Permanent Mission of India
New York
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Informal meeting on the UN80 Initiative: Regional Reset (work package 6), Joint Knowledge Hubs (work package 7) and Shared Platform Initiative (work package 13)

Statement by Mr. Surendra Adhana, Counselor

29 April 2026

Mr. President,

At the outset, we thank the Secretariat for sharing the report [‘Progress and Next Steps’] and other briefing material. We express our appreciation to Deputy Secretary-General, USG Ryder and other briefers for their presentations.

India aligns with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China. We would like to offer additional reflections in our national capacity.

First, we take note of the proposals contained in work packages 6, 7, and 13.

• While recognizing the need to reduce duplication and improve coordination across the UN system, including at regional and country-level, we consider that any proposal must tangibly strengthen the development pillar, particularly accelerated implementation of the 2030 agenda and achieve progress on SDGs, instead of introducing additional bureaucratic layers.

• While pursuing these initiatives, it is equally important to respect national ownership and to ensure that the support towards demand-driven development cooperation framework is enhanced and not diminished.

Second, on the co-location of regional capacities with Regional Commissions and establishment of Regional Platforms for Integration (RPIs), it is important to understand how these initiatives will enhance support to member states at the regional and country-level. We would appreciate a comprehensive assessment of potential risks, including existing mandates, and mitigation measures for member states’ consideration during the upcoming session of ECOSOC.

• The comprehensive assessment should also include potential implications of these proposals on the sub-regional offices.

• The assessment should also clarify the impact on the UN Country Team and RCs, including on funding modalities, operations, and oversight frameworks.

Third, on the Joint Knowledge Hubs, we look forward to receiving information on additional hubs, budgetary implications, and demonstrable practical outcomes to assess their impact.

Finally, on the Shared Platform Initiative, we note the progress in co-locating OCHA and RC Offices and developing joint strategies in 8 transition countries. We would request a detailed risk assessment and mitigation measures on this proposal, as well as clarification on potential changes to the existing reporting lines and country-level structure due to the co-location of RC/HCs and accountability framework for RCs and UN country teams.

As we move forward, India reaffirms its commitment to engage constructively on the UN80 Initiative.

I thank you, Mr. President.