SEA/RC61/14 - UN reform process and health partnerships: progress and developments

Abstract

The WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia deliberated and provided guidance on the subject of WHO and Reforms of the UN System during its Sixtieth session, held in Bhutan in 2007. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the developments that have occurred since. It focuses on: • the ongoing inter-governmental negotiation on the Report of the UN Secretary- General’s High Level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence: “Delivering as One”. • the triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the UN system 2007 and the UN General Assembly resolution 62/208 on the review. • the developments observed at global, regional and country levels including the integration of UN Development Group under the Chief Executives Board and its restructuring; changes in regional UN coordination; lessons from “Delivering as One” pilot initiative; and emergence of the “New UNDAF” for 2008 and 2009. The paper also presents WHO’s role in the harmonization and alignment of development activities, as well as the approch the Organization is taking towards health partnerships. The Meeting of the Advisory Committee (‎ACM)‎ reviewed the paper and made the following recommendations: Action by Member States • To individually and collectively analyse how best they can move ahead for better coordination of external development partners and UN reform based on lessons learnt from other regions and countries. Action by WHO/SEARO • To continue cooperating in UN reform in line with WHO’s global policy to maximize the benefit for the health sector while maintaining its identity as a specialized agency for health; to conduct and present an analysis to assist Member States’ engagement in UN reform; to use the Country Cooperation Strategy as WHO’s contribution to UNDAF; to provide appropriate technical support to Member countries when necessary in elaborating/defining UNDAF; to provide training to increase capacity in harmonization and alignment to Member countries, WHO country teams and partners; and to report updated information to the Regional Committee based on the outcome of the ongoing process. The paper is now submitted to the Sixty-first Session of the Regional Committee for its consideration.