Statement by H.E. Ambassador UMETSU Shigeru, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the 2025 Joint Meeting of the Executive Boards of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS, UNICEF, UN-Women and WFP

Mr. President, 
 
I would like to thank you, all of the Executive Boards’ Presidents and all of the Executive Boards’ Secretariats for convening today’s joint meeting, as well as the Principals for sharing their strategic points.
 
In light of the UN80 reform initiative proposed by the Secretary-General, we are at a critical juncture to further reforms of the United Nations Development System.
 
In order to maximize impact, efficiency, adaptability and agility in a dynamic operating environment, it is important that entities continue to focus on their respective mandates and comparative advantages.
 
For efficient and impactful results at the country level, Japan supports the UN’s ongoing effort to strengthen the RC System, particularly from the perspective of advancing the Humanitarian, Development and Peace Nexus. The RCs’ pivotal role in coordinating UN entities and programmes is becoming increasingly important.     
 
In addition to operational efforts, enhanced and coordinated efforts should be made to optimize the existing development funding mechanisms, as well as to unlock additional development financing, such as leveraging private capital and enhancing collaboration with the IFIs. 　
 
In order to enable these coordinated efforts in operation and funding across the entities, Japan encourages the Executive Boards to engage in more proactive information sharing among the Boards on the same items for more coherent and optimal discussion and consideration among Member States.  As a member of the Bureau of UN Women Executive Board, and a member of the Joint Working Group to review the JIU recommendations on Governance and Oversight Functions of the Executive Boards, Japan will continue to explore optimizing coordination across the Boards.

I thank you once again for today’s important discussion and look forward to engaging in further discussion across the Boards.