.
President, my delegation would like to extol the high caliber of cooperation between the government of the Republic of Cameroon and the United Nations Development Program.
We wish to reiterate our commitment.
We hope that this new cycle of cooperation will allow us to lock in what's already been achieved to mobilize partnerships as well as resources in keeping with our ambitions and, of course, to accelerate the achievement of lasting results for the benefit of the people of Cameroon.
Thus, we very much support the adoption of this country program overview.
Cameroon 2027 2031.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Cameroon.
I now give the floor to Distinguished permanent representative of Mali.
Please, you have the floor.
Merci Thank you, Mr.
President.
I do apologize for taking the floor again.
I just want to recognize and to applaud the fact that we have the UNDP in Mali representative, miss Evelyn Baba.
Rest assured, you have the cooperation of my government and of the Malian people as you discharge your duties.
I thank you.
Thank you, Ambassador.
Now we invite Mr.
De to respond to the interventions and questions raised.
Please, Mr.
De, you have the floor.
Thank you, Rob President of the Executive Board.
Thank you, Your Excellency.
Ambassador of Chad and for your statement on behalf of the Africa group.
We value our partnership with all the African countries and we can reassure you that we will continue the path for development despite all the challenges that we are facing.
We are focusing on results, and you can reassure that this collaboration will continue and with also an emphasis on South SS cooperation.
Excellence, Monsieur.
Your Excellency, Ambassador.
Thank you for your support.
Mali's support.
You listed all that we've done as part of our longstanding collaboration, and we very much value that collaboration.
Rest assured, we will remain committed on this path.
Also, we wish to thank you for facilitating the deputy administrator's visit to Mali.
We will continue working together for the benefit of your people so as to take these development issues forward in collaboration with other UN agencies.
Your Excellency, Ambassador representative of Zimbabwe, we thank you again and thank you for putting an emphasis on the data analysis and results.
We are very proud of the results that we have in imbabwe and we can reassure you for our continuous collaboration.
I Ca from Eritrea, thank you for your support and for highlighting the national ownership in which we are anchored our program throughout the years, and we'll continue also to seek solution to address the funding and development challenges in Eritrea.
Thank you again for your support.
Excellency, Ambassador of Mozambique, Monte Brig Part Boric.
We reinforce we can reassure you also that we will continue to align with the national priorities during the program cycle, bearing in mind the challenges that we are facing, but also focusing on making these challenges becoming opportunities for Mozambique and Mozambiquen people, Mob Deovo.
Excellence Your Excellency, the Sage Dare of Cameroon, thank you very much.
We're also very proud that Cameroon is an example of how national financing can work in terms of government development financing.
It serves as an example for other countries because it's one of our flagship programs.
Rest assured, we're very much aligned with your national priorities as we implement the program over the coming years, all while continuing to serve the people of Cameroon, ensuring that the challenges you're facing are being transformed into opportunities, not just for Cameroon, but for the continent at large.
Thank you again for your cooperation.
Rest assured, we're going to continue in the same vein.
Asian, thank you again for your support.
President of the Executive Board, we just want to reiterate our thanks and gratitude for the exemplary collaboration and trust all the governments that have taken the floor and have toward UNDP and we reiterate also our commitment to focus on development working closely with these other UN agencies.
Thank you for your attention and thank you for your support.
I thank miss Th for her response.
Colleagues, this concludes the review of the country program documents for Cameroon, Eritrea, Mali, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe in accordance with the Executive Board decision 2014 slash seven.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the executive board wishes to approve this UNDP Country program documents.
See none.
It is so decided.
Before I conclude, I see distinguished representative of the United States asking for the floor.
You have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President and first, we join many others in expressing our condolences to the people of Nepal for the impacts of floods there.
The United States welcomes the host countries and UNDP country offices that meaningfully engaged with the executive board during the draft, review process of country programs and took on board commons, both in letter and in spirit.
Demonstrating responsiveness to board feedback strengthens program design, transparency, and operational accountability.
At the same time, the US delegation reiterates its clear policy red lines.
While the United States notes that country programs are map against national development frameworks that are linked to the sustainable development goals, the United States reiterates that it considers the SDGs to be a form of soft global governance, and we will not recognize them as a matter of course.
The US also does not support any DEI related programming contained in these country programs.
Similarly, we stress that the overarching emphasis must remain on keeping that external support as focused and time bound as possible.
It is incumbent on the UN to keep a sharp focus on transitioning all efforts to national actors, guided by the receding government and financed by national, public and private sector resources as fast as possible.
Going forward, the United States wishes to work collaboratively with member states and UNDP leadership to review and adapt the formula by which core funding is allocated for country programs, building on the recommendations by Mopan.
Updating this framework will ensure that core resources are allocated transparently, efficiently, and where objective development need is greatest.
We look forward to engaging with all partners in this effort.
Thank you.
Thank you, United States, colleagues, this concludes the consideration of agenda item four, UNDP country programs and related matters.
Before we proceed to agenda item six, on UNFPA country programs and related matters, we will take a moment to adjust the podium.
Thank you so much.
You Distinguished delegates, please take your seats.
Thank you.
Colleagues, may I kindly ask you to take your seats, please.
We will now proceed to agenda item six, UNFPA Country programs and related matters.
Under this item, the board will consider the UNFPA Cory program documents presented for approval as well as extensions of country programs.
I'm pleased to welcome to the podium, miss Florence Bauer, Regional Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Miss Lidia Zygo, Regional Director, Eastern and Southern Africa, Mr.
Senn Hunton, Regional Director, West and Central Africa, miss Paula Narváez, Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Mr.
Alexander Birosa Regional Director, Asia, and the Pacific interim of UNFPA.
Dear colleagues, 12 country program documents are before the board for review and approval in accordance with the Executive Board decision 2014 slash seven.
For Eastern Europe and Central Asia, it's Albania and Tajikistan, for East, and Southern Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, for Western Central Africa, Burkinafaso, Cameroon, and Mali, for Latin America and the Caribbean, Guatemala, for Asia and the Pacific, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam.
The board is also requested to take note of the first one year extension of the country program for Bangladesh, Togo, and Venezuela as approved by the UNFPA Executive Director and approves the second one year extensions of the country programs for Libya and South Sudan, and the fifth one year extension of the country program for Myanmar.
This item is scheduled to conclude at 6:00 P.M.
I therefore encourage delegations to keep the interventions concise so that we may accommodate as many speakers as possible.
Delegations unable to take the floor may submit their statement through e statements.
Any outstanding questions may also be shared with the executive board Secretariat for transmission to UNFPA.
Before considering the new country program documents, we will first take action on the country program extensions.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the executive board wishes to take note of the first one year extensions of the country program programs for Bangladesh, Togo, and Venezuela as approved by the UNFPA Executive Director.
I see no objections.
It is so decided.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the executive board wishes to approve the second one year extension of the country programs for Libya and South Sudan and the fifth one year extension of the country program for Myanmar.
I see none.
It is so decided.
We will now consider the country program documents for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
I give the floor to Mr.
Bauer to miss Bauer to present the country program documents for Albania and Tikistan.
Miss Bauer, you have the floor.
Thank you so much, Mr.
Chair and Excellencies, distinguished delegates.
It is an honor for me to present our two country programs for Albania and Tajikistan.
Across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, profound demographic shift require UNFPA to act as a catalyst for upstream lasting and transformative change.
In alignment with the strategic plan, both programs are centered on demographic resilience, a forward looking evidence and right based approach that enables societies to adapt to demographic change and invest in inclusive, people centered development while also continuing strong engagement to deliver the three transformative results.
While reflecting different contexts, the two programs share a common vision for the next five years amid profound regional uncertainty and development transitions.
In Albania, youth immigration and low fertility have contributed to a 15% population decline since 2011.
We support the government to safeguard social cohesion and economic sustainability by maximizing human capital through demographic resilience, building on Albania's EU accession momentum, we will help unlock sustainable domestic financing for ICP agenda, including by embedding right based investment in the medium term expenditure framework.
The program leverages UNFPAs roles in middle income countries, capitalizing on our strategic and normative support and comparative advantage in data, population policies, gender based violence, and reproductive has.
In Tajikistan, with continued population growth in over 60% of the population under 30, the country is well positioned to reap a demographic dividend.
However, inequalities, high numbers of young people, particularly young women that are not in employment, education or training, unmet need for family planning and maternal mortality in rural areas constrain these opportunities.
The new country program will shift towards upstream policies and systemic reforms, including sustainable financing through international financial institution and the private sector.
Recognizing the country's vulnerability to shocks, including climate change, it embeds a humanitarian development piece continuum and institutionalizes emergency preparedness within national health frameworks.
In both countries, we are focusing on a high level policy engagement to ensure that the ICPD mandate is effectively integrated into national architectures.
In implementing these programs, UNFPA will embodies the UNA vision of a more cohesive United Nations committed to deeper interagency collaboration.
We prioritize lasting institutional change, supporting national efforts towards long term capacity strengthening.
This builds on UNFPAs normative mandate, strong in country presence, technical expertise and ability to bring together diverse stakeholders.
This is a comparative advantage for which we are valued by government and partners in the region.
I thank the board and I look forward to the review and approval of this new country program.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Thank you.
Thank you, miss Bauer, for your presentation.
I now open the floor for any comments or statements you might have, distinguished colleagues.
I now invite distinguished representative of Tajikistan.
Please, you have the floor.
Thank you so much.
Distinguished cols, Tajikistan expresses its sincere appreciation to NFPA for its constructive and longstanding cooperation with the government of the Republic of Tajikistan, as well as for the preparation of the draft six country program for 2027 2030.
For more than 30 years, this partnership has supported important progress in reproductive and maternal health, family planning, gender equality, and the collection and use of population data.
It has helped strengthening the national institutions and improve services for women, young people, and families across the country.
Tajikistan remains firmly committed to the program of action of International Conference on Population and Development.
In this context, we attach particular importance to the establishment of National Commission on Population and Development under the government of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Chired by the Deputy Prime Minister, the commission will strengthen national coordination on demographic trends, population policy, and sustainable development.
Excellencies.
We welcome the draft country program for 2027 2030 and its close alignment with Tajikistan's national priorities, including the midterm development program for 2026 2030.
Particularly value its focus on maternal health, family planning, adolescence and youth health, the prevention of gender based violence, and stronger population and statistical data systems.
These priorities are especially important for Tajikistan, given the country's young and rapidly growing population.
They will help us invest in human capital, respond effectively to demographic change, and make full use of the demographic dividend.
We also welcome the program's emphasis on national ownership, stronger institutions, and sustainable results.
Continued engagement by UNFPA, supported by adequate and predictable resources remains important for safeguard the progress already achieved and addressing remaining needs.
Tajikistan therefore supports the proposed country program for 2027 2030 and looks forward to its approval and effective implementation.
We remain committed to working closely with UNFPA the executive board and all development partners to deliver practical and lasting results for the people of Tajikistan.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Tajikistan, I now invite distinguished permanent representative of Albania.
Please, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Albania highly values its longstanding partnership with the UNFPA and has already expressed its support for the six country program for Albania for the period 2027 2031.
We also commend the comprehensive and inclusive consultation process undertaken in the preparation of the country program document involving central and local government institutions, civil society, academia, the private sector, and the representative of vulnerable groups.
Such broad engagement is essential to ensuring national ownership and effective implementation.
Albania considers it particularly important that the new program is fully aligned with our national priorities, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, 2027 2031, the 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, while also contributing to Albania's European integration process, which remains a strategic national objective.
We are confident that the implementation of the program will contribute to tangible progress in areas of vital importance to Albania, including health and well being, gender equality, education, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and population dynamics.
These priorities are closely interconnected and are fundamental both to our sustainable development objectives and our European integration path.
This regard, we recognize the strong contribution of UNFPA work to SDG three on health and well being, SDG five on gender equality, SDG ten on reduced inequalities, SDG four on quality education, and SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions.
The progress achieved by Albania in these areas also reflected in our second voluntary National Review presented at the high level political forum last month.
At the same time, the review highlighted areas where further efforts and stronger partnerships are needed.
We see UNFPA as an important partner in translating these commitments into concrete results.
One of our key priorities is ensuring universal, equitable and equality access to sexual and reproductive health and rights with particular attention to women, girls, adolescents, and people in vulnerable situations.
Albania highly appreciates UNFPA support in strengthening health system capacities, improving the quality of services, expanding access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, and advancing comprehensive sexuality education.
Equally important is empowering young people with the knowledge and information they need to make informed decisions concerning their health and their future.
At the same time, Albania attaches particular importance to addressing demographic changes, including population aging, declining birth rates and migration.
These trends have far reaching implication for our labor market, social protection system, health and education services, territorial development, and long term economic growth.
Albania considers the UNFPA Country program an important instrument for advancing our national priorities and for delivering concrete results for people across the country.
We are confident that its implementation will contribute to more inclusive policies, higher quality services, strong institutions, and the society in which equality, human rights, and the principle of leave no one behind, remain at the central of sustainable development.
Albania remains fully committed to its fruitful partnership with UNFPA and working closely with the UNFPA team in Tiana and all relevant national stakeholders for the successful implementation of the country program.
I thank you.
I thank, Madam Ambassador.
I now invite miss Bauer to respond to the interventions.
Please, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
I would only like to really thank the governments of Tajikistan and of Albania represented here by the ambassador and the delegates for the excellent cooperations that we have in the country and for your support to the country P document.
That's very much appreciate it and thanking all the members, distinguished members of the board.
Thank you, Ambassador.
I thank miss Bauer for her response.
This concludes the review of the country program documents for Albania and Tajikistan in accordance with the Executive Board decisions, Decision 2014 slash seven.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the executive board wishes to approve this UNFPA Cory program documents.
It is so decided.
We will now consider the country program documents for Eastern and Southern Africa.
I give the floor to miss Zigomo to present the country program documents for Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
Please, you have the format.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Distinguished members of the executive board.
Across East and Southern Africa, the lives of women and young people continue to be shaped by remarkable opportunities and evolving challenges.
From communities rebuilding after climate shocks to families navigating economic pressures to a young generation claiming its right to health and dignity.
UNFPA is present, supporting resilience, empowerment, and hope.
These diverse realities converge into a common story, a region at the cusp of demographic transformation where investing in sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and youth potential can unlock healthier, more resilient and prosperous societies.
It is with this commitment and aspiration of progress that I present the draft Country programs for Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe for the period 2027 to 2031 to be implemented in the last print towards the current global goals.
Botswana, through a 5.9 million funding envelope, will focus on maximizing opportunity.
With strong institutions, upper middle income status, and declining fertility.
Botswana has an important but narrowing window to realize its demographic dividend.
UNFPA will support the government to translate demographic intelligence into forward looking policy and investment, strengthen youth responsive systems, and expand equitable access to quality, sexual and reproductive health services, ensuring that young people are equipped to contribute fully to Botscona's future development.
With a $72 million Mozambique will aim at building resilience.
Rapid population growth, climate related disasters, displacement and insecurity place extraordinary pressure on national systems.
UNFPA will focus on strengthening resilient health and protection systems to ensure continuity of quality sexual and reproductive health and gender based violence services with particular attention to adolescents and young people in emergencies, while investing in longer term institutional capacity and preparedness, supporting Mozambique, build systems that can withstand future shocks and continue to safeguard development gains.
For Zimbabwe, a $30 million funding envelope will enable the country to focus on sustaining progress amid economic and climate pressures.
UNFPA will support stronger health systems, expand equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services, strengthen the use of population data and demographic intelligence to inform policies, planning and budgeting, and accelerate action to prevent and respond to gender based violence and harmful practices.
Distinguished members of the board.
As all three programs, UNFPAs comparative advantage is our ability to connect population dynamics, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and data to national development priorities.
We'll work through government leadership and the wider UN system while diversifying partnerships and mobilizing innovative and sustainable financing.
That is the enduring promise of the ICPD program of action and the commitment at the heart of these three country programs.
We thank the governments of Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbwe for their sustained leadership and partnership.
We look forward to the executive board's continued guidance and support.
Thank you.
Thank you, miss Sigomo for your presentations.
Colleagues, the floor is open for your statement.
All questions that you might have.
Colleagues, may I kindly remind you to be concise in the interest of time.
I invite distinguished representative of Zambia, please you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President, and I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African members of the Executive Board.
I wish to join other delegations in expressing our deepest solidarity with the government and peoples of Nepal and China following the devastating floods and the tragic loss of lives.
Africa Group welcome the submission of the UNFPA Cory Program documents for Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
We will also then use this opportunity to highlight our support for the other country program documents for Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Mali.
We congratulate the respective governments and UNFPA country offices for the collaboration efforts undertaken in preparing these documents.
The African group recognizes that these country program documents reflect close consultations between UNFPA and national authorities and are designed to support the implementation of national priorities while contributing to the achievement of the SDGs and the program of action of the International Conference on Population and Development.
We reaffirm the essential role of UNFPA in supporting member states in reducing maternal mortality, addressing gender based violence, strengthening demographic data systems, and empowering women, girls, and young people.
These priorities remain central to achieving inclusive and sustainable development across the African continent.
The Africa Group further emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all UNFPA country programs are fully aligned with national priorities and implemented in accordance with the principles of national ownership and national leadership.
Recognize the diverse circumstances of the countries under consideration, including those affected by humanitarian situations, conflict, climate related challenges, and development vulnerabilities.
In this regard, we encourage UNFPA to continue providing flexible, predictable, and context specific support that responds effectively to the needs and priorities of the national governments.
The Africa group expresses its appreciation to UNFPA and the governments concerned for their continued partnership and constructive engagement throughout the preparation of this country document.
We remain confident that their successful implementation will contribute meaningfully to improving the well being and resilience of the peoples of these countries.
In conclusion, the Africa group supports the adoption of the country program documents as well as the extension of the country program document for Libya and wish every success in their implementation.
I thank you.
Thank you.
Zambia, I now give the floor to Mozambique.
Please, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I wish to welcome the presentation of Mozambique's country Program document for 2027 2030, cycled by UNFPA.
Mozambique aligned itself with the statement delivered by Zambia on behalf of the Afghan group.
Mr.
President, the CPD responds to critical national priorities that Mozambique has outlined in its five year government program and national development strategy, Mozambique values, and commends UNFPS partnership which has delivered measurable results in health systems, strengthening sexual and reproductive health and rights and data generation for evidence based policymaking.
As Mozambique confronts the demographic transition, climate related shocks and slow economic growth, which are precious that fall most heavily on young people, women and girls.
The CPD's focus on equitable access to quality social services, prevention of gender based violence, reduction of vulnerabilities, and strengthen information systems will be instrumental in enabling the country to harness its demographic dividend.
These interventions align directly with the government's priorities and with Mozambique's obligations under the sustainable development goals.
The partnership has proven effective and merits continued investment.
Mr.
President, to conclude, Mozambique affirms its commitment to work constructively with you and FPA in the program implementation.
Therefore, we recommend the board's approval of the program.
I thank you.
Thank you, Mozambique.
I now give the floor to Botswana.
You have the floor.
Thank you, President.
I join colleagues in expressing condolences and solidarity with the people of Nepal.
And Botswana wishes to align with the statement delivered by Zambia on behalf of the Africa Group.
We are honored to participate in this second regular session.
We underscore the vital partnership between the government of Botswana and UNFPA and express our full support for the eighth country program document 2027 2031, core developed through a rigorous government led consultative progress process engaging civil society, traditional leaders, youth networks, and development partners.
This program reflects our commitment to ensure no Motsana is left behind.
While we celebrate key achievement under the previous cycle, including reaching the 905-90-5905 HIV target and maintaining high rates of skilled path attendance, we recognize a critical unfinished business.
This includes a maternal mortality ratio of 176.7 and a 17.2% unmet need for family planning.
The program is perfectly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2027 2031, as well as Botswana's transition towards achieving its national Development Plan 12 and Vision 2036 aspirations.
By focusing on reproductive health, gender equality, and data driven governance, the program provides the essential framework for ensuring the demographic dividend and and ensuring the country's true north remains a viable reality, which is a high income botswana that is digitally enabled, export driven, and economically diversified, where every citizen is employed, empowered, and fulfilled.
The program prioritizes three strategic levers.
One, strengthening health systems to guarantee universal sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Two, maintaining and mainstreaming gender equality and women's rights into our customer justice system, and three, modernizing data ecosystems for real time SDG tracking.
Critically, it centers on those feathers behind, particularly adolescent girls, young women, and marginalized populations.
In conclusion, this eighth CPD carries the formal endorsement of the government of Botswan representing a core created strategy of national ownership.
We therefore respectfully call upon the executive board to approve the eighth CPD for Botswan.
I thank you.
Thank you, Botswana.
Colleagues, this concludes the review of the country program documents for Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in accordance with the Executive Board decisions 2014 slash seven.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the Executive Board wishes to approve this UNFPA country program documents.
It is so decided.
We will now consider the country program documents for West and Central Africa.
I give the floor to Mr.
Hunton to present the country program documents for Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Mali, please, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Mr.
Chair, distinguished members of the Executive Board, Excellencies, I'm pleased to present for your consideration three country program document for Bukina Faso, Cameroon, and Mali.
The programs are aligned with national development priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the ICPD Program of action, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the UN FPA Strategy Plan 2026 2029.
These three countries are undergoing profound and interlocking transition with protracted emergencies and hosting hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons, returnees, and refugees.
Bukinafso has a very success story in the Sahel in maternal mortality elimination.
All three countries have achieved remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality.
Although in Mali and Cameroon, they continue to record relatively high ratio, driven primarily by shortages in skills birth attendant and limited emergency of state recoverage in remote and conflict affected areas.
Each program includes a dedicated output on data, analysis, and foresight, moving beyond statistic gathering toward institutionalized forecasting capacity that anticipates rather than simply respond to demographic and humanitarian change.
Permit me now to present a few highlights proposed in each country program.
In Bukina Faso, the proposed program will scale up quality sexual and reproductive health and family planning services, strengthen GPV prevention, and strengthen the national statistical system capacity for disaggregated data and forward looking analysis.
In Caroon, the program will consolidate progress by integrating sexual and reproductive health, gender based violence, and youth services, and by building on the ongoing modern georeference census.
The program will invest in national capacity for predictive demographic intelligence to guide policy, and this in full respect of the constitution's law and regulation of Cameroon.
In Mali, the new program will consolidate integration of maternal health and family planning as well as gender based violence one stop service delivery model for gender based violence prevention and response and strengthen the national statistical system capacity for foresight analysis.
Distinguish delegates.
Together, these three program total 168.1 million in proposed UNFPA assistance.
Of which 41.5 million in regular resources and 126.6 million to be mobilized through co financing and other sources.
I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to the government of Bukina Faso, Cameroon, and Mali for their partnership and steadfast commitment and to our donors and members of this executive board for their continuous support without which this ambition could not be realized.
I thank you for your attention.
Thank you, Mr.
Hunton, for your presentation.
The floor is now open for statements and questions.
I distinguished I see Burkina Faso followed by Mali and Cameron, please, Burkina Faso.
President.
Mr.
President.
Distinguished members of the executive board.
Burkina Faso would like to first and foremost, extend its condolences to Nepal, China, following the floods, which resulted in many families mourning their loved ones in these countries.
We also wish to applaud and support this statement delivered by Zambia on behalf of the Africa group.
We also absolutely wish to express our deep gratitude to the Regional Director for Africa, West and Central Africa, as well as to his entire team.
We commend your presentation of the Ninth Cooperation Program for Burkina Faso and the UNFPA.
Burkina Faso welcomes the review of this cooperation program, which attests to the robustness of the partnership bringing together my country and UNFPA for the benefit of the well being of the Berk Unabee people.
Now, this program highlights the aspirations of our people.
It brings them together through an inclusive and participatory approach.
It is fully in keeping with our new national Development reference framework.
That is the 2026 2030 plan for a reset.
Members of the board, cooperating means assisting without replacing by bolstering national capacity and promoting ownership of development programs by the Burkinbe people in keeping with the vision of the national authorities.
Indeed, the Ninth program is a tool for assisting national development priorities realization and this at a time when my country is seeking to address security, humanitarian, demographic, and climatic challenges In fact, the prospects that have been opened up are encouraging.
We are recovering in territory, people are returning to their land, social basic social services are being reinstated and this in areas which were previously occupied or abandoned.
Now, this program will without a doubt, help They are going to be government in its efforts to ensure that in every community, there's a school, there's a health center, there's access to drinking water, to ensure that economic activity resumes as do administrative services.
We also want social protection services to be up and running again.
The success of this program hinges on the effective mobilization of resources, in particular through complementary funding, that is national and endogenous funding for which our authorities set a price as well as private sector partners contributions and contributions from other innovative mechanisms.
On this note, Burkina Faso would like to invite members of the board to pay particular attention to this Ninth Cooperation program, which is an essential engine of national capacity building for the restoration of social services and the lasting consolidation of these regions which have been stabilized.
Indeed, lending support to the Ninth Cooperation Program is a way of investing in women's and girls' dignity and health.
It also means investing in young people who are the main treasure, main source of wealth our country has.
It is also a way of contributing to a restoration of basic social services.
It means contributing to ensuring these regions that have been stabilized are transformed into economic opportunity and social cohesion hubs.
It is last but not least a way of helping our country, a country that is resolutely committed to taking control of its development, helping us to bolster our national and our endogenous capacity, building a future of peace and prosperity for its people.
Therefore, we recommend that the board adopt this program On our side, Burkina Faso stands ready to fully participate in this process.
Ibram Traoré, together with our community partners who are willing to respect our priorities with all of these stakeholders, working together, we can go down the path to a more resilient, sovereign, and prosperous Burkina Fasa.
We wish to reiterate our gratitude to UNFPA, in particular to the regional director and the country representative.
Thank you for your commitment, standing side by side with our government.
Gratitude is also due for the members of the board as well as the partners who are continuing to help us advance our national priorities.
I thank you.
Thank you.
May, please you have the floor.
Side.
Thank you, President.
In turn, I wish to thank the Regional Director for Western and Central Africa.
Thank you for the outstanding presentation of the country program, and we're grateful for the very fruitful cooperation we've had with him in the region.
The Regional Director, please extend our appreciation to the Executive Director of UNFPA, Dan Keita.
We're grateful for UNFPAs leadership and commitment for the benefit of our people.
My delegation fully aligns itself with this statement delivered by our colleague Zambia, on behalf of the Africa group in a national capacity, I would like to first and foremost, express our gratitude to UNFPA for remaining side by side with the Malian people against the backdrop of a very difficult context and this in a spirit of dialogue and partnership, mutual respect, this is in fact throughout the period when we were implementing the current program now drawing to a close.
We are working with the UNFPA to promote and implement the priorities we agreed on on population issues, development, humanitarian action, resilience, in particular, The reduction of maternal mortality, the fight against violence against girls and women, harnessing the demographic dividend, as well as bolstering data systems tracking population trends.
The government of Mali wishes to continue and to bolster this cooperation with the UNFPA and this through the cooperation program covering the period 2027 2031, a program that is before the board today.
At the outset, I wish to underscore that this program is the fruit of a participatory inclusive process.
That's how it was crafted.
Bringing together all of the national stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector.
Therefore, it is aligned with the national and sector based Priorities, in particular, the 2063 Mali Vision and the National Strategy for emergency and sustainable development.
2024, 2033, the government of Mali welcomes the fact that these documents and rightly so emphasized the need to mobilize national resources, national implementation, ensuring that interventions cover our entire territory, South South cooperation, and on the topic of South South cooperation, I'm referring in particular to the Alliance of Sahel States.
Thus, the government of Mali fully backs this program, and we recommend that the UNFPA board adopt this program and that it provides it with policy, technical, and financial support to ensure its effective implementation for the benefit of my people on our side and despite the myriad challenges we're currently facing, our government is committed to continue mobilizing national resources so as to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant cooperation programs.
Together with UNFPA and all UN agencies.
In fact, by way of conclusion, I wish to applaud the stellar work being done by international and local staff of UNFPA out there in the field, I know the conditions they're working under are often very testing.
May all of these staff know that we're extremely grateful for the work they're doing contributing to the resilience of my country.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you.
You have the floor.
Mr.
President, Mr.
Chairman, My delegation aligns itself with a statement of the African group.
Made by Zambia.
My delegation is grateful for you and FPA for the presentation of the brief description of the country program for 2026 2030, which was drafted following the evaluation of the country program 2022, 2026.
Cameroon welcomes the participatory, inclusive nature and the coordinated process in which all the national stakeholders took part and my delegation notes with satisfaction the alignment of the document with the National Development Strategy 2020 2030 and with the framework plan for cooperation with the United Nations for Sustainable Development 2027 2031.
This obviously bolsters the relevance and coherence of this document with With national priorities.
My delegation in particular welcomes the stress on human capital and strengthening governance through three priority areas that have a direct impact on our population, in particular on women, girls, teenagers, and persons with disabilities.
My delegation also underscores the need to take into account the vulnerabilities related to humanitarian crises and displacement of populations.
And in this connection, the UNFPAs activities will contribute to the resilience of communities affected by this.
Mr.
Chairman, the government and accords particular importance to this new cooperation cycle, which will need to take advantage of the outcome of the eighth country program.
The implementation of the ninth program will need to be based on the principle of national appropriation and the respect for national priorities, public policies, and national legislation.
It should also be part of a broader and close cooperation with the entire UN system, in particular, the Initiative United in action.
To conclude, Mr.
Chairman, the government of Cameroon considers that the document under consideration is a very important strategic framework that is coherent and fully in line with our national priorities.
In light of what I've just stated, the government of the Republic of Cameroon would like to express its wholehearted support for the ninth description of the UNFPA country program for the period 2027 2031 and would request the executive board to approve it.
The government would also express the wish that this cycle will make it possible to further strengthen the partnership between Cameroon and UNFPA.
And will contribute in a concrete way to the improvement of living conditions of our people as well as the achievement of our national development goals.
Thank you.
Thank you, Cameron.
I give the floor to Mr.
Hunton, but please be very brief in the interest of time.
Thank you.
Mercy, Monsieur President.
Thank you.
I just wanted to express the gratitude of UNFPA for the excellent cooperation with Burkina Fas, Malian Cameron express her gratitude to the African group for the political, technical, and financial support in these countries.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Colleagues.
This concludes the review of the country program documents for Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Main accordance with the Executive Board decision 2014 slash seven.
If there are no objections, I should take it that the Executive Board wishes to approve this UNFPA country program document.
It is so decided.
We will now consider the country program document for Latin America and the Caribbean.
I give the floor to miss Narváez to present the country program documents for Guatemala, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Distinguished delegates.
I'm honored to present the draft Country Program document for Guatemala 2027 2030 across Latin America and the Caribbean, macroeconomic resilience coexists with persistent inequalities, climate vulnerability, and complex human mobility.
The region face heterogeneous demographic shifts while some countries are aging rapidly, others hold a demographic dividend requiring investment in youth, gender equality, and bodily autonomy.
High adolescent pregnancy, unequal access to reproductive health, and gender based violence continue to undermine human capital and stall economic growth.
UNFPA is supporting the response by shifting upstream, strengthening institutional capacities, leveraging demographic intelligence, and building shock responsive social systems while maintaining targeted territorial service delivery.
Guatemala embodies these dynamics.
Over 56% of the population lives in poverty, rising sharply among rural Maya and Garfuna communities.
Aligned with the National un 2032 plan and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation framework, the new country program incorporates outcome four to convert demographic change into long term resilience.
With an indicative budget of 16.8 million, 5.8 million from regular resources, and 11 million through co financing, the program operates through three core pillars.
Demographic intelligence, embedding foresight into state modernization and leveraging the 2030 census round to guide shock responsive public policy, Policy and accountability, providing technical advisory to close implementation gaps in national framework like PA tackling adolescent pregnancy, which cost the economy 203 million annually.
Social cohesion, applying a gender transformative lens to target root causes behind over 56,000 annual adolescent birth while addressing a maternal mortality ratio that reached 131 per 100,000 live births among indigenous women.
Central to this strategy is the commitment to leave no one behind.
By embedding territorial approaches and partnering with local authorities, civil society, the private sector and indigenous leadership, this program operationalized systemic change where needed most.
Furthermore, the program advance a strategic pivot from funding to sustainable financing.
Partnering with ministries of Finance, IFIs, and the private sector, the program will unlock domestic public resources and innovative capital.
This country program represents a forward looking roadmap for sustainable development and equitable growth in Guatemala.
Sincerely thank the government of Guatemala and our national partners and respectfully request your support for the approval of this program.
Thank you.
I thank miss Narváez for her presentation.
Now, colleague, the floor open for statements and questions, just to let you know that we have this room and interpretation until 615.
Please, once again, I plea for you to have your intervention very concise.
Please thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.
I now give the floor to Distinguished representative of Guatemala.
Thank you, Chair.
I'm grateful for the presentation of the Regional Director Paul Nard Vice, and we grateful for her work in this process.
I also want to thank the country Representative Victor Val Divso and his team for its leadership in drafting the country Program document 2027 2030 of Guatemala.
This program is a strategic instrument to support our national development efforts.
In particular value the fact that it's aligned with our national priorities and national planning instruments and the UN cooperation framework, as well as the participatory character of its elaboration.
That included consultations with national institutions and representatives of civil society which made it possible to strengthen national appropriation of the program.
The implementation of the program 2020 to 2026, made it possible to make progress in institutional strengthening interinstitutional coordination, and the production of evidence for formulation of public policies.
Including the updating of the National plan for the prevention of teenage and youth pregnancy, national youth policy strengthening of institutional capacities related to gender equality, as well as strengthening the national statistical system.
Based on this, we believe that the 2027 2030 program ensures continuity and deepens these efforts with an emphasis on demographic intelligence, strengthening the national statistical system and evidence based public policies.
We also acknowledge that shared priorities, the reduction of maternal mortality, prevention of teenage pregnancy and gender based violence, as well as the participation of youth in development process.
Guatemala considers it important to continue strengthening the link between demographic transition, economic development, and opportunities for youth, in particular through employability, economic inclusion, and territorial development, as well as economic empowerment of women, especially in indigenous and rural areas.
We also believe it's essential to ensure institutional and financial sustainability of the outcomes, promoting progressive appropriation of capacity strengthened by national institutions beyond this cooperation cycle.
The government of Guatemala reaffirms its commitment to work closely with UNFPA and national partners to achieve the results and vision and contribute to the well being of our population.
This is why we once again urge the members of the executive board to give favorable consideration to the country program document for Guatemala and approve and adopted.
Thank you.
Thank you, Guatemala.
Colleagues.
This concludes the review of the country program document for Guatemala in accordance with the Executive Board decision 2014 slash seven.
If there are no objection, I shall take it that the executive board wishes to approve this UNFPA country program document.
I see none.
It is so decided.
We'll now consider the country program documents for Asia and the Pacific.
I give the floor to Mr.
Birosa to present the country program document for the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam.
Chair, distinguished members of Executive Board, ladies and gentlemen.
It is privilege to present three new country program documents for Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam.
I would like to start by thanking member states for their constructive comments.
Across Asia and the Pacific, countries face profound demographic shift, including rapid aging and low fertility.
In line with UNFPA strategic plan, these programs provide solution to strengthen resilience.
Allow me to begin with the Lao PDR Country Program.
La PDR is at a historic turning point.
It has a time bound opportunity to realize the demographic dividend before the youth cohort begins shrinking after 2030.
While recent progress include advances in maternal health and desegregated data, the adolescent birth rate remains the highest in Southeast Asia.
The new program invests in Young People's Agency, strengthen sexual reproductive health systems, address harmful social norms, and modernizes demographic data for policymaking.
Turning now to Thailand, Thailand has made remarkable progress, but faces profound demographic shift.
With fertility rates at 1.0, it is projected to become a super age nation by 2033.
The new country program provides upstream advice on reproductive choices, the care economy, active aging, and social protection, and leveraging demographic intelligence to build long term resilience.
Finally, let me touch on Vietnam.
Vietnam faces a dual transition, a golden dividend of 21 million young people alongside with a rapid population aging.
The program focuses on upstream advocacy and technical assistance.
It addresses gender based violence and child marriage, strengthen financing for cervical cancer and family planning, and addresses maternal mortality in remote communities, and support data systems for registered based censuses.
All three programs align with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation framework.
We are shifting from traditional resource mobilization toward financing, including domestic financing, IFIS, and partnership with the private sector.
We look forward to working with the government of Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam and partners to implement these programs.
We thank member states and donors for their continuing support.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Bodiosa for your presentation.
I now open the floor for statements and comments.
I see distinguished representative of Lao.
You have the floor.
Mr.
President, the LAPDR would like to express its sincere appreciation to UNFPA for the comprehensive preparation of the new country program documents for the LAPDR for 2027 2031.
We highly value our longstanding and close partnership with UN APA spanning for five decades.
We particularly appreciate UN APA's support in strengthening national capacities and its continued commitment to addressing the needs of vulnerable communities.
The new program comes at an important demographic momentum for the LPDR.
At the same time, fiscal constraints, climate vulnerabilities, and gaps in access to essential services continue to present challenges.
Addressing these issues requires sustained investment in young people, health, education, skills, and empowerment.
We welcome the program's vision to leverage the demographic transition to strengthen resilience and accelerate transformative results with particular attention to demographic dividend, diversity, disparities and digitalization.
Maternal health, and integrated sexual and reproductive health, demographic Intelligence, administrative data and Civian registration and Civing Evited statistics systems.
My delegation welcomes the CPD's alignment with priorities of our National Socio Economic Development Plan, relevant population and demographic policies, and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2027 2031.
We also appreciate UNFPA extensive consultations with the government, Civil society, youth vulnerable groups, development partners, and the UN system during the program's development process.
In conclusion, the LPDRaffirms its full support for the new CPD for the LAPDR and looks forward to its endorsement by the executive board and its full and effective implementation.
We remain committed to further strengthening our partnership with UN APA and other partners to advance the CPD and sustainable development and ensure that every person, particularly young people and vulnerable communities, can benefit from inclusive and sustainable development.
I thank you.
Thank you, Ambassador Thailand, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thailand also wishes to join with others in expressing condolences and solidarity with the governments and people of Nepal and China following the floods.
With regard to the CPD and this part of the meeting, of course, Thailand very much values the longstanding partnership with the UNFPA.
This is our 13th country program document.
And which is the result of extensive consultations with concerned agencies and relevant stakeholders in Thailand.
It also incorporates key recommendations from the evaluation of the 12th CPD cycle.
We welcome the focus of the current CPD in supporting our adaptation to demographic change.
As the regional director mentioned, Thailand is projected to reach super aged status by 2033.
We look forward to, excuse me, we also support the CPD's strong alignment with key policy documents such as our next National Economic and Social Development Plan and, of course, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation framework for 2027 2031, which we believe will help to ensure coherence and efficiency as well as the effectiveness of the UN's work on the ground.
Thailand looks forward to working closely with the UNFPA in implementing the 13th CPD to achieve its outcomes and to help accelerate implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the ICPD Program of action.
We also look forward to working together in sharing Thailand's experience through South South and triangular cooperation, leveraging opportunities also from Thailand's upcoming Asean chairmanship in 2028, the presence in Bangkok of the Asean Center for Active Aging and Innovation.
To conclude, Thailand wishes to reaffirm its full support for the draft CPD presented today and hopes that the executive board will also render its support to the draft CPD.
I thank you.
Thank you, Thailand.
I now give the floor to Vietnam.
Please, you have the floor.
Mr.
President, I wish to begin by thanking the UN FBA, including its regional office for Asia in the Pacific and the country office in Vietnam, for the preparation of the country Program documents CPD for Vietnam for 2027 to 2031.
Vietnam expressed its full support for the CPD, which has been developed through co consultation with the government of Vietnam and is fully aligned with our national priorities.
We particularly value the CPD focus on priority that matter most for the country, responding to our rapid demographic transition and population aging.
Preventing and responding to gender based violence and harmful practices, placing people and their rights at the center of our development policy so that no one is left behind, integrating population dynamics into national socioeconomic development strategy.
We also welcome it emphasis on national data system and on innovative domestic financing, reflecting the evolution of our cooperation towards a strategic technical partnership.
Building on the partnership of over a half century, Vietnam looks forward to working closely with the UN FPA to implement this program effectively, and we look forward to the continued support from development partners to ensure the resources needed for its implementation.
I thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Vietnam.
Colleagues, this concludes the review of the country program documents for the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam in accordance with the Executive Board decision 2014 slash seven.
If there are no objections, I shall take it that the Executive Board wishes to approve this UNFPA Cory program documents.
I see none.
It is so decided.
This concludes the consideration of agenda item six, UNFPA Cory programs and related matters.
Distinguished colleagues, this concludes as well our work for this afternoon.
The second regular session will resume tomorrow at 3:00 P.M.
With a joint segment.
Let me before adjourning this meeting, let me specially thank our interpreters for their kind cooperation.
The afternoon meeting is adjourned.
Distinguished delegates, we will resume negotiations in conference room E at.
Thank you.
20:00 P.M.
620.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.