Delegates Seek Justification for Some Resource Requirements, as Fifth Committee Reviews Proposed Financing of Special Political Missions in 2020
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today began reviewing the proposed programme budget for special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives during 2020, with delegates seeking clarification and justification for some resource requirements.
For his special and personal envoys, advisers and representatives, the Secretary‑General has proposed a budget of $57.1 million in 2020, which is 3.8 per cent more than in 2019, according to Chandramouli Ramanathan, United Nations Controller and Assistant Secretary‑General for Programme Planning, Finance and Budget, who introduced the Secretary‑General’s reports on the matter. Another $57.5 million is proposed for the Organization’s various sanctions monitoring teams, groups and panels in 2020, up 1.4 per cent from a year earlier, while proposed outlays for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in 2020 are $136.2 million, 3.2 per cent less than 2019.
The Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, which examines budget proposals, suggested reducing the amount for UNAMA but endorsed the other budget proposals, according to its chairperson, Cihan Terzi, who introduced the Advisory Committee’s related reports.
The representative of Botswana, speaking for the African Group, said that these proposals constitute “real value reductions” in practical terms and will have to be further analyzed to enable more informed decision‑making. He sought clarification on requirements for missions operating in Africa, including cost‑sharing arrangements in transport, facilities and medical services as well as best practices on renewable energy use for power and the impact on efficiency gains. He also requested details on the geographical status of mission personnel and experts, anticipating that the amount of work by African missions will be commensurate with the recruitment of local knowledge and expertise.
Cuba’s delegate sought clarification about the inclusion of resources for special political missions in the regular budget, given that these missions and peacekeeping operations are similarly financed. Regarding the Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, she said that while her delegation supports the mandate of the Special Adviser on the prevention of genocide, it does not endorse funding for the mandate of the Special Adviser on the responsibility to protect as the concept “responsibility to protect” does not enjoy consensus.
Mexico’s delegate said special political missions require a significant volume of resources taken from the Organization’s regular budget, noting that the Fifth Committee has held many debates on whether their financing should lie within the context of peacekeeping or not. These missions should be considered in a holistic manner in the peacekeeping context to improve the system and fortify the links among the three pillars of the Organization’s work, he added.
Iraq’s delegate said that the proposed budget for the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD) ‑ $20.33 million ‑ may not be enough to carry out its work.
The Fifth Committee will meet again at 10 a.m., Friday, 18 October, to discuss the financial situation of the United Nations and continue its work on the proposed programme budget for special political missions.
Programme Budget for 2020: Special Political Missions
CHANDRAMOULI RAMANATHAN, United Nations Controller and Assistant Secretary‑General for Programme Planning, Finance and Budget, introduced the reports of the Secretary‑General on the proposed programme budget for 2020 in respect of special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives (documents A/74/6(Sect.3)/Add.2, Add.3, Add.5 and Corr.1). The resources proposed for 2020 for special political missions grouped under cluster I amount to $57.1 million, representing a 3.8 per cent, or $2.1 million, increase over the approved budget for 2019. For the various sanctions monitoring teams, groups and panels under cluster II, a total of $57.5 million is proposed for 2020, an increase of $0.8 million, or 1.4 per cent, over the 2019 approved budget. The proposed resources for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) are $136.2 million for 2020, down $4.5 million, or 3.2 per cent, from a year earlier.
CIHAN TERZI, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, introduced the Advisory Committee’s eponymous related reports, including documents A/74/7/Add.2, A/74/7/Add.3 and A/74/7/Add.5 on the Secretary‑General’s resource proposals for 2020 for the special political missions under thematic clusters I, II and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The Advisory Committee trusts that updated information on expenditures for 2019, as well as information on long‑vacant positions proposed for retention and their recruitment status, will be provided to the Assembly, he said. In addition, it expects that the recruitment will be completed without further delay for positions encumbered by staff members in receipt of a special post allowance for extended periods. For the missions of thematic cluster I, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions recommends approval of the resources proposed by the Secretary‑General, subject to its recommendations contained in paragraphs 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 and 19 of its report. It trusts that detailed information on the reductions arising from its recommendations will be provided to the Assembly. For the missions of thematic cluster II, the Advisory Committee recommends the approval of the resources proposed by the Secretary‑General for 2020.
Turning to its report on the estimates in respect of special political missions on UNAMA, he said that the Advisory Committee recommends reductions to the Mission’s proposed budget as some under‑expenditures have occurred in the past and during the current year, under operational costs. The Advisory Committee trusts the Secretary‑General will provide updated information on the Mission’s 2019 expenditures to the Assembly at the time of the consideration of its report.
KATLEGO BOASE MMALANE (Botswana), speaking on behalf of the African Group, noted that the proposed 2020 requirements for the 11 continuing missions grouped under thematic cluster I total $57.07 million, representing an increase of $2.07 million, or 3.8 per cent, compared to the 2019 appropriation. For cluster II, the proposed 2020 requirements for the 15 continuing missions amount to $57.45 million, up $779,500 or 1.4 per cent from the 2019 appropriation. In practical terms, however, these constitute real value reductions and proposals will have to be further analysed to enable more informed decision‑making. The African Group will seek clarification on requirements specifically related to those missions operating in Africa and the bloc looks forward to understanding cost‑sharing arrangements in terms of transport, facilities and medical services as well as best practices on renewable energy use for power and the impact on efficiency gains.
He went on to note that rapidly changing realities on the ground may present obstacles to complying with the advance purchase policy regarding air travel. Nonetheless, he expressed concern about the generally low compliance with that policy, encouraging missions to increase compliance. Moreover, the African Group will be interested to learn the rationale for changes and movements in staffing for several missions. The quality and timeliness of mandate delivery must always represent the overriding factor in determining the Secretariat’s resource requirements and overall staffing structure. In this context, he sought clarification on resource reductions proposed while their mandates and activities become more complex, particularly for the missions operating in Africa. Moreover, the bloc will seek details on the geographical status of mission personnel and experts, anticipating that the amount of work by missions in Africa will be commensurate with the recruitment of local knowledge and expertise.
YAIMA DE ARMAS BONCHANG (Cuba) sought clarification about the inclusion of resources for Security Council‑mandated activities in the regular budget, given that special political missions and peacekeeping operations are financed in a similar manner. Turning attention to proposed resources for the Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, she said that while her delegation supports the mandate of the Special Adviser on the prevention of genocide, it does not endorse the mandate of the Special Adviser on the responsibility to protect, which has no legal basis as it was not mandated by the General Assembly. In addition, the concept “responsibility to protect” lacks consensus and clear definition. The resources for the Special Adviser on the responsibility to protect are mixed with those for the Special Adviser on the prevention of genocide, she pointed out, seeking clarification about this.
JESÚS VELÁZQUEZ CASTILLO (Mexico) recognizes the special political missions’ relevance in providing peace and fulfilling the Organization’s mandates. These missions face unpredictable circumstances and require a significant volume of resources that are taken from the Organization’s regular budget. Noting that the Fifth Committee has held many debates on whether their financing should lie within the context of peacekeeping or not, he said missions should be considered in a holistic manner in the peacekeeping context to improve the system and fortify the links among the three pillars of the Organization’s work. Mexico hopes the reform of the peace pillar will see results that are included during the creation of the 2020 budget. In the meantime, the Fifth Committee needs to find stable and predictable financing for the missions.
Mr. AL SHABOOT (Iraq) thanked the international community for its support to fight the terrorists of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) from 2014 to 2017. During this period, terrorist groups carried out violations of human rights laws and committed acts that are crimes against humanity and genocide. The Security Council requested that the information acquired by the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (UNITAD) — which was created to support the national efforts to hold the terrorist organizations accountable — would be admissible before national courts. Noting that in September 2019, the Security Council adopted resolution 2490 (2019) to renew the mandate of the team and continue its work to investigate crimes committed by Da’esh, he said that the team must be able to move freely in the country and carry out investigations in the field, where the crimes took place and witnesses survive. The team needs appropriate funding and human resources to carry out its task. However, the proposed budget for 2020 may not be enough for the team to carry out its work. Iraq looks forward to discussing this issue during informal negotiations.