3C Conference 2009

Mr. Chairman
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Let me, first of all, congratulate the organizers. The 3Cs have certainly been applied in both planning and execution of this conference. We value highly Switzerland’s strong leadership, and we extend our appreciation to all the partners for their contributions.

The discussions here have shown, in a very concrete and specific way, the value of and the need for bringing together the different actors working in conflict and fragile situations. And they have also demonstrated that this is easier said than done – particularly when we move from the level of overall declarations of intent to discussions of implementation on the ground. The need for coordination, coherence and complementarity is not new. The United Nations is continuously working to strengthen integration among the various actors within the system. Our work in Iraq and Liberia has shown the value of these efforts through better support on the ground. These challenges are only compounded when numerous partners are co-deployed.

Many speakers have emphasized the importance of coordination at the headquarters level, between headquarters and the field, and among ministries at the national level. It is clear that national ownership and leadership are key to long-term success. Importantly, we have been reminded that it is the quality and not the quantity that matters: what we are aiming for is unity of purpose, effort and result.

A common thread in many of the exchanges here has been the need for enhanced capacity at national level, in joint strategic planning and in benchmarking. It is often in the very early stages that many aspects of a process are determined. It is both costly and time-consuming to “correct” possible initial mistakes or change direction. This is not to underestimate the need for flexibility and adaptability to deal with changed circumstances – which also came up in many discussions – but a recognition of the critical importance of working closely together from the beginning to save transaction costs. It is also during these initial stages that trust is built – and the need for trust between national Governments and international organizations was one of the central themes at yesterday’s discussions.

But, we must also recognize that such strategic planning can only take place when the different actors on the ground, both military and civilian, have more clarity and specificity in their mandates in general. This requires better coordination and coherence also among Member States, both as bilateral donors and in tasking the different organizations. And there are no quick fixes: we need to accept that these are long-term commitments.

We must also be frank about the importance of resources. We are often reluctant to talk about money, but we need to acknowledge that building sustainable peace and laying the foundation for long-term development does require sustainable and predictable funding. Of course, it is an investment that yields significant dividends, but it does cost in the initial stages. Funding shortages increase the challenges in coordination when the focus is on short-term fund-raising rather than long-term planning. And there is a need to channel, to the extent possible, such funding through national budgets to strengthen the national Government.

So, where does the 3C approach add value? This conference has already given the different policy communities an opportunity to come together to reflect on the constraints that do exist in working effectively together. From the perspective of the United Nations system, 3C brings an added dimension in providing a framework for putting into practice the concepts of coherence, coordination and complementarity. And for ensuring a sense of collective responsibility for delivery of results. It was mentioned yesterday in the opening panel discussion that nobody was responsible for systemic outcomes. This is one our challenges, where the 3Cs may help to enhance our efforts.

This is part of a process. And it is a process where all need to remain engaged. The United Nations looks forward to working with our partners to take forward the recommendations of the 3C Roadmap to help improve the effectiveness of our support. Because, as they say, the proof is in the pudding. We need to show that 3C makes a difference on the ground, and I hope it will.

Thank you very much