Remarks by Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas at the signing of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2020-2025)

Good morning to:

• The Minister in the Presidency, Honourable Mondli Gungubele,
• The Director General of the National Planning Commission, Dr Kefiloe Masiteng,
• Representatives from the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation,
• Representatives from the Ministry of Finance,
• Representatives from the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs,
• Members of the Diplomatic Corp,
• Excellencies,
• UN South Africa,
• Partners from the Private Sector, Civil Society and Academia,
• Members of the media

• Our Esteemed guests - ladies and gentlemen thank you for joining us at this momentous occasion, the signing of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2020-2025).
• The Cooperation Framework or CF was co-developed by the Government of South Africa and the United Nations in consultation with non-state actors. The CF responds to a complex developmental  challenge in a country characterised by persistent unemployment and inequality that has compounded the levels of poverty in South Africa.
• These complex challenges have been exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 health crises and the accompanying socio-economic impacts. Responding to both these structural and immediate challenges has required an ambitious CF that can support the country in attaining the transformative change needed. The framework´s overall goal is that people in South Africa live prosperous and healthy lives in a safe and cohesive society that protects and values environmental sustainability.
• With this Cooperation Framework, the UN in South Africa brings together the expertise and resources of about 20 UN entities to advance national implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• In keeping with the principle of Delivering as One, the Cooperation Framework represents the entirety of the UN’s activities in South Africa to guarantee coherent and results-focused programming. The ambition of the Cooperation Framework, informed by the broader UN reforms, necessitated a significant shift in how the UN will conduct its work over the programming cycle. These shifts will entail the following:

1. 1. Government ownership and leadership of the UNSDCF,
   2. Building a whole of society approach (Government(s) and non-state actors, including the private sector, research and academic institutions) to deliver the targeted results stipulated in the CF.
   3. More coordinated UN development system response based on national needs and priorities across all levels of Government, and
   4. Strengthening national oversight and accountability mechanisms

Journey to the signing of the UNSDCF

• Stakeholder Consultations - As part of the process, the agencies, and funds, under the guidance of the Resident Coordinator consulted and engaged civil society, youth groups, Women’s organizations as well as the private sector to build consensus on key priorities for UN development assistance.
• Pre-Strategic Prioritization Retreat - The multi-sector consultations were followed by the Pre-Strategic Prioritization Retreat, an internal UN SA discussion on the results of the CCA, analysis of Governments National development Plan, as well as the UNs comparative advantage. The Pre-SPR served as a pre-cursor and preparation ahead of the pivotal Strategic prioritization retreat with government which took place in December 2019.
• Strategic Prioritization Retreat - The Strategic Prioritization Retreat (SPR) workshop was undertaken in December 2019. The SPR provided an opportunity to the UNCT and GoSA to discuss both long and medium-term priorities aligned with the Medium-Term Strategic Framework, agreed upon by the Cabinet. The main objective of the joint visioning exercise was to identify the priority areas for collective action and the strategic shifts that will form the core of the 2020-25 UNSDCF for South Africa.
• Following this process, the UNSDCF’s overall goal was identified as “people in South Africa live prosperous and healthy lives in a safe and cohesive society that protects and values environmental sustainability”, and is underpinned by four strategic priorities:
  • Inclusive, just, and sustainable economic growth
  • Human capital and social transformation.
  • Effective, efficient, and transformative governance
  • Climate resilience and sustainably managed natural resources
• Response to Covid-19 - The retreat and the first draft of the UNSDCF were done in February before South Africa announced its first positive case of Covid-19. Since March 2020, the UNCT agreed the UNSDCF needs to reflect on the health and socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in South Africa. Therefore, it was imperative for the UNSDCF to incorporate the effects of the Covid-19 on the South African landscape. The document has been adjusted in this regard, reflecting on the socio-economic impacts of the virus on the development landscape and has also highlighted the importance of identifying and making provisions for external shocks.
• Stakeholder Consultations - As part of the process, the agencies, and funds, under the guidance of the Resident Coordinator consulted and engaged civil society, youth groups, Women’s organizations as well as the private sector to build consensus on key priorities for UN development assistance. The following diagram presents an overview of the engagements which took place leading to the first draft of the UNSDCF. The consultations took the form of workshops.

Governance Model attached to the UNSDCF

• Has been agreed to by the government is a much-lauded achievement for the UN/Government partnership in South Africa.
• No such governance structure has been put in place before and it is being considered as a best practice for replication elsewhere. The overarching principle for the Governance Model is that it should reinforce the UN Reforms at a countrywide level, serving as a mechanism that promotes greater collaboration between the Government, the UN, and other national partners.
• Importantly, the governance mechanism encompasses the entire programme cycle, including the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting phases of the Cooperation Framework. It takes into consideration lessons from the concluding Cooperation Framework cycle, examples of governance models in other countries and, ultimately, the shifts in the new UNSDCF.