Achieving greater coherence at the country level, while maintaining and reinforcing the distinctive nature and strengths of the individual development organizations, would increase the effect of the UN's presence and programme in countries, reduce overlap among UN entities, make more cost-effective use of programme resources and facilitate cooperation with governments and other organizations. In parallel to the UN Development Group at headquarters, all funds and programmes and United Nations Information Centres will be part of a single UN office under the Resident Coordinator to support greater cooperation and coherence among members of the United Nations family. In order to bring greater coherence to the United Nations programmes of assistance on the country level, develop and implement a UN Development Assistance Framework with common objectives and time frames in close consultation with governments, beginning with pilots in 1997. Building on progress already made, harmonize programme and budget frameworks and performance measurements in the UN Development Group. In an era of growing demands and constrained resources, the management systems of the United Nations must be strengthened.
Management needs to better support the accomplishment of mandates established by the Member States.
It should assure that the resources entrusted to the Organization are used in the most effective and efficient way and that the staff, the most valuable resource of the Organization, have the tools, the support and the authority they need to do their work and achieve better results at a lower cost. Expand management reviews led by UN managers and staff to further enhance delivery of mandated programmes, strengthen services to Member States, and reduce non-programme costs, completing at least 400 of 600 efficiency projects by December 1997. Streamline the Secretariat's central administration, delegating authority and responsibility to managers and simplify processes, procedures and rules, focusing in the first instance on human resources, procurement and the rules and procedures relating to field missions. Strengthen support services , such as information technology and procurement and establish one or more Common Service facility at headquarters in New York, Geneva and Vienna to offer cost-effective, quality services to UN entities. Assure that every Member State will be represented in the Secretariat by 1999 and that significant progress on realizing the gender goals of the Organization will be achieved.