STATEMENT BY H.E. BURHAN GAFOOR, AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW URBAN AGENDA AND POSITIONING OF UN-HABITAT IN THIS REGARD, NEW YORK, 5 SEPTEMBER 2017

Mr President,

1                   Our leaders have committed to sustainable urbanisation as a necessity and a driving force for sustainable development.  The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has a stand-alone Sustainable Development Goal on cities and human settlements, SDG 11.  The New Urban Agenda reaffirms sustainable urban development as a critical step for realising sustainable development.

2                   The facts are well-known.  By 2030, 60 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas.  95 per cent of urban expansion in the next decades will take place in the developing world.  828 million people live in informal settlements today and the number keeps rising.  The world’s cities occupy just 3 per cent of the Earth’s land, but account for 60-80 per cent of energy consumption and 75 per cent of carbon emissions.  Rapid urbanisation is exerting pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage, the living environment, and public health.  But the high density of cities can bring efficiency gains and technological innovation while reducing resource and energy consumption.

3                   Yet, the reality is that sustainable urbanisation is not getting the treatment it deserves in the UN system.  This meeting on the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the positioning of UN-Habitat is therefore both necessary and timely.  But we must not stop at talk.  The urgent need for action is clear.  The UN system will be fit-for-purpose to deliver on the 2030 Agenda only if it is also fit-for-purpose to deliver on the New Urban Agenda.

Mr President,

4                   The report of the High-Level Independent Panel to Assess and Enhance the Effectiveness of UN-Habitat before us today contains much food for thought.  As we collectively consider the best course of action in the weeks ahead, I would like to offer five guiding principles.

5                   First, the role and expertise of UN-Habitat in the UN system must be recognised and respected as our starting point.  UN-Habitat is among the top three entities in the UN development system contributing to the implementation of SDG 11, both by expenditure and by personnel.[1]  UN-Habitat also plays a coordination role in UN system-wide activities relating to sustainable urbanisation and human settlements.  For example, it coordinates reporting on the progress of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.  Leveraging on UN-Habitat’s comparative advantages is key to the success of any review or reform. 

6                   Second, coordination and collaboration between UN-Habitat and other relevant entities of the UN system must be strengthened.  The New Urban Agenda recognised the need to change our approach from a sectoral to a cross-cutting one.  It also recognised the reality that no single UN entity can be wholly responsible for any one SDG, if we are to see a UN system without silos.  There is a clear need for closer collaboration between UN-Habitat and other relevant entities of the UN system; and a more inclusive UN-system wide coordination process.

7                   In this regard, the proposal that UN-Urban be established as a coordinating mechanism is interesting, but raises several questions and concerns.  Why is it necessary to create a new entity, particularly when we are in the midst of a broader review of the UN development system?  What exactly would this new entity’s mandate be vis-à-vis existing coordination mechanisms and processes?  If we really need a new entity, we also need to carefully consider where to park the new entity; i.e. within DESA or within UN-Habitat or in some other place.  We need to choose a parking place that will deliver efficiency, cost-effectiveness and expertise.   

8                   This brings me to the third guiding principle.  We should build on what we have created over the last few decades, and not try and re-invent the wheel.  We should focus on improving existing mechanisms and structures, rather than creating entirely new ones.  For example, UN-Habitat is a member of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination and related mechanisms such as the UN Development Group.  These offer opportunities for coordination on policy, management and operational activities.  How can these be better utilised to improve UN system-wide coordination on sustainable urbanisation and human settlements? 

9                   Fourth, in assessing any one proposal, we must consider its practical implications across UN-Habitat’s mandate, governance structure, partnerships and financial capability.  For example, a Governing Council with universal membership can possibly have positive implications beyond just improving the governance and management of UN-Habitat.  It can potentially allow UN-Habitat to broaden and strengthen its partnerships, particularly if the Urban Assembly has accredited Major Groups/stakeholders.  This in turn can help UN-Habitat to improve its resource mobilisation from all funding sources, both public and private; and may in the long term offset any costs associated with universalisation. 

10              Fifth, we must equip UN-Habitat to strike a balance between normative and operational work.  Normative and operational work are not a zero-sum game; they are complementary.  A balance is essential for addressing the diverse needs and capacities of more developing countries; and improving the reach and impact of UN-Habitat.  However, this will require addressing the significant imbalance in UN-Habitat’s core and non-core funding.  We must explore concrete and proven ways of mobilising voluntary contributions from public and private sources through innovative multi-stakeholder partnerships.  At the same time, we must recognise the role of assessed contributions from Member States in helping UN-Habitat to reach an optimal mix of funding.  We must also bear in mind that the flexibility of funding modalities, not just the quantity of funding, is critical.  The proposed grant modality for assessed contributions from Member States seems promising in this regard.

Mr President,

11              Singapore firmly believes that sustainable urbanisation can and must be harnessed as a force for sustainable development; and that the UN has an important supporting role to play in this regard.  This has been our lived experience in our own sustainable development journey.  This is why we founded and still co-chair the Group of Friends for Sustainable Cities, together with Sweden.  We believe that the time for action is now; and we stand ready to do our part. 

12              I thank you.

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_{[1]               According to the “System-wide outline of the functions and capacities of the UN development system” mandated by A/RES/71/243 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, a Consultant’s Report issued in June 2017, UNOPS, UN-Habitat and WHO together account for 58% of the USD 1.131 billion total expenditure on SDG 11; and UN-Habitat, UNOPS and UNRWA together account for 64% of the 4,002 total personnel on SDG 11.  UN-Habitat’s expenditure on SDG 11 is USD 169 million; and it contributes 1,111 personnel to SDG 11.}