Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Executive Director,
In a challenging global context, UNFPA’s work is more important than ever. Hard-won gains in gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights are under increasing pressure.
New Zealand therefore reaffirms its strong and consistent support for UNFPA's mandate, and for the centrality of gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the empowerment of all women and girls. We also recognise the importance of robust population data and evidence to inform policy, identify vulnerabilities, and support effective responses.
We welcome UNFPA's continued focus on reaching those furthest behind, including in fragile and crisis contexts, and on integrating its development and humanitarian work. We also emphasise the importance of youth and adolescent wellbeing, including meaningful participation and access to services. These issues are particularly important in the Pacific, where investing in young people is critical to long-term development outcomes.
Turning to the broader system context, New Zealand strongly supports the Secretary-General's UN80 reform initiative as an opportunity to advance meaningful reform. We need a UN development system that is more focused, efficient and coordinated, and better able to deliver for countries. For UNFPA, this includes continuing to demonstrate its comparative advantage while working closely with other entities through coherent, country-led approaches.
As we consider reform options, proposals should be assessed holistically and based on clear evidence of improved effectiveness, efficiency and impact. In that regard, New Zealand has carefully considered the proposals relating to a possible merger of UNFPA and UN Women. While we support ambitious reform and remain open to options that strengthen coordination and delivery, we are not currently convinced there is sufficient evidence that a merger would deliver efficiency gains of a scale that would justify the risks involved. We are also concerned that merger proposals have not adequately demonstrated how the distinct normative mandates and strengths of both organisations would be preserved.
We therefore welcome work that has begun on alternative reforms other than a full merger, and support further work on credible alternatives that could advance reform objectives, improve coordination, increase efficiency and enhance impact while safeguarding the mandates and comparative advantages of both organisations.
Finally, New Zealand remains concerned about the challenging funding environment facing UNFPA. Core resources remain essential to UNFPA's ability to respond flexibly, reach those furthest behind and deliver on its mandate. This is why New Zealand continues to prioritise quality core funding and encourages others to do the same.
New Zealand reaffirms its strong support for UNFPA and its vital role in advancing the rights, health and dignity of women and girls, and we value our partnership with UNFPA, particularly in the Pacific. We look forward to continuing to work together to ensure UNFPA remains effective, focused and fit for purpose in an increasingly complex environment.