Work Programme for 2015, Role of Joint Inspection Unit Focus as Fifth Committee Resumes Session
Chair Calls for Extensive Cooperation, Coordination from All Stakeholders
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) opened the first part of its resumed sixty-ninth session today with a review of its 2015 work programme and organization of work, the programme budget for the biennium 2014-2015 on programme criticality of safety and security, and of the role of the Joint Inspection Unit.
“Our plate is full and we need extensive cooperation and coordination from all stakeholders,” Fifth Committee Chair František Ružička of Slovakia told delegates.
Presenting the Joint Inspection Unit’s report was its Chair, Flores Callejas, who said the oversight body had continued to play its leading role in the implementation of the independent system-wide evaluation of operation activities for development initiative. With contributions of Member States and United Nations organizations, two pilot evaluation projects were being implemented and, when completed, would feed into the 2016 quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) of operation activities for development.
However, even though Member States had agreed, through General Assembly resolution 68/266, that the web-based tracking system had served as an excellent platform for monitoring progress, no dedicated funding through the regular budget had been allocated for maintaining and hosting that system, he said. Given that a one-time extrabudgetary contribution provided by a Member State had permitted the system to keep functioning, he pointed out that in the proposed 2016–2017 programme budget the Unit’s only additional request for regular budget funding was to secure the continuous operation of the tracking system.
He also noted that the Unit’s budget submission process was not in full conformity with articles 17 and 20 of its statute, hampering its independence and preventing it from achieving its full potential. As such, he asked of the Committee that the Unit’s original budget proposal be submitted with the comments of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).
Introducing a note of the Secretary-General on the Joint Inspection Unit’s report, Kenneth Herman, Senior Adviser on Information Management Policy Coordination of the Secretariat of the CEB, said that the Unit had over the past several years increased its study of issues that had a system-wide impact. Yet, as the Unit continued the implementation of its decade-long strategic framework and increased its system-wide focus, the strain on CEB resources would continue.
Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security Mbaranga Gasarabwe then introduced a report of the Secretary-General on the conclusions of the High-level Working Group on programme criticality, saying the programme framework was an important part of the decision-making process in determining which risks were acceptable for conducting specific United Nations programmes. Rolled out in 12 countries with the number increasing to 15 as of October 2014, she said various options for further oversight and coordination were being considered.
Introducing a related report on the conclusions of the High-level Working Group on programme criticality, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Chair of the ACABQ, said that as the Secretary-General’s report did not contain the final conclusions, the Advisory Committee had recommended that the Assembly would request the Secretary-General do so as soon as possible.
Delegates also appointed Seongmee Yoon as a member of the Committee on Contributions until 31 December 2017.
Participating in the discussions were speakers representing South Africa (speaking for the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Ecuador (speaking for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), Japan, United States, Russian Federation and Pakistan, as well as the European Union Delegation.
The Committee will reconvene on a date to be announced.
Background
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this morning for the first part of its resumed session to take action on a draft resolution on the organization of work (document A/C.5/69/L.30). Before it were reports on the Joint Inspection Unit (documents A/69/34 and A/69/747) and on Safety and security: Programme criticality (documents A/69/530 and A/69/786).
Organization of Work
BETTINA TUCCI BARTSIOTAS, Assistant Secretary-General, Controller, Office of Programme Planning, Budget and Accounts, said “in the difficult economic climate, we are expected to deliver results”. Emphasizing that the goal was to make the maximum impact with limited means, she said the new International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and Umoja were initiatives that were bringing greater transparency to the Organization and reinforced excellence in programme management and delivery.
FRANTIŠEK RUŽIČKA (Slovakia), Committee Chair, welcomed Ms. Bartsiotas, adding that “our plate is full and we need extensive cooperation and coordination from all stakeholders”.
KINGSLEY MAMABOLO (South Africa), speaking for the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, said there were a number of concerns. Among them, he said the timely submission of reports from the Secretariat and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) in all official languages was critical. “We stress that the failure to submit reports in time hinders the ability of the Committee to effectively undertake and complete its work,” he said.
LUIS XAVIER OÑA GARCÉS (Ecuador), speaking for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, said important areas included accountability, procurement, human resource management and the Capital Master Plan. Some of those issues had been deferred from previous sessions and an inclusive, transparent and constructive approach was needed to finalize those outstanding concerns. Expressing concern that the delayed submission of reports to Member States had a negative effect on the Committee’s work and negotiating process, he said it was imperative for the Secretariat to respond to demands made by Member States. Emphasizing the importance of respecting the date of completion of the session, he said efforts must be made to avoid the situation faced last year, when the Committee was forced to negotiate almost until the end of December, he said, calling it “unnecessary” and “unacceptable”.
FRANCESCO PRESUTTI, representative of the European Union Delegation, noting that there were a number of important items on the agenda, emphasized the importance of timely submission of all required documentation in all official languages in order to ensure the quality and speed of discussions. Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report on procurement, he was pleased at the evolutionary progress being made in a number of areas by the Secretariat, such as utilizing Umoja to enable more strategic management of United Nations procurement.
He said that procurement should also be sustainable and integrate requirements, specifications and criteria compatible with environmental protection, social progress and economic development. On recosting, he said that the decision taken in December must be honoured and that the General Assembly must act on the Panel’s recommendations. He looked forward to engaging constructively on the issue of the Capital Master Plan, and stressed the importance of a final settlement that encompassed all aspects of the issue.
SHO ONO (Japan) said a dedicated partnership facility would enable the realization of great potential while providing necessary coherence, oversight and accountability. Member States must show flexibility during the session so that the office could be able to begin work before September, when the sustainable development goals were to be adopted. Stressing the importance of the successful implement of Umoja, he was pleased that the Capital Master Plan was almost finished and urged creativity in making a decision on final appropriations.
On recosting, he said that Member States should engage in proactive discussions to technically improving the current dysfunctional system. Human resource management was a core element of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Organization, and stalemates of the past needed to be avoided. In addition to the many deferred items, the session had many new items to discus, including accountability, air travel, procurement and strategic capital review. As the session would be very busy, Member States should share the sense of urgency to conclude all those important items on time. That would require flexibility, which meant not a loss to some parties, but working towards a situation where all won.
ISOBEL COLEMAN (United States) said that on all of the deferred issues, it was important to work together to reach consensus. On human resources management, her Government would protect the Secretary-General’s prerogative. On Umoja, she stressed the need for greater transparency. Within that context, the Committee should find new solutions. On new agenda items, she noted that many were aimed at making the Organization more effective and efficient, and expressed the need to build consensus. There was a need to avoid over-politicization of work and take decisions that would be fiscally responsible.
SERGEY V. KHALIZOV (Russian Federation) urged the Secretariat to address the issue of late submission of documents in order to facilitate effectiveness of the Committee’s work. The focus of the session would be on such vital issues as the Capital Master Plan, human resource management, Umoja and the United Nations partnership facility. On human resource management, he said his country would stress the importance of mandatory mobility. The Secretary-General should withdraw provisions of the staff regulation that were in violation of General Assembly resolutions, to avoid waste, abuse and fraud. There were several pending issues, including that of the partnership facility, on which his delegation would seek further clarification from the Secretariat. He was prepared for more substantive discussions on those and other items.
KHALIL UR RAHMAN HASHMI (Pakistan) said he hoped that all stakeholders would contribute to constructive progress with regard to the work ahead. It was imperative that the deferral of non-time-bound agenda items were addressed in an open manner and adequate time must be allocated to each item. The “eleventh hour” negotiating seen in the past had been due to delays in the submission of reports, which was a systemic long-standing issue, he said, urging the Committee to improve its methods of work. Flexibility, compromise and understanding were required to complete the Committee’s work in the allocated time.
The Committee then adopted its programme of work (document A/C.5/69/L.30).
Joint Inspection Unit
FLORES CALLEJAS, Chair of the Joint Inspection Unit, introduced the Report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 2014 and programme of work for 2015 (document A/69/34). Providing an overview, he said the Unit had, in 2014, produced six system-wide reports and one note addressing policies for coherence, management and risk issues in the areas of resource mobilization, capital refurbishment and construction, environmental governance, the evaluation function, the use of non-staff personnel, contract management and administration and the use of retirees. Reviews of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) contained concrete action-oriented recommendations that would result in tangible improvements.
Pointing out in General Assembly resolution 68/266 Member States agreed that the web-based tracking system provided an excellent platform for monitoring progress, he said unfortunately no dedicated funding through the regular budget had been allocated for the maintenance and hosting of that system. The Unit was able to keep the system functioning through a one-time extrabudgetary contribution provided for by a Member State, he said, pointing out that in the proposed 2016–2017 programme budget, the Unit’s only additional request for regular budget funding was to secure the continuous operation of the web-based tracking system.
He also said the Unit’s budget submission process was not in full conformity with articles 17 and 20 of its statute, hampering its independence and preventing it from achieving its full potential. As such, he asked the Committee that the Unit’s original budget proposal be submitted with the comments of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) and the ACABQ.
As requested by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, the Unit was playing its leading role in the implementation of the independent system-wide evaluation of operation activities for development initiative, he said. Thanks to the contribution of Member States and United Nations organizations, the two pilot evaluation projects were being implemented and, when finished, would feed into the 2016 quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) of operation activities for development.
KENNETH HERMAN, Senior Adviser on Information Management Policy Coordination of the Secretariat of the United Nations system’s CEB introduced, on behalf of the Secretary-General, the Note by the Secretary-General on Report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 2014 (document A/69/747). The note was a response to the General Assembly’s request, in resolution 65/270, to the Secretary-General, in his capacity as Chair of the CEB, to support the Unit. In that regard, the CEB and its Secretariat continued its efforts in several ways, including soliciting comments from across the system on the methodology used to produce the Unit’s reports.
Over the past several years, in response to the Committee’s request, the Unit had increased its study of issues that had a system-wide impact, he said, pointing out that as the Unit continued the implementation of its decade-long strategic framework and continued to increase its system-wide focus, the strain on CEB resources would continue. Further actions in support of the Unit included a call by the Secretary-General, as CEB Chair, to all member organizations to ensure a good information flow and timely responses to requests and to follow-up in its recommendations.
KAREN LINGENFELDER (South Africa), speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, noted with encouragement that of the nine reports and one note addressed to the Joint Inspection Unit’s participating organizations, seven were of a system-wide nature. Legislative organs of all participating organizations should fully consider and discuss the Unit reports and fully implement recommendations. The Group noted with concern that the Unit had been working with a very restricted budget to meet the increasing demand of its stakeholders for system-wide reviews and evaluations. The full operational independence of the Unit must be ensured and appropriate resources allocated for full implementation of its mandate. Commending the ongoing reform of the Unit, the Group noted with interest the adoption of a longer-term planning approach. Through close coordination and collaboration with other oversight bodies, duplication could be avoided.
Programme Budget
MBARANGA GASARABWE, Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security, introducing the report of the Secretary-General on the Conclusions of the High-Level Work Group on Programme Criticality (document A/69/530), said the Programme Framework was an operational tool to assist managers in the field to time-sensitive decisions in response to changes in local security conditions. The United Nations had been criticized in the past for being too risk averse and for placing its personnel at unnecessary risk. In response, the Organization decided to shift from a “when to leave” model to the “stay and deliver approach”. The Framework, which filled a gap in the Guidelines for Acceptable Risk, served to balance security against programmes. It constituted an important part of the decision-making process in determining which risks were acceptable for conducting specific United Nations programmes.
The tool was designed for use at the field level, including peacekeeping operations and special political missions and applied to any country with medium residual risk level, she said. The Framework was rolled out in 12 countries with the number increased to 15 as of October 2014. As an internal tool of the Organization to allow programme managers to make informed decisions on acceptable risks for personnel, the Framework did not affect intergovernmental oversight and accountability to legislative bodies or impact human resource. Various options for further oversight and coordination were being considered, she said, adding that the Framework was targeted for full implementation in January 2016.
CARLOS RUIZ MASSIEU, Chair of the ACABQ, introduced its report on the Conclusions of the High-level Working Group on Programme Criticality (document A/69/786). The Advisory Committee recognized the importance of the programme criticality framework and its contribution to staff safety and security. However, noting that the Secretary-General’s report did not contain the final conclusions of the High-level Working Group for the General Assembly’s consideration and approval, as requested in document A/RES/67/254 A, he said the Committee recommended that the Assembly request the Secretary-General to submit as soon as possible a report containing the final conclusions.
Regarding the funding of programme criticality, he said that the ACABQ considered that the contribution of $10,000 from the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support should not have been charged to the support account for peacekeeping operations and would review the matter further in the context of the 2015–2016 proposed budget for the support account.
LYLE DAVISON (South Africa), speaking for the Group of 77 and China, said he would continue to support measures aimed at ensuring a coherent, effective, accountable and timely response to security-related threats and other emergencies. Recalling that the primary responsibility for the safety and security of United Nations personnel rested with the host country, he said any provisions for safety and security of the United Nations could not work in isolation or without due consultation with Member States.
Agreeing that the Secretary-General’s report on programme criticality lacked details on the operational functioning of the initiative, he urged that the Secretary-General submit the final conclusions of the High-level Working Group for the General Assembly’s consideration and approval, as requested in resolution 67/254. Turning to another concern, he said it was imperative for the Organization to continue with clear criteria for determining security needs and evaluating threat perception and risk assessment on a worldwide basis to ensure that the Department of Safety and Security was able to respond to any emergency. Acknowledging the Secretary-General’s efforts in developing a standard, as well as the adoption of a security level system by the United Nations Security Management System, he said the new risk management model must bear in mind the mandate of different United Nations activities and that levels of risks and threats varied from one place to another.
Underlining the need for effective implementation of mandated programmes and delivery of services, he said the Group would eventually seek additional information on several issues. Those included the detailed phases, benchmarks and timelines of the programme criticality framework along with clearly established lines of accountability and responsibility and a clear chain of command for all participants in field security, at duty stations and in the support structures of the United Nations system.
Appointment
The Committee decided by acclamation to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of Seongmee Yoon, as a member of the Committee on Contributions until 31 December 2017. Her candidature had been endorsed by the Group of Asia-Pacific States to fill the remainder of the term of office of Dae-jong Yoo, who resigned from the Committee with effect from 30 January 2015.