283. The intergovernmental follow-up of the Agenda for Development shall be undertaken by the General Assembly as the highest intergovernmental mechanism and the principal policy-making and appraisal organ of the United Nations system. The Assembly has called for the renewal of the dialogue on strengthening international cooperation for development through partnership which should serve as an important mechanism through which the intergovernmental follow-up and assessment of this Agenda and its implementation will be conducted. Such dialogue should also be used as an opportunity to discuss new and emerging issues concerning international cooperation for development.

284. The Economic and Social Council, within its mandate, shall assist the Assembly in overseeing United Nations system-wide implementation of the Agenda and by providing recommendations in this regard. At the same time, Governments as well as regional economic integration organizations have an important role to play at their respective levels in the follow-up of the Agenda.

285. Closely related to the follow-up and implementation of this Agenda is the urgent need for an integrated, interrelated and coherent implementation and follow-up at the national, subregional, regional, and international levels of the recommendations and commitments of recent United Nations major conferences and agreements on development. The progress of the implementation of the results of those conferences should be reviewed so as to identify progress achieved as well as obstacles hindering their full and effective implementation. While Governments have the primary responsibility for the implementation of the declarations and programmes of action adopted by international conferences, the international community, in particular the United Nations system, including the multilateral and regional financial institutions has an important role in contributing to, assisting in, facilitating, and reviewing the progress of the implementation of the results of those conferences at all levels and in further promoting their goals and objectives.

286. A strong political commitment by the international community is needed to implement a strengthened international cooperation for development as reflected in this Agenda. The mobilization of domestic and international financial resources for development from all sources is an essential component for the comprehensive and effective implementation of this Agenda. In this connection, enhanced efforts should be made for the mobilization and provision of new and additional financial resources for the development of developing countries. Despite an increase in private capital flows, official development assistance remains an essential source of external funding. Developed countries reaffirm the commitments undertaken to fulfil as soon as possible the agreed United Nations targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product (GNP) for overall official development assistance (ODA) and of 0.15 per cent of GNP for ODA for the least developed countries. Donor countries that have met the 0.15 per cent target will seek to undertake to reach 0.20 per cent. Further efforts are also needed to improve the effectiveness of ODA and to focus such aid on the poorest countries.

287. Due consideration should be given to modalities for conducting an intergovernmental dialogue on the financing of development, taking into account the recommendation by the Secretary-General.