Independent Audit Advisory Committee Concludes Nineteenth Session

 

The Independent Audit Advisory Committee of the United Nations (IAAC) held its nineteenth session from 16 to 18 July 2012.  The session, which was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, was presided over by the Chairman, John F. S. Muwanga.  All the other members of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee, namely:  Adrian P. Strachan (Vice Chairman); Vadim V. Dubinkin; J. Christopher Mihm; and Vinod Rai; were in attendance.

The Independent Audit Advisory Committee’s deliberations included inter-alia meetings with:

1.                The Secretary-General, to update him on the work of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee and on other matters of mutual interest.

2.                Carman L. Lapointe, the Under-Secretary-General, and senior managers and staff of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) regarding a wide range of matters, including the in-depth technical construction audit of the Capital Master Plan and the status of the external reviews of the Investigation Division and Inspection and Evaluation Division.  Ms Lapointe also briefed the Independent Audit Advisory Committee on the status of the pilot project on OIOS’s investigations, and other reform initiatives.  In addition, the Committee discussed standard agenda items with OIOS pertaining to relationships with management, high risk issues identified by OIOS, coordination with various oversight bodies, and staff vacancies.  The Committee also received a briefing on OIOS’ feedback on the revised format of IAD reports and the status of the quarterly activity reports.

3.                Yukio Takasu, the Under-Secretary-General for Management, who briefed the Independent Audit Advisory Committee on the status of the ongoing reform initiatives of the United Nations. Mr. Takasu also provided some updates on other matters of importance to the Committee, including the status of the implementation of the oversight bodies’ recommendations, and update on the implications of recent General Assembly resolution 66/257 on accountability.

4.                Ernesto Baca, Interim Director of UMOJA, who briefed the Independent Audit Advisory Committee on the status of implementation of the UMOJA project.

5.                Michael Adlerstein, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Capital Master Plan, on the application of risk management to the project.

6.                Ameerah Haq, the Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Field Support (DFS), on views with respect to the DFS/DPKO (Department of Peacekeeping Operations) risk management process, and implementation of Enterprise Risk Management.

7.                Gwi-Yeop Son on behalf of Ms. Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on views with respect to Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs risk management process, and implementation of Enterprise Risk Management in the office.

The next (twentieth) session of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee is scheduled for 12-14 December 2012 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

For further information on the work of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee, please contact the Committee’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Moses Bamuwamye, at e-mail:  bamuwamye@un.org; tel.: +1 212 963 0788; fax: +1 212 963 0600.

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For information media • not an official record