CHAPTER 1: GENERAL POLICY AND DIRECTION

Changes in Resources

126. Some limited savings are still possible under Programme 1.1.1 on account of further efficiency gains, while due attention is paid to balanced language coverage (e.g. for Regional Conferences). The Conference, Council and Protocol Affairs Division (GIC) requires strengthening for improved translation services and handling of relationships with Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) - Programme 1.1.2. The major increase under this chapter is for replacement of PLANSYS under Sub-programme 1.2.2.1. Finally, some increases are necessary under the Office of Director-General and the Office of the Inspector-General for enhanced audit work, which are largely offset by reductions under Liaison Offices (Programme 1.3.2).

Major Programme 1.1: Governing Bodies

127. Programme 1.1.1 covers the direct costs of sessions of FAO Governing Bodies, i.e. Conference and Council, as well as Council Committees. Expenditures relate primarily to costs for documentation, interpretation and short-term staff, in addition to the travel of government representatives, as provided for in the Financial Regulations. The programme also includes provisions related to the McDougall Memorial Lecture and commemorative awards.

128. Programme 1.1.2 covers the cost of the Secretariat for Conference and Council sessions, including preparation of agendas, schedules of documents, and providing meeting room facilities. These services are also provided for other meetings at Headquarters.

129. Within this programme, GIC will pursue improved meetings management and efficient utilisation of translation, interpretation and printing services. The implementation of the policy of balanced language use is increasing translation volumes, requiring new technologies and reorganised work processes. A revised staffing structure should provide the capability to meet most anticipated translation workloads in future years as well as enabling the Division to take advantage of computer-assisted translation tools.

130. GIC also serves as the focal point for relations with all intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) outside the UN system, excluding funding institutions such as the regional banks. This involves policy advice and liaison, maintenance of reference and documentation systems and active promotion of information exchange and cooperation with other organizations, requiring adequate capacity to be able to handle a growing number of meetings convened by IGOs.

131. Programme 1.1.3 covers liaison and protocol work at Headquarters, i.e. liaison with Permanent Representatives and Missions accredited to FAO, liaison with the host government regarding implementation of the Headquarters Agreement, and the issuance of travel documents, visas and identity cards.

132. Programme 1.1.9 provides for the cost of divisional direction in GIC and that proportion of the costs of the Office of Assistant Director-General, General Affairs and Information Department (GI) which can be attributed to management of this major programme.

Major Programme 1.2: Policy, Direction and Planning

133. This major programme includes the provisions for the immediate Office of the Director-General (ODG); the Office of Programme, Budget and Evaluation (PBE); the Office of the Inspector-General (AUD); the portion of the total costs of the Legal Office (LEG) as relates more specifically to legal services to the Organization; and that portion of the cost of the Office for Coordination of Normative, Operational and Decentralized Activities (OCD) as relates to its overall coordination responsibilities. The remaining costs of the latter two offices are budgeted under Programme 3.1.3, Legal Assistance to Member Nations, Major Programme 3.4, FAO Representatives, and Programme 3.5.3, Cooperation Agreements with Member Nations and Support to Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries (ECDC) and Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC).

134. The provision under Programme 1.2.2, Programme Planning, Budgeting and Evaluation, includes the cost of replacing PLANSYS budget preparation and work planning modules with an upgraded version fully integrated into the financial systems of the Organization, a project deferred from the biennium 2000-2001.

135. Programme 1.2.3, Audit and Inspection, covers the activities of the Office of the Inspector-General. It is recalled that AUD also has four outposted staff in the Regional Offices which are taken into account under this programme.

136. In general terms, Programme 1.2.4 covers the "in-house counsel" work of the Legal Office, i.e. advice to the Director-General, technical departments and Governing Bodies of the Organization on legal matters, servicing of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters (CCLM), preparation of international legal agreements at the global and regional levels and performance of the Director-General's depositary functions, advice on legal aspects of relations with the host government and with other governments and international organizations, representation of FAO in judicial proceedings and other proceedings for the settlement of disputes and, in particular, handling of cases before the ILO Administrative Tribunal. LEG also provides legal services to the World Food Programme (WFP) Secretariat and Executive Board.

137. Under Programme 1.2.5, the consolidated Coordination Service (OCDC) of OCD will continue to support effective coordination between Headquarters and the decentralized offices. This service results from the merger of the former Coordination Branch (OCDC) and TCDC/ECDC Service (OCDT). Work on Partnership Programmes continues to be covered under Programme 3.5.3.

138. Ensuring that decentralized offices function as an integral part of the Organization, entails continuous review of mechanisms for linkages and communication among decentralized offices themselves and with Headquarters, as well as updated directives on relations with decentralized offices and monitoring of their implementation. As required, OCD prepares documents on decentralization policy issues for consideration by Governing Bodies and senior management and provides support to Regional Offices in the organisation of Regional Conferences. Other key activities are the six-monthly management letters containing Headquarters feedback to FAO Representatives (FAORs) on a variety of issues, and management of the small-scale facility for FAORs.

Major Programme 1.3: External Coordination and Liaison

139. Programme 1.3.1 covers the work of the unit, placed under the Special Advisers to the Director-General (SAD), for FAO's coordination and cooperation with other organizations of the UN system and FAO's contributions to several UN system-wide mechanisms, e.g. the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC) subsidiary bodies, etc.

140. Programme 1.3.2 covers the Liaison Offices with the United Nations (in New York and Geneva), for North America (in Washington DC), with the European Union and Belgium (in Brussels), and with Japan (in Yokohama).

141. No major changes are foreseen in functions, while some adjustments are made to resources allocations (cf. above).

Major Programme 1.9: Programme Management

142. Major Programme 1.9 covers the cost of the Management Support Unit for ODG Offices (ODGX).