Remarks

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to briefly touch upon two elements as way of Indonesia’s preliminary feedback on the document prepared by the PBSO for this discussion. We thank PBSO for its stress on the importance to use the already existing documents and work by the PBC, including on to the outcome document of the PBC task force on private sectors adopeted in 2004. Many of the its recommendations therein are highly relevant and should be taken forward by the PBC.

Welcoming the effort by the PBSO in preparing this useful document, we would appreciate it if the aspect of ‘agricultural trade’ could also be focused upon. Just as facts and figures for a number of important financial flows to post-conflict countries have been mentioned, it would be helpful to know what is the contribution and potential of agriculture and commodities trade in the economies of those countries.

Considering that ‘sustainable resource mobilization avenues’ are crucial and that majority population in conflict-affected countries lives in rural areas where employment in agriculture, particularly, tends to be the main vocation, it would be important to know more about the financial role and impact of agriculture and commodities sectors.

Thoughts and proposals by the PBSO and other relevant UN agencies, on what could be done to enhance the international trading potential of post-conflict countries would also be welcome.
The other aspect that we want to highlight is the significance of predictability of resources, which has also been underlined in the PBSO document . It is important to also mention that at times due to the unpredictability of post-conflict nature, previously unplanned projects are necessitated in the short term for which financial resources might not be available immediately.

Mr. Chairman,

The independent review by the Senior Advisory Group (SAG)  under “Nimbleness”  dwelled on, among other things, this aspect and recommended improving access to rapid-response financing for UN agencies, funds and programs. In that regard, it proposed incorporating the elements of the Working Capital Facility of the World Food Program (WFP).

This WFP facility fundamentally provides funds as loans to critically required field programs in advance of forecast contributions.

The use of this model for UN system’s financing to unexpected post-conflict projects could be along the following lines:

As an immediate financing need arises in a post-conflict situation (eg: unexpected rains enhance crop yield, requiring more harvesters/transportation etc for which a newly designed project needs to be implemented quickly), the UN country team overseeing peacebuilding will be able to acquire required funds from the UN Head Office/central mission account as ‘loan’. This money sourced as loan is paid back to the UN Head Office/central mission account when financing will be provided to the UN country team under the normal UN funding process.

We see merit in taking forward this recommendation, through among others, brainstorming the WFP’s working capital model facility to explore if it has potential to be applied in the UN system’s financing of post-conflict projects.
However, we want to stress that this idea is meant not as a replacement to the present set of UN financial mechanisms. Rather this is intended as something, which could be potentially added to the existing financial mechanisms at the UN’s disposal. 

I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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Mr. Chairman,
 
Let me first thank you for convening this important and timely meeting of the PBC Organizational Committee to hear the most anticipated briefing by the Chef de Cabinet, Ms. Susana Malcorra, in her capacity as the Chair of the Steering Group on Civilian Capacity Review.

I thank Madam Malcorra for her insightful and comprehensive briefing as well as for her personal dedication to this important issue.

A clear, responsive and all-accessible UN system, which can readily deploy needed civilian capabilities in the fragile and post-conflict situations, is vital to strengthening the UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding architecture.
The respective reports by the Senior Advisory Group and the Secretary General highlight the need to provide stronger, more nimble and more consistent support to national priorities of the receiving states.

Conversations on the provision of civilian capacities, embedded in a strong partnership particularly with the Global South, and drawing capacities from the UN, developing countries, regional organizations and civil society have been going on since 2007.  

Indonesia has both contributed to and keenly followed this discussion in the PBC, Security Council and other forums, including by convening regional workshops. We are determined to continue working with all countries to carry this issue forward.

It is encouraging to see today the growing support in the UN entities and Member states to advance the issue of civilian capacities in the aftermath of conflict, and in that regard, to strengthen partnerships among the UN and relevant non-UN stakeholders, including through informal conversations with interested delegations in the Consultative Group of Civilian Capacity Review that both Indonesia and Canada co-chairs.


Mr. Chairman,

The General Assembly resolution A/66/255 mandates the Secretary-General to hold regular consultations, including with the PBC to promote closer collaboration.

Indonesia underlines the role of the PBC as a critical platform for a well-informed and comprehensive policy discussion on civilian capacities. The Commission, with its mechanisms, in particular Country Specific Configurations, can fittingly contribute in the substantive realization of this agenda.

The resolution has also stressed enhanced cooperation, national ownership and inclusive processes towards developing civilian capacities and expertise, in particular from developing countries and among women.
In this context, Indonesia and Norway with the UN’s support organized the first regional consultation on strengthening partnership for civilian capacity in the aftermath of conflict in Bali last year.

The Consultation identified respective specialized capacities in the Asia-Pacific region, and explored how those could be utilized by post conflict countries that needed them. Some gaps were also identified in the current deployment mechanisms for civilian capacities. We are pleased to learn that forthcoming regional consultations in different regions will be held in the near future.

Furthermore, the Consultation in Bali generated some useful ideas on how to enhance triangular and South-South cooperation, joint training initiatives and information exchanges, which remain very relevant to the ongoing UN work to enable civilian capacity support.

Mr. Chairman,

Allow me to briefly share with you Indonesia’s priority on capacity building through South-South cooperation framework, which I believe is helpful in the context of civilian capacity support.

This framework is an integral part of our national Mid-term Development Plan 2010-2014. Currently, Indonesia is finalizing its Grand Design and Blue Print on South-South and Triangular Cooperation, which will feature the importance of strengthening partnership. the Blue print is overseen by the SSC Coordination Team.

It will provide guidelines and mechanism on the implementation of Indonesia’s commitment to South-South Cooperation, particularly its contribution to increased welfare in other developing countries. This Blue Print and Grand Design will be officially launched at the High Level Meeting “Towards Country-led Knowledge Hubs”, to be held on 10-12 July, Bali, Indonesia. This forum will be the first venue for around 200 policy makers and development practitioners from over 40 countries, engaged in South-South Knowledge Exchange (SSKE) to learn about Knowledge Hubs and how to strengthen their institutional capacity for SSKE.

Under the scheme of SST Cooperation, Indonesia has been providing various technical cooperation programs since 1980 for sharing experiences, including on training, experience and knowledge exchanges, and mobilization of civilian experts.

As part of the commitment to assist the Asian-African countries to enhance their capacity development, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam established the NAM Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation (NAM-CSSTC) in Jakarta in 1995.

Some of Indonesia’s flagship programs in capacities provision are, among others, in agriculture, food security, social protection, disaster risk management, democratization, good government, as well as Palestinian development. In addition, Indonesia has been undertaking a national program on large-scale community-driven development (PNPM-Mandiri).

Mr. Chairman,

In closing, allow me to invoke the vision of OPEN (Ownership, Partnership, Expertise and Nimble) contained in the independent report of the Senior Advisory Group. Let us remain OPEN to new ideas, OPEN to new voices and OPEN to new partnerships.

We are looking forward to more substantive discussions within the PBC and its country configurations, as well as working group on lessons learned on how to materialize the strengthened partnership for civilian capacities in supports of countries under its agenda as well as countries emerging from conflict and in transition, in general.

I thank you.