Our History
Debate in the United Nations
There was increased debate, from the turn of this new millennium among UN Member States and Governing bodies of the UN System, that while the UN system had engaged in implementing a wide-range of operational activities for development in developing countries since its inception, there was no evidence of the impact of these operational activities for development from a UN system wide perspective, particularly, amongst other issues on fighting corruption, eradicating poverty and combating inequalities in developing countries.
The study and findings
Article 13(1) of the UN Charter empowers the UN General Assembly to initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of (a) promoting international cooperation in the political field and encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification; and (b) promoting international cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction.
In terms of Article 13(1) of the UN Charter an independent study was requested by the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, to review the debate on the need to assess the impact of operational activities for development of the UN System in developing countries from a system-wide perspective.
The findings of the independent study affirmed the need to strengthen system-wide evaluation of operational activities for development of the UN System in developing countries, highlighting that, while the majority of operational activities for development under the UN System had been evaluated to measure their effectiveness, the evaluations of these operational activities for development in developing countries were segmented based on varying mandates of each entity within the UN System.
Adoption of Resolutions
Subsequently, various UN General Assembly Resolutions were adopted including the Secretary General’s Note in support of the need to strengthen system wide evaluation of operational activities for development of the UN System in developing countries. It is on the basis of these UN General Resolutions, the approval by the Interim Coordination Mechanism (ICM)-a committee appointed by the Secretary General in terms of UN General Assembly Resolution 67/226 to fast-track the operationalization of independent system wide Evaluation of operational activities for development of the UN System in developing countries, and the Secretary General’s Supporting Note that UNISWEM was established on 09 May 2014.