At the national level, the world body should support the central role of the Resident Coordinator in improving its effectiveness in responding to country priorities, she said. Further, it underscored the need for the development systems to respond quickly to the varying development needs of programme countries.
On the first point, he said the Organization was the locomotive that pulled the international community towards achievement of the Goals. Those efforts, however, were challenged by two imminent problems: globalization and external shocks, such as the oil and food crises. He called for providing financial assistance for people starting small businesses, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. On capacity-building, she said training could be provided, but if a Government did not implement appropriate reforms in its institutional systems to absorb and leverage the new skills, the capacity-building would be for nothing.
They had discussed, among other things, the constraints and challenges in implementing that initiative. The initial indication had been that the pilot process was yielding results in responding to national development plans and progress.
Turning to constraints, he said the Seminar had identified a lack of predictability and timeliness in funding; little harmonization of business practices; high transaction costs; and poor alignment of United Nations capacity with national priorities. To address such issues, participants had recommended improving national coordination structures. In addition, operational activities should focus on national capacity-building and strategic support for poverty reduction, among other things.
Through the Chief Executives Board, the Organization should consider a simplified process to address national problems. Urging a more proactive United Nations, he said the Seminar had also called for a renegotiation of contracts commensurate with the new global aid environment. The Economic and Social Council will continue its operational activities segment at 10 a.
