Resident Coordinator's remarks at the Tripartite Steering Committee meeting

Let me begin by thanking Khun Ek-On, Deputy Director-General of the MFA, for hosting the Tripartite Steering Committee at the Ministry. I would also like to thank Dr. Thuttai, Director, International Strategy and Coordination, NESDC, for co-chairing this important platform, and to both your teams for the support you have offered as we co-created the UNSDCF.

The purpose of today’s Tripartite Steering Committee meeting is to validate the UN Cooperation Framework, which is the single most important instrument for planning and partnership compact at the country level for the coming five years. All Country Programme Documents of the UN system in Thailand will be derived from the priorities set out in the Cooperation Framework.   

 SDGs Progress Snapshot

• The Cooperation Framework is guided by the 13th NESDP priorities and based on an objective and evidence-based assessment of the SDGs to get at the granularity of challenges to be addressed. This has enabled the UN to better understand where its policy and programmatic interventions are best put into practice, in partnership with the Government, private sector and civil society stakeholders.

Consultations

• The Cooperation Framework was co-created by the UN, the Government and other stakeholders through multiple rounds of consultations.
• Our engagement on the Cooperation Framework has been inclusive and wide reaching, including across civil society, the private sector, academia, and vulnerable groups, such as ethnic communities, young people, women, people with disabilities, the LGBTI community, migrants, refugees, stateless, and others.
• Leveraging social media, we have reached over 500 stakeholders to raise awareness about UN’s work and solicit feedback. We also conducted national polls in partnership with NIDA to assess the UN’s comparative advantage. Public consultations will continue on an ongoing basis as established in the Cooperation Framework.

 Foundational Principles

• As you know, the Cooperation Framework is anchored in the 2030 Agenda, which is our roadmap, based on values of human rights, gender equality, sustainability, and peace and justice. It is grounded in the common agenda, highlighted in the 12 guiding commitments, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
• These commitments have never been more relevant, in the recovery from the pandemic and beyond, and are central to the sustainable development trajectory of all Member States, including Thailand.
• Our work in Thailand fosters south-south and triangular cooperation, volunteerism, and robust partnerships, focused on science-based policy interventions, and promoting integrated development solutions to accelerate the SDGs at the national and local level.

Thank you all, especially representatives from Line Ministries, for your valuable partnership. Your written feedback on drafts of the Cooperation Framework have been extremely useful. These contributions will continue to inform the priorities of the 21 UN Agencies making up the Thailand Country Team and progress towards the SDGs in line with the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and bio-circular growth model.

Thank you again and I look forward to today’s discussions as we conclude the Cooperation Framework.