Madam Deputy Secretary-General,

Distinguished colleagues,

At the outset, I would like to thank the Deputy Secretary-General for the briefing on the important exercise to recalibrate the Resident Coordinator (RC) system, as outlined in the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) and in light of the ongoing UN80 Initiative. My delegation appreciates the opportunity to share perspectives on the RC system from our national context.

The Lao PDR enjoys close partnership and collaboration with the RC Office and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). We recognize the RC Office’s important role in ensuring effective delivery at the country level and coordinating the UNCT, while also serving as the principal channel for system-wide engagement between the UNCT and government counterparts. We have seen tangible gains since the repositioning of the RC system in the country seven years ago, with the UNCT operating under a strong Lao PDR-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), which is closely aligned with the national priorities, including our five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plans (NSEDPs), the SDGs implementation and our efforts toward LDC graduation.

Despite this progress, we note that gaps still remain, such as timeframe of multiple agencies’ Country Programme Documents (CPDs) that run in parallel to the collective UNSDCF, misaligned with its cycle, and, in some cases, regional expertise remains underutilized. In this regard, the recalibration process should consider a strengthened role for the RC in enhancing closer coordination and engagement with government counterparts and within the UNCT to ensure that agency programmes and new joint work plans align with national development priorities and the UNSDCF; providing support in time of emergency natural disasters, and serving as the entry point for non-resident agencies, with a role in guiding new initiatives to avoid duplication and achieve successful outcomes.

As more UN entities potentially transition to non-resident and multi-country models, we expect the RC to play a stronger role in integrating their expertise into country-level support. At the same time, the RC should work to leverage regional technical and policy expertise to deliver coherent and impactful results on the ground.

In closing, the Lao PDR underscores the importance of ensuring that the UN development system remains fit-for-purpose, responsive to evolving challenges, and capable of accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We will continue working closely with the RC Office and the UNCT in the country.

Thank you.