FC 96/1-Add.1


Finance Committee

Ninety-sixth Session

Rome, 7 - 12 May 2001

Provisional Annotated Agenda

 

1. Adoption of Agenda and Timetable (docs. FC 96/1, FC 96/1 Add.1 and FC 96/INF/1)

for decision

In accordance with the internal working procedures, the Provisional Timetable provides 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-Chairman

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-Chairman.

 

I. BUDGETARY MATTERS

3. Summary Programme of Work and Budget 2002-2003 (doc. CL 120/3)

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 2002-2003. 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.

4. Annual Report of Budgetary Performance and Programme and Budgetary Transfers (doc. FC 96/4)

for discussion

In accordance with Financial Regulation 4.6(b) the Committee will receive, for its review, the Report of Budgetary Performance for 2000. Any comments the Committee may wish to make will be submitted to the Council at its forthcoming session. The Annual Report is appended to the Report of the Committee.

5. Protection of the Programme of Work and Budget against Exchange Rate Fluctuations (doc. FC 95/9)

for discussion

On the basis of the information provided in the document, the Finance Committee will be requested to advise the Council:

whether it reaffirms the principle that it is the policy and financial strategy of the Organization to protect the approved Programme of Work from the impact of exchange rate fluctuations;

whether it agrees to extend the policy such that the impact of exchange rate fluctuations (i.e. both gains and losses) between biennia should, in principle, be borne by Members and not by the Programme of Work; and

whether, in dealing with the above, it prefers the concept of split assessments (mandatory or voluntary) or setting the budget at the forward rate.

6. European Commission for Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease - Budget for 2002-2003 (doc. FC 96/6)

for discussion

The Committee will be provided for its review and comment with the budget approved by the above-referenced Commission for 2002, together with that proposed for 2003.

7. Regional Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific (APHCA) - Budget for 2002-2003 (doc. FC 96/7)

for discussion

The Committee will be provided for its review and comment with the budgets proposed for the above-referenced Commission for 2002 and 2003.

8. Approval of the Budgets of the Desert Locust Commissions (doc. FC 96/8)

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 2002 and 2003.

 

II. FINANCIAL MATTERS

9. Financial Highlights (doc. FC 96/9)

for discussion


The Financial Highlights are presented for the first time this year in the format recommended by previous sessions of the Finance Committee. The present document covers the financial year ended on 31 December 2000, first year of the current biennium. The purpose of the Financial Highlights is to provide an overview of the total financial resources entrusted to the Organization (both Regular Programme and Extra-budgetary Funds), and the level of utilisation.

10. Management of Contributions


i) Collection of Current Assessments and Arrears (doc. FC 96/10(i))

for discussion

This document presents the status of member nation contributions to the Regular Programme as at 28 February 2001.


ii) Scale of Contributions 2002-2003 (doc. FC 96/10(ii))

for discussion

The Committee will be provided with the proposed scale of contributions for the 2002-2003 biennium, together with a draft resolution to be submitted through the Council to the Conference.


iii) Role of the Finance Committee in the Management of Arrears (doc. FC 96/10(iii))

.for discussion

This document is presented in response to a request by the Finance Committee at its 94th Session, that the Secretariat prepare a document listing the various options open to the Committee concerning the management of arrears and giving the experience of other UN organizations in this field.


iv) Review of the Incentive Scheme to Encourage Prompt Payment of Contributions (doc. FC 96/10(iv))

for discussion

The Committee will receive background information on the development of the Incentive Scheme and its impact since its inception.

11. Report on Investments 2000

for discussion

In accordance with Financial Regulation 9.2 and General Rule XXVII 7(i), the Committee will receive reports on investments currently held in respect of the above-referenced funds for its information.

12. Liabilities for After Service Medical Coverage (doc. FC 96/12)

for decision

This paper has been prepared on request of the Finance Committee. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the past decisions of the Finance Committee on the subject, the actions taken by the Secretariat and the status of implementation. It also provides an overview of the proposals on the way forward for discussion and decision by the Finance Committee.

13. Audited Accounts

for discussion


i) FAO 1998-99 (doc. C 2001/5)

ii) FAO Credit Union 1999 (doc. FC 96/13(ii))

iii) FAO Commissary 1999 (doc. FC 96/13(iii))

The Committee will receive the audited accounts of the Organization for 1998-1999, together with the Report of the External Auditor. In addition, the audited accounts of the Credit Union and the Commissary will be provided for 1999.

14. Appointment of the External Auditor

for decision

The document summarises the seven proposals received in response to the Organization's invitation to all Members for the provision of External Audit services. The Committee would be required to evaluate these proposals by reference to the already approved criteria and would also conduct interviews with the candidates. Based on the foregoing, the Committee will be expected to make a recommendation to the Council for the appointment of a new External Auditor starting with the biennium 2002-2003.

 

III. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

15. 2000 Annual Activity Report of the Office of the Inspector-General (doc. FC 96/15)

for information

In accordance with the practice established at the 87th Session, this report will be provided to the members of the Finance Committee for their information.

16. UN Joint Inspection Unit Reports

for information


- Annual Report of the Joint Inspection Unit for 1999 (doc. CL 120/INF/11)

- Work Programme for 2000 and Preliminary List of Potential Reports for 2001 and Beyond (doc. CL 120/INF/12)

- Young Professionals in Selected Organizations of the United Nations System: Recruitment, Management and Retention (JIU/REP/2000/7) - (doc. CL 120/INF/13)

These documents will be provided to the Committee for information and any comments it may wish to make to the Council.

 

IV. WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

17. WFP Report of Budgetary Performance 2000 (doc. FC 96/17)

for discussion

In accordance with WFP General Regulation 29(d), the Committee will receive a report on the budgetary performance for 2000, for its review and any comments it may wish to make to the Executive Board

18. WFP Strategic and Financial Plan (doc. FC 96/18)

for discussion

In accordance with WFP General Regulation 30 and Financial Regulation 6.2, the Committee will review the strategic and financial plan proposed by the Executive Director for the 2002-2003 Biennium. Any comments the Committee wishes to make will be submitted to the Executive Board.

19. Amendment to the WFP Financial Regulations on the Operational Reserve (doc. FC 96/19)

for decision

A document containing a proposed amendment to the Financial Regulations on the Operational Reserve will be provided to the Finance Committee

 

V. ANY OTHER MATTERS

20. Working Methods of the Finance Committee (no document)

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.

21. Date and Place of the Ninety-seventh Session

for information

The Committee will be informed of arrangements for its next session.

22. Any Other Matters


(a) Report of the Executive Director on the Utilization of Contributions and Waivers of Costs (General Rules XII.4 and XIII.4(g)) (doc. FC 96/22(a))

for information

A document containing information on the use by WFP of unrestricted resources to purchase commodities, contributions of commodities or services, and indirect support cost waivers will be provided to the Finance Committee


(b) Cash Management Report to the Executive Board (doc. FC 96/22(b))

for information

A report on Cash and Investment Management in WFP will be provided to the Finance Committee