9th meeting - Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS (Annual Session 2026)

Yes.
Good morning, dear colleagues.
I'm informed that we have a quorum and we can proceed with our meetings.
I would kindly ask you to take your seats.
I declare open this night meeting of the Executive Board, UNDP, UPS and FBA and we continue with Agenda item one, adoption of documents.
And we have remainder from yesterday, the item number 18 engagement with the UN eight Initiative, Do I take it that the board wishes to adopt the draft agenda under Item 18 engagement with the UN 80 initiative? It is so decided.
Thank you.
I do have a request for the floor.
I give the floor to Finland, Vice President, please, to be followed by the United States.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Yes.
I requested the floor just to congratulate ourselves for the achievement, achieving the decision.
It is important, as we all know, that this board exercises the uh function of oversight and giving direction on this particular matter especially.
But overall, I also want to make the more general point about the importance of the oversight function of the board.
It is exercised very much through the decisions.
And we have adopted important decisions, again, during this session.
So looking forward, this is probably a discussion that we need to take also in the bureau, and we have discussed this all along.
But looking forward, we need to reflect on how we use the time.
Um, the decisions require quite a high degree of priority and focus on the agenda.
Now, the sessions tend to be quite packed.
Every item is important.
They are carefully planned, carefully, I think there's not much to be adjusted in that regard, but I'd just like to plead to the effect that, um, that it is really we need to down the road, we need to think what is truly consequential in our work and what is less consequential, where the board can exercise a role that changes things to the better, changes and gives direction, provides guidance and indeed, where we exercise the oversight.
I do feel strongly that it is notably through the decisions.
These are the instruments that we have.
We need to think about how we use best the dialogue, how to structure and maybe time them in a way that they are more consequential than until now.
I am being quite blunt here.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Well, congratulations indeed.
I have the United States, please.
Okay.
Thank you, President.
Our delegation wishes to express our concerns regarding the structure and processes of this annual session.
As the session was heavily focused on essential matters of oversight, the decision to compress the agenda into four days, despite objections, predictably, left insufficient time for both negotiations and plenary items, affecting the board's ability to exercise clear and thoughtful oversight.
The traditional working methods of this board were repeatedly bypassed.
Negotiations were rushed, held parallel to the plenary without announcement, preventing interested parties from participating and undermining the transparency essential for governance.
While my delegation raised these issues repeatedly, they persisted unaddressed through the final moments.
Furthermore, we regret that the insufficient time allotted to the plenary prevented member states and observers from making statements and asking questions directly to the agencies, effectively silencing the voices responsible for oversight.
The executive board sessions must be spaces for meaningful governance, not performative compliance.
The United States strongly supports reform and efficiency and welcomes opportunities on how to improve the board sessions thoughtfully and strategically.
While we appreciate that this session was ultimately extended to allow negotiations to conclude and the decision finalized, we call on the Bureau and the Secretariat to address these concerns for the next session.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Noted.
Any other questions, comments? No.
Thank you.
Then this annual session is closed.
We'll meet again at the end of August 25th, 24th of August.
Of course, before that, if member states want, we can devote a full week five working days for that session, and we'll discuss about that.
Thank you.
This session is closed.