National statement, delivered by H.E. Andreas von Uexküll, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN, at the Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS item 7: Interactive dialogue with the UNDP Administrator, 10 June 2026
Mr. President, Mr. Administrator, dear colleagues,
Let me begin by expressing my government’s appreciation for your visit to Sweden last month, as well as for the fruitful discussions that took place.
The visit confirmed the long-standing partnership between Sweden and UNDP. This partnership is further strengthened by our shared goals and by the appointment of the Swedish Crown Princess as Goodwill Ambassador for UNDP and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Sweden strongly supports the Secretary-General’s UN80 initiative and the swift implementation of reform measures that have already been agreed.
We expect UNDP to continue demonstrating leadership and constructive engagement in this process.
There should be no ambiguity: the Resident Coordinators should be the first, though not the only, point of contact for partners to ensure continued alignment with and implementation of the Cooperation Framework.
We also firmly support the Secretary-General’s recommendation that entity specific programming tools follow the design of the Cooperation Framework. Entity presence should be based on the needs identified therein and on available resources.
Resources must prioritize delivery and technical expertise over administrative overhead costs.
A constructive and solutions-oriented engagement from UNDP and UNOPS regarding the proposed merger would improve confidence in the overall reform process, as well as in both organisations.
We greatly appreciate UNDP’s commitment to its mandate and its vital role in advancing and upholding key international norms and principles, including human rights, democracy, gender equality, and non-discrimination. We are also grateful to UNDP staff for their efforts in this regard.
Thank you.
