Note to Correspondents

GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SEEK ‘COMMON UNDERSTANDING’

 

ON UN MANAGEMENT REFORM, AT 8-9 APRIL DEBATE

 

The President of the United Nations General Assembly has invited Member States to a two-day consideration of reform of UN management –- a topic that has often topped the agenda of the world body’s concerns in the past, and remains one that stirs contending viewpoints.

“Member States should bring greater coherence to all past management reform initiatives and reach a common understanding on the future role that they envisage for the Organization,” Assembly President Srgjan Kerim said in advance of the 8-9 April thematic debate.

President Kerim and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will address the opening session in the Trusteeship Council, followed by interventions from Member State representatives.  On the second day, Member States and senior Secretariat officials in closed session will informally discuss central concepts of management reform and relate them to a strategic vision of the future United Nations.

In his letter to delegations, the General Assembly President invited Member States to express their views on three interrelated areas deemed to be of critical interest to the effectiveness of the Organization:

-- mandate formulation, implementation and evaluation;

-- planning and budgetary processes; and

-- human resources management.

Over the past decade, the General Assembly has discussed and agreed a variety of Secretariat and management reform initiatives.  In the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document, the world body reiterated its commitment for comprehensive management reform.  Since then a number of resolutions have been adopted by the Assembly establishing the Ethics Office; the Independent Audit Advisory Committee; the post of Chief Information Technology Office; upgraded accounting standards; strengthened procurement practices; improved human resource management; provided the Secretary-General with limited budgetary discretion; and, most recently, a new system to administer justice in the Secretariat.

However, as President Kerim points out, “much still needs to be done.  We need to advance further on human resources, procurement, information and communication technology, accountability and oversight to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization.”

As with previous debates, the outcome will be an informal chair’s summary to be distributed to Member States.

The debate will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday, in the Trusteeship’s Council, with statements by the General Assembly President and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, followed by Member State interventions in an informal debate at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, also in the Trusteeship Council, an interactive dialogue will be held, moderated by the Assembly President and with Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General, and introductory remarks by special guest Even Fontaine Ortiz, Chairperson of the Joint Inspection Unit.

The areas of focus for the debate will be:  the way mandates are formulated, implemented and evaluated; the planning and budgetary process of the Organization; and management of human resources.

Participants will include:   Member States; Inga-Britt Ahlenius, Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services; Alícia Bárcena, Under-Secretary-General for Management; and Jane Holl Lute, Officer-in-Charge Department for Field Support.

The interactive dialogue session will be closed.  Attendance is restricted to representatives of Member States, and invited Secretariat representatives and special guests.

At 5:45 p.m., the General AssemblyPresident will deliver concluding remarks.

For more information, visit:  www.un.org/ga/president/62/ThematicDebates/mgmtreform.shtml or contact Janos Tisovszky, Spokesperson for the General Assembly President, tel.: 917 367 2068, e-mail: tisovszky@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record