1.     Its Charter gives the United Nations Organization a comprehensive mission, encompassing the maintenance of peace and security, the promotion of human rights, and economic and social progress. The mandates of the specialized agencies, UN Programmes and Funds and related organizations—which together with the Organization make up the United Nations system—cover a wide spectrum of concerns and areas for international cooperation. Coordination among all these organizations is essential: for maximizing each one’s distinct comparative advantage and for enabling the UN system as a whole to respond effectively to the demands of our times. In the almost five years since its adoption, the Millennium Declaration has demanded and facilitated the evolution—now underway—of a more coordinated, cohesive and functional UN system. This process of change is being propelled by a renewed unity of purpose within the UN system, based on the Millennium Declaration’s shared values and objectives.

2.     With this report, the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) aims to contribute to the preparations for the 2005 World Summit this September, five years after the adoption of the Millennium Declaration. The report provides an account of how UN system organizations are working together to help countries achieve the Declaration’s objectives. In doing so, the report shows how this common effort is serving to broaden the perspectives of all parts of the UN system and helping them, both individually and collectively, to deepen analysis, expand knowledge-sharing, reinforce synergies and sharpen the focus on results.

3.      The three central chapters of the report highlight the main new orientations and approaches that are collectively guiding the work of the UN system under the Millennium Declaration’s broad themes: poverty eradication and sustainable development; human rights, democracy and governance; and prevention and management of armed conflicts. They also highlight some of the challenges ahead for the UN system in these three areas. An annex provides additional detail on some of the collaborative work by the organizations of the UN system to help advance the Declaration’s implementation. The concluding chapter sets out the key elements for continued progress on that front, including the further changes required of the UN system, in policy and in practice. The report concentrates on both accountability and action: on accountability for the UN system’s performance so far in helping countries to implement the Millennium Declaration and, generally, in improving its effective delivery of services; and on adjusting and accelerating action, as necessary, to help countries meet the Millennium Declaration’s objectives.