Themed “The changing development landscape: what does it mean for the UN system?” the dialogue drew up an agenda for discussions of a plenary ECOSOC session scheduled for February 24-26.
It addressed the likely implications of a post-2015 agenda focused on sustainable development for UN operational activities for development and the changes required at different levels of the UN system for the Organization to continue to be a major actor in international development cooperation.
This was the first time ECOSOC has held a separate session on development cooperation of the UN system. It took place at a time when the global context for development cooperation has changed significantly in the last decade, requiring concurrent and complex operational activities in multiple spheres.
UN organisations and donors have acknowledged Vietnam’s development achievements, as well as its cooperation in the area. At the February 24 dialogue, a representative of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) confirmed Vietnam is a success story in sustainable development.
Kanni Wignaraja, UN Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO) Director, who worked in Vietnam for 10 years, said Vietnam is a rapidly developing economy and it is making every effort to strike a balance to ensure sustainable development.
Currently, Vietnam is a middle income nation which has made a significant contributing to other developing economies, she said.
