Independent Audit Advisory Committee Holds Ninth Session

 

at Headquarters, 17-19 February

 

The Independent Audit Advisory Committee of the United Nations (IAAC) held its ninth session at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 17 to 19 February 2010.  The session was presided over by the Chairman, David M. Walker and attended by all the Committee members, Vijayendra N. Kaul (Vice-Chairman), Vadim V. Dubinkin, John F.S. Muwanga and Adrian P. Strachan.

The IAAC’s agenda for the ninth session included:

-- Meeting with the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) to discuss the comments and recommendations of the IAAC on the budget for the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) under the support account for peacekeeping operations for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011.  The IAAC’s report to the General Assembly on this subject is contained in report A/64/652.

-- Meeting with the Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services and senior managers and staff of OIOS.  The IAAC continued their discussions with OIOS on the risk-based work planning process.  In addition, they discussed standard agenda items with OIOS such as high risks identified by OIOS, implementation of oversight recommendations, and OIOS staff vacancies.  OIOS briefed the IAAC on highlights of the annual report on peacekeeping operations and the challenges faced by OIOS Auditors based in the field.

-- The Department of Management briefed the IAAC on the proposals in the Report of the Secretary-General “Towards an Accountability System in the United Nations Secretariat”.  The IAAC has a responsibility to advise the General Assembly on quality and overall effectiveness of risk management procedures and deficiencies in the internal control framework of the United Nations.  In this respect, the IAAC will review the report of the Secretary-General with a view to providing comments to the General Assembly, where applicable.  The IAAC plans to issue a related report on its views.

In this session, the IAAC also discussed the IAAC’s approach to the review of its terms of reference which the General Assembly decided to conduct in the sixty-fifth session.  The IAAC’s related recommendations will be included in its 2010 annual report.

Prior to the session the Chairman of the IAAC offered Member States the opportunity to interact with the Committee members in an informal setting during its quarterly sessions.  The IAAC were invited by one group of delegates representing Western Member States, during this session.  The meeting focused on the IAAC’s recommendations relating to the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of OIOS functions as reported by the Committee in its annual report (document A/64/288).  The IAAC will provide timely notification to regional groups in advance of forthcoming sessions.

The next (tenth) session of the IAAC is scheduled for 20-22 April 2010 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

For further information on the work of the IAAC, please contact the Committee’s Executive Secretary, Uren Pillay at e-mail:  pillay@un.org, tel.:  +1 212 963 5674, fax:  +1 212 963 0600.

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For information media • not an official record