FC 102/1-Add.1


Finance Committee

Hundred-and-second Session

Rome, 5 – 9 May 2003

Provisional Annotated Agenda

  

1. Adoption of Agenda and Timetable (docs. FC 102/1, FC 102/1 Add.1, FC 102/INF/1)
for decision
In accordance with the Committee’s internal working procedures, the Provisional Timetable provides to the extent possible for discussion at the beginning of the meeting of those items on which the Committee is required to make decisions or recommendations to the Council.
2. Election of Vice Chairperson
for decision
In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Committee, at the first session of each calendar year the Committee shall elect a Vice Chairperson.
 

I. FINANCIAL AND BUDGET REPORTS

3. Annual Report on Budgetary Performance and Programme and Budgetary Transfers (doc. FC 102/3)
for discussion
In accordance with Financial Regulation 4.6(b) the Committee will receive, for its review, the Report on Budgetary Performance for 2002. Any comments the Committee may wish to make will be submitted to the Council at its forthcoming session. The Annual Report will be appended to the Report of the Committee.
4. FAO Interim Accounts at 31 December 2002 (doc. FC 102/4)
for information
The Committee will receive the unaudited financial statements of the Organization as at the close of the first year of the 2002-2003 biennium.
5. Report on Investments 2002 (doc. FC 102/5)
for information
In accordance with Financial Regulation 9.2 and General Rule XXVII 7(i), the Committee will receive for its information a report on investments currently held in respect of the various funds of the Organization.
6. Financial Highlights (doc. FC 102/6)
for discussion
The Financial Highlights Report is designed to show, at a summary level, the financial situation of the Organization. In terms of the structure of the report, there are three groupings of data: income and expenditure by source of funds, the plan (budget) for particular sources of funds and balances for the comparative period in the previous biennium. Also included is the report on “Collection of Current Assessments and Arrears,” which presents the status of member nation contributions to the Regular Programme as at 31 December 2002.
 

II. OVERSIGHT MATTERS

7. 2002 Annual Activity Report of the Office of the Inspector-General (doc. FC 102/7)
for discussion
In accordance with the practice established at the 87th Session, this report is provided to the members of the Finance Committee for their review.
8. Progress Report on Implementation of the External Auditor’s Recommendations (doc. FC 102/8)
for information
As requested by the Committee, a report will be provided on actions taken in respect of recommendations made by the External Auditor in his report on the 2001-2002 accounts, as well as on a number of recommendations brought forward from previous biennia.
9. Programme of Work of the External Auditor (doc. FC 102/9)
for discussion
The Committee will receive information from the External Auditor on the planned examination of selected areas of a Major Programme (management of TCP projects).
10. Appointment of the Inspector-General (doc. FC 102/10)
for discussion
In order to comply with the requirement in the Charter for the Office of Inspector-General for prior consultation with the Finance Committee, a presentation will be made on the appointment of the Inspector-General.
11. UN Joint Inspection Unit Report
for information
  • Support Costs Related to Extrabudgetary Activities in Organizations of the United Nations System (JIU/REP/2002/3) (doc. CL 124/INF/10)
  • Extension of Water-related Technical Cooperation Projects to End-Beneficiaries: Bridging the Gap Between the Normative and the Operational in the United Nations System (Case Studies in Two African Countries) (JIU/REP/2002/4) (CL 24/INF/11)
  • Involvement of Civil Society Organizations other then NGOs and the Private Sector in Technical Cooperation Activities: Experiences and Prospects of the United Nations System (JIU/REP/2002/01) (doc. CL 124/INF/18)
These documents will be provided to the Committee for information (and any comments it may wish to make to the Council).
   

III. FINANCIAL POLICY MATTERS

12. Capital Budgeting (doc. FC 102/12)
for discussion
At its last session the Committee was informed of the potential benefits to the Organization of capital budgeting for financing one-time capital items. While recognizing that it represented a well-accepted practice, it requested further information in order to be in a position to consider the merits of this approach. A more detailed document on capital budgeting has now been prepared for the Committee’s consideration.
13. Review of Project Proposals to Confirm Compliance with FAO’s Mandate (doc. FC 102/13)
for information
At its 99th session (May 2002) the Committee asked to be informed of the means for ensuring that projects funded from voluntary contributions met the Organization’s criteria for acceptance of such contributions. The criteria for acceptance and the means of their enforcement are provided in the document.
14. Proposal to Establish a Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities
(doc. FC 102/14)
for discussion
It is proposed to establish a new special fund under Financial Regulation 6.7, to be known as the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities. The purpose and operation of the proposed special fund are described in the document.
15. Innovative Models for Leveraging Resources in Support of the Field Programme (doc. FC 102/15)
for discussion
Three topics will be covered in this paper:
  • The National Execution Modality (NEX)
  • Cooperation with the European Commission
  • Status of Negotiations with the World Bank on Audit Arrangements
16. Information Note on the Cost of the World Food Summit: five years later (doc. CFS 2003/INF/10)
for information
At its 100th session the Committee noted that, in line with the arrangements agreed to by the Council, a full report on the costs of the WFS:fyl would be submitted to the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in May 2003 and requested that this report be provided also to the Finance Committee at its May 2003 session.
 

IV. BUDGETARY MATTERS

17. Summary Programme of Work and Budget (2004-2005) (doc. CL 124/3)
for discussion
In accordance with General Rules XXVII 7(a) and XXVIII the Committee will review the Summary of the Director-General’s proposals for the Programme of Work and Budget for 2004-2005. It is expected that the Finance Committee will consider the financial aspects of the Summary Programme of Work and Budget, such as financial framework, budgetary framework (including cost increases, impact of exchange rates, lapse factor, etc.), Chapters 5 and 6), without concerning itself with the merits of the Programme. The comments of the Committee will be forwarded to the Council together with those of the Programme Committee.
18. Split Assessments (docs. FC 102/18 and FC 102/INF/18)
for discussion
Further to the Finance Committee’s consideration of this matter at its 95th (September 2000) and 100th (September 2002) Sessions, the Secretariat has proceeded with preparatory work in this regard with a view to reporting to the Committee at its 102nd Session in May 2003. The results of the Secretariat’s examination of the impact of split assessment strategy on the budget process and the changes necessary in Basic Texts and Conference Resolutions, are provided in FC 102/18. The Secretariat’s initial examination of issues such as accounting treatment, internal and external reporting requirements, required accounting system changes and risk management strategy and policies, are outlined in FC 102/INF/18.
19. Scale of Contributions 2004-2005 (doc. FC 102/19)
for discussion
The Committee will be provided with the proposed scale of contributions for the 2004-2005 biennium, together with a draft resolution to be submitted through the Council to the Conference.
20. European Commission for Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease – Budget for 2004-2005 (doc. FC 102/20)
for discussion
The Committee will be provided for its review and comment with the budgets proposed for the above-referenced Commission for 2004 and 2005.
21. Regional Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific (APHCA) - Budget for 2003-2004 (doc. FC 102/21)
for discussion
The Committee will be provided for its review and comment with the budgets proposed for the above-referenced Commission for 2004 and 2005.
22. Approval of the Budgets of the Desert Locust Commissions (doc. FC 102/22)
for discussion
The Committee will be provided for its review and comment with the budgets approved and/or proposed for the above-referenced three Commissions for 2004 and 2005.
 

V. HUMAN RESOURCES MATTERS

23. Progress Report on Human Resources Management Issues (doc. FC 102/23)
for information
In response to its request at the 99th session, the Committee will be provided with a progress report on human resources management issues, including baselines, projected timelines and performance indicators.
24. Statistics of Personnel Services (doc. FC 102/24)
for information
In line with normal practice, the Committee will be provided with its annual report on the number of established posts and other personnel services as at 31 December 2002.
25. Annual Reports of the ICSC and UN Joint Staff Pension Board to the General Assembly, and Summary of the Decisions Taken (doc. FC 102/25)
for information
In accordance with standard practice, the Committee will be informed of any developments which took place at the General Assembly and the Pension Board which are of interest to this Organization.

 

VI. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

26. Methodology for the Determination of Equitable Geographic Distribution (doc. CL 124/15)
for discussion
At its 123rd Session, the Council reviewed a comparative study of staff recruitment practices of FAO and the United Nations, focusing in particular on geographic distribution aspects. The Council confirmed that the paramount consideration in the employment of staff should be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard being given to recruiting on as wide a geographical basis as possible. In the light of the various methodologies used in the UN System to determine equitable geographic distribution, the Council requested the secretariat to prepare options for a new FAO methodology. This document responds to that request.
27. Progress Report on the Oracle Project (doc. FC 102/27)
for information
In response to its request for regular progress reports, the Committee will be provided with updated information on the status of the Oracle Project.
   

VII. OTHER MATTERS

28. Working Methods of the Finance Committee
for discussion
In accordance with the standard practice of the Committee, members will be given an opportunity to comment on the functioning of the session and to make suggestions for future improvements.
29. Date and Place of the Hundred-and-third Session
for information
The Committee will be informed of arrangements for its next session.
30. Any Other Matters
for information