• Statement by H.E. Mr. Hynek Kmonicek, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the
  United Nations on UNDP Business Plans, 2000 - 2003
  New York, 28 January 2002

  ---

Statement by H.E. Mr. Hynek Kmonicek, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations on UNDP Business Plans, 2000 - 2003

Mr. President,

Let me, first of all, thank the Administrator for his excellent presentation of the Update on the UNDP Business Plan 2000-2003 and the Update on the role of UNDP in crisis and post-conflict situations organisational changes. The prepared documents give us clear picture of the achievements of UNDP in the last year as well as the strategic direction for the year 2002. We are now in the in the middle of the period for which the Business Plan was prepared and many impressive results in the operation of UNDP have already been achieved.

Mr. President,

My delegation has noted with appreciation the identification of six priority practice areas for UNDP. We underscore the focus on core competencies of UNDP as a crucial step towards increased efficiency of assistance to programme countries. All of these areas are very important for development as was and is reflected in the documents of Millennium Summit and of some recent special sessions of General Assembly.

The importance to improve the communication network within UNDP and use networking as a major channel for more efficient management and as a platform for knowledge-sharing and dissemination of best practices was underlined by our delegation already some time ago. We are pleased to learn that thirty-seven knowledge networks are currently active in UNDP. Future efforts to strengthen this trend will certainly contribute to the function of regional bureaux and to their co-operation with the Bureau for Development Policy.

Mr. President,

The issue of partnerships belongs to the important ones mentioned in the Business Plan of UNDP. We appreciate the active involvement of UNDP in the preparation process of the Conference on Financing for Development, which will be held soon in Monterrey. The Czech delegations also believes that the Conference on Financing for Development and its result - Monterrey Consensus - will bring new strong impulses for development and international development co-operation. It will significantly contribute to strengthening the links among the specialised organisations of UN system, including Funds and Programmes and Bretton-Woods institutions, NGOs as well as the private sector.

Mr. President,

With respect to the changes of the institutional culture of UNDP, I would like to point out the usefulness of the partnership survey. We are convinced that such survey can bring many interesting and important answers about possible areas of necessary improvements.

Questions of human resources, downsizing and renewing the workforce are always very sensitive and difficult ones. We are pleased to hear about the use of systemic approach to the recruitment of new professionals through the Leadership Development Programme as well as about the work and results of resident Co-ordinator Assessment Centre.

The use of 360-degree feedback system for senior staff, though not an easy exercise, will certainly help to improve the management of UNDP, too.

Commenting on the chapter People we would like to learn more about preparation of the global staff meeting mentioned there.

Mr. President,

In conclusion, I would like to express once more our appreciation of what was achieved in the UNDP during the last year.

Thank you, Mr. President

---