A/RES/56/201 61. Requests the funds and programmes of the United Nations system to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2002 a programme of work for full simplification and harmonization in the abovementioned areas, to be completed before the end of 2004, including provisions to phase out redundant rules and procedures, benchmarks, responsibilities, as well as a timetable to monitor the progress made towards reaching that target; 62. Requests the Executive Committee of the United Nations Development Group to facilitate the definition of the above-mentioned agenda and its implementation; 63. Requests the funds and programmes to provide, in their annual reports to the Economic and Social Council, specific information on the progress achieved in reaching the above-mentioned target; 64. Invites the executive boards and governing bodies of the funds, programmes and specialized agencies to assess regularly the progress achieved in the area of simplification and harmonization of rules and procedures; 65. Requests the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination 7 to address the requirements for further simplification and harmonization of procedures; VII Resident coordinator system 66. Reaffirms that the resident coordinator system, within the framework of national ownership, has a key role to play in the effective and efficient functioning of the United Nations system at the country level, including in the formulation of common country assessments and United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks, and is a key instrument for the efficient and effective coordination of the operational activities for development of the United Nations system, and requests the United Nations system, including the funds and programmes, the specialized agencies and the Secretariat, to enhance support to the resident coordinator system; 67. Appreciates efforts, including through the United Nations Development Group, to improve further the resident coordinator system and the progress achieved so far in broadening the pool of resident coordinators, improving their gender balance, using competency assessments to select resident coordinator candidates, and implementing improved staff training and annual performance appraisals, and urges the funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations system to make further efforts in that direction, including through appropriate training and recruitment of qualified staff with the required professional skills and backgrounds; 68. Encourages the funds, programmes and specialized agencies to make full use of the United Nations Staff College as an institution for system-wide knowledge management, training and learning; 69. Encourages enhanced dialogue, feedback, participation and interaction between the resident coordinator on the one hand, and the specialized agencies, small technical agencies, the regional commissions and organizations of the United _______________ 7 Formerly known as the Administrative Committee on Coordination (see Economic and Social Council decision 2001/321 of 24 October 2001). 10