United Nations SYSTEM in Romania

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Meeting with the Sub-commission on Population and Development of the Senate, 10 March 2009

“Romanian Youth Together for 2015!” Roundtable

COORDINATION AND REFORM

“The objective [of the UN reform] is delivering as one and delivering in a coordinated way. The objective is not […] to merge the UN institutions into one large organization, or into even two or three large organizations. I think that is quite unrealistic.

Each UN organization has a different mandate, a different governance structure, a different funding structure. It is impossible to merge all of this into one mega-organization.

What is possible, through the coordination mechanisms that we are piloting is to deliver as one, to deliver as part of a harmonized programme, to cut down on the duplication, to increase efficiency.

UN coherence […] is the search for harmonized procedures and best practices, from which everybody can learn.

UNDG Director Kemal Dervis, press briefing, 16 January 2008

United Nations reform calls for stronger coherence and coordination at country as well as headquarters level, removal of unnecessary duplication, adoption of business practices based on performance and measuring of results, and long term predictable funding. Its vision is that of the UN delivering as one in the areas of development, humanitarian assistance and the environment based on the needs and priorities of the countries themselves.

UNITED NATION'S REFORM PRIORITIES INCLUDE:

The establishment, where appropriate, of a One UN at country level with One leader, One programme, One budget and One office;

Improved governance at headquarter level;

The establishment of a UN Sustainable Development Board;

Upgraded and harmonized human resource policies, planning and results-based management, unified data systems across the UN system;

The establishment of a Millennium Development Goal funding mechanism based on performance and results;

Enhanced role in coordinating between governments and the NGO’s in the area of Humanitarian Assistance;

The establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme as the central environmental pillar of the UN system;

The establishment of a dynamic, independent UN entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

For a more detailed summary about the UN coordination process, read Ten ways for the UN to “deliver as one” , recommendations from the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel onUN System-wide Coherence.

Initiated in 1997 by Secretary General Kofi Annan the UN reform produced tangible and significant results.

Today, the Organization's structures are more streamlined, its working methods more effective, and its various programmes better coordinated.
In recent years, the UN has developed working partnerships in many areas with civil society and the private sector.

In the economic and social spheres, the Millennium Development Goals now serve as a common policy framework for the entire United Nations system, and for the broader international development community.
United Nations peacekeeping missions today are much better designed, and have a more integrated understanding of the many different tasks involved in preventing a recurrence of fighting and laying the foundations of lasting peace.
Stronger partnerships have been built with a wide range of non-State actors who have an important contribution to make to global security, prosperity and freedom.

COORDINATION TOOLS

The Common Country Assessment is a systematic review of the national development situation as a basis for designing applied programmes to address capacity gaps through targeted support to national counterparts.

The UNDAF describes the collective response of the UNCT to country priorities. Its high level expected results are the UNDAF outcomes, which show where the UN system can bring its comparative advantages to bear in advocacy, capacity development, and programming, for the achievement of MD/MDG related national priorities.

The relationship between these tools and the national development framework is illustrated in the road map, which can be accessed by clicking here.

2005-2009 UNDAF FOR ROMANIA

The UNDAF for Romania attempts to articulate national development strategies, such as poverty reduction, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and human development promotion.

Three UNDAF priority areas for UN system intervention were identified:
i) Capacity building for good governance;
ii) Economic Growth – Poverty Alleviation;
iii) Equal Access to Basic Social Services, with a strategic outcome established in each of those areas.
The successful implementation of 2005-2009 UNDAF is expected to lead to:

Strengthened environmental governance at central and local levels.

Enhanced policies, legislation and implementation capacity to better protect the rights of vulnerable groups.

An improved capacity of the government to efficiently respond to HIV/AIDS.

A National Population Policy in place.

Empowered vulnerable groups (such as rural women, the youth, the Roma).

Improved access of children to quality early, pre-school and compulsory education.

Increased access to quality care and protection services of vulnerable and marginalized children.

Improved quality of service for HIV/AIDS and integrated management of infant and child illnesses.

For additional information on the Development Assistance Framework in Romania, consult the UNDAF 2005-2009, a publication of the United Nations System in Romania.

UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR AND UN COUNTRY TEAM

The United Nations operation in Romania is coordinated through the Resident Coordinator (RC) system. The RC system brings together the different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their support to national development priorities. Working closely with the Government, the Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team advocate the UN agenda as outlined by member states’ commitments around a set of principles, goals and targets on development, governance, peace, security, and human rights.

The UN Country Team in Romania

Funds, programmes, and agencies	Name and title of Representative or Officer-in-Charge	Year when office opened in Romania
UNDP	Mr. Jan Sorensen, Resident Representative	1971
UNICEF	Mr. Edmond McLoughney, Representative	1991
UNFPA	Ms. Marléne François Lays, Representative	1996
UNESCO/CEPES	Mr. Jan Sadlak, Director	1972
UNHCR	Mr. Machiel Salomons, Representative	1989
UNAIDS	Mr. Eduard Petrescu, Country Coordinator	1997
WHO	Mr. Victor Olszavski, Liaison Officer	1990
UNIC	Mr. Jan Sorensen, Director	1970
World Bank	Mr. Benoit Blarel, Country Manager	1992
IMF	Mr. Juan Jose Fernandez-Ansola, Senior Regional Resident Representative for Romania and Bulgaria	1991s