Statement by Ambassador Sichan Siv, United States Representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, at the 2002 Annual Session of the UNFPA/UNDP Executive Board on Part II of the Report of the Executive Director for 2002, Geneva, June 18, 2002

As Delivered

UNFPA/UNDP Executive Board
Annual Session 2002 (June 17-21, Geneva)
Item 2 of the Provisional Agenda (Part II)
UNFPA
Report of the Executive Director for 2001:
The Multi-Year Funding Framework

Thank you, Mr. President. 

The United States delegation commends Executive Director Obaid for the status report on the implementation of the multi-year funding framework (MYFF) for 2000-2003.  We note that the three overarching goals set out in the results framework are closely aligned with the outputs, indicators and strategies specified under MYFF.  We appreciate the updated estimates on income, resource utilization and distribution for the period 2000-2003.  My delegation also acknowledges the steps taken by the United Nations Population Fund during the past year towards a culture of performance through results-based management.

The report goes into significant detail addressing the rationale behind the adjustment of the MYFF results framework.   It describes the progress made by the Fund in 2001 in achieving MYFF goals and outputs, and analyzes the strategies employed to attain these results.  My delegation supports the addition of two goal indicators – contraceptive prevalence rate and proportion of population earning less than $1 a day.  Inclusion of these indicators should help to more accurately capture the Fund’s support in program countries. 

We acknowledge UNFPA’s four primary and mutually reinforcing strategies identified in the report: advocacy, the strengthening of national capacity, the formulation and utilization of a suitable knowledge base, and the promotion and coordination of institutional partnerships.  The Fund is in a unique position to promote the completely voluntary nature and the highest possible standards of care for family planning and reproductive health.

The United States delegation agrees in theory with many of the considerations identified by the Executive Director as being key for future implementation of MYFF.  However, we feel that a higher priority should have been given to the practical consideration of results-based monitoring and evaluation practices.  The Fund must do more to develop and promote evidentiary monitoring and evaluation tools at the country level.  This would more effectively measure the success (or failure) of a specific strategy in achieving MYFF outputs.  Clear definitions of expected results and measurement indices would help country offices move from subjective assessment of success toward more empirical program evaluation.  Clarity would also facilitate better coordination with other similar programs.

The United States delegation shares the Fund’s concerns regarding the lack of adequate and reliable data and ineffective data management.  Critical to the success of any programming framework is the reliability of data to establish baselines and measure progress.  We agree that additional investments in data collection and analysis are needed for evidence-based policy formulation and informed decision-making.  We wonder, however, to what extent the Fund is collaborating with the other operational United Nations agencies to arrive at a common strategy that best addresses the data issue.  My delegation challenges the Fund to continue its efforts to make the MYFF operational.  We urge the development of practical measures and guidelines for building national capacity in the collection and analysis of data as part of any new country program.

Implementation of MYFF and results-based management (RBM) requires long-term commitment and a process of cultural change.  My delegation is anxious to know what progress the Fund has made in building staff capacity in understanding the importance of RBM and the relevance of MYFF.  We would like to know whether the adoption of a results-based approach has measurably improved the Fund’s organizational and programmatic performance.  The survey carried out in 2001 on how country offices are managing for results seems to be a step in the right direction.  However, the information on survey responses was largely anecdotal.

In closing, the United States delegation applauds the reference made in the Executive Director’s report to accountability.  We concur that it is imperative for the United Nations Population Fund to demonstrate a direct correlation between resource use and the achievement of results. 

Thank you, Mr. President.