Substantive thrusts under ZRG conditions

264.     Major Programme 1.1 ensures that FAO’s governance process is carried out according to established rules. It covers the organisation of the Conference, Council and Council Committees, as well as liaison and protocol activities at headquarters. The major programme provides logistical support and services for FAO meetings, including adequate language coverage as per the Organization’s language policy. It also serves as focal point for relations with all Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) outside the UN system, excluding financial institutions.

265.     The substantial shift of resources among programmes is due to the transfer of some of the activities of Support to Governing Bodies and Relations with Governments from Programme 1.1.2 to Programme 1.1.1. In addition to this transfer already indicated in the Medium Term Plan (MTP) 2006-11, a further shift of resources is made for the provision of meeting facilities to sessions of governing and other statutory bodies. Therefore, the management process of governing bodies sessions will be handled in a more effective and consolidated manner under 1.1.1, in particular for all pre- and in-session logistical arrangements, to ensure that norms and practices are fully respected. However, the activities related to Meetings of Permanent Representatives, previously under Programme 1.1.1, have been included more logically under Programme 1.1.3.

266.     Programme 1.1.2 ensures efficient programming of language services through modern translation workflow and reference activities. The improved availability of electronic language resources will lead to the discontinuation of the services of the Terminology and Reference Library. The programme also covers financial management and monitoring of interpretation, translation and printing services which are backcharged to originating divisions and secretariats of governing bodies by established internal rates through corresponding pool account arrangements.

267.     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 issuance of travel documents, visas and identity cards. As noted above, it now incorporates the costs for the organisation of Meetings of Permanent Representatives. As an efficiency measure, cost-recovery mechanisms for processing and delivery of administrative documents (visas, laissez-passers, etc.) to WFP, IFAD and UNOPS⁷⁶ will be implemented.

268.     The revised PWB 2004-05 already incorporated reductions which led to major difficulties in implementing the programmes and planned outputs. Under ZRG conditions in 2006-07, further cost efficiencies have been sought in activities and services. While no further reduction in the number of days of governing body sessions is envisaged under this scenario, further efficiency savings measures will include: a more stringent limitation on the length of the documents, enhanced electronic distribution of main session documents and additional reduction of staff overtime expenditure for the sessions, through tighter control of timetables. In addition, use of information technology has permitted to scale down tasks carried out in relation to document preparation and processing of correspondence.

Zero Nominal Growth Impact

269.     A ZNG scenario would imply a significant reduction of the resources available to the Conference, Council and Protocol Affairs Division (GIC). Loss of staff, coupled with a reduction of non-staff resources, would jeopardise the delivery of GIC’s services and activities and certainly affect their quality and timeliness.