03 October 2024, New York, United States – This module, titled “Looking Forward to the 2024 QCPR,” was conducted on Wednesday, 02 October 2024, at UNHQ and via video conference. With over 130 participants, the session delved into critical aspects of the funding for UN operational activities for development and financing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this final module of the UNITAR QCPR training series, presenters provided a recap of previous modules and key takeaways to delegates, with actionable insights for their 2024 QCPR preparations. Delegates were briefed on the QCPR Monitoring Framework as well as status updates on QCPR implementation and evaluation evidence by the System-Wide Evaluation Office. Finally, delegates received an update on the 2024 QCPR process and the next steps to guide their preparations.

In her recap of the training series, which occurred over 4 modules from 21 May – 02 October, Ms Lotta Tahtinen, Director of the Office for Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development at UN DESA, highlighted the importance of the upcoming 2024 QCPR resolution as a strategic opportunity to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. She noted the key achievements of the UN development system, including strengthened coordination through the Resident Coordinator System and efficiency gains, while addressing the ongoing challenges in financing and integrating SDGs into national policies. Tahtinen emphasized the need for ambitious policies, tailored solutions, and systemic transitions to overcome gaps and drive sustainable development, particularly in vulnerable countries.

In her presentation, Ms. Andrea Cook, Director of the System-Wide Evaluation Office, focused on the value of system-wide evaluations within the UN, particularly how they complement individual UN entity evaluations. She highlighted the importance of collective learning and collaboration in improving the quality and availability of evaluation evidence to support progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Cook also reviewed key initiatives, such as the Spotlight Initiative and the system-wide evaluation of the UN’s socio-economic response to COVID-19, demonstrating the office's commitment to strengthening oversight, accountability, and transparency across the UN system.

Ms Aparna Mehrotra, Director of the United Nations System Coordination Division at UN Women, and Ms Corinna Hawkes, Director of Agrifood Systems and the Food Safety Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization, both provided status updates on their respective efforts to drive institutional change by translating commitments into actions on the ground.

To conclude the session, Mr. Cyril Prissette of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations and the facilitator for the informal consultations on the 2024 QCPR, discussed the next steps in the 2024 QCPR intergovernmental process. Joshua Kalebo, representing the Group of 77 and China, commended UNITAR, UN DESA, and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland for organizing the QCPR training series and provided an update on the Group's work on the zero draft resolution, emphasizing their commitment to collaborating with Member States to strengthen the UN system and accelerate progress toward achieving the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.