17. The Unit has established its work programme for 1995 and a preliminary work programme for 1996 and beyond (see annex II and A/50/140). As explained in document A/50/140, the list is tentative and does not necessarily imply that the JIU will undertake all the studies. Work programmes are flexible enough to allow the addition of priority issues that may emerge.
18. In drawing up the work programme, the Unit has been guided by a fundamental objective, namely, to continue the trend of good performance and improve the quality and relevance of its output. The Inspectors were aware that a well-balanced, flexible and realistic work programme was a key element for that purpose. The work programme for 1995, then, constituted an important step for further shaping an action-oriented strategy for the Unit's activities.
19. All efforts were made to comply with the provisions of the statute of the JIU, in particular articles 5 and 9; the relevant resolutions of the legislative organs of the participating organizations, especially General Assembly resolutions 47/201 of 22 December 1992 and 48/221 (pares. 3, 4 and 13); and the internal guidelines and procedures of the Unit.
20. In establishing its work programme, under article 9, paragraph 1, of its statute, the Unit strived as much as possible to satisfy the concerns expressed by the legislative bodies of the participating organizations and their secretariats and internal and external oversight bodies. Indeed, the secretariats have been active in making suggestions for the Unit's work programmes, unlike the legislative bodies and several external oversight organs. Other external oversight bodies have also been requested to be more active in commenting on JIU work programmes. Those bodies are an indispensable source of ideas on issues to be taken up by the JIU.
21. None the less, the Unit endeavoured to include in its work programme important priority items falling within its competence and aimed at making a substantial contribution to the solution of concrete problems by providing practical and action-oriented recommendations.
22. Efforts were made to coordinate the JIU work programme with those of other external oversight bodies. Consideration was also given to the need to achieve a better mix of evaluation, investigation and inspection in line with the relevant General Assembly resolutions.
23. The current JIU annual report cycle is July-June, while the JIU work programme previously covered the calendar year. Since most legislative organs of participating organizations meet between the summer and autumn seasons, there was a lack of synchronization between the calendars of meetings of participating organizations and the JIU work programme. To avoid this discrepancy, the Unit has decided to shift its work programme cycle from January-December to July-June. The main purpose of this decision was to spread the reviews contained in the work programme throughout the new cycle and thus even out the workload to the extent' possible in order to ensure the timely presentation of JIU reports to the pertinent legislative organs, especially the General Assembly. Consequently, the 1995-1996 work programme should be considered transitional and will overlap somewhat with the 1995 work programme.
24. The work programme also attempts to concentrate the Unit's efforts in areas of importance and relevance to the United Nations system, having a bearing on the efficiency of services; on optimal management methods; on attaining common or comparable standards and on achieving greater coordination among participating organizations.
25. Of the total, five topics concern the United Nations, seven are system-wide and two are of concern to several organizations. With respect to field of activity, eight are devoted to administration and management, two fall under development cooperation, two under peace-keeping operations or related matters and two under humanitarian assistance.
26. Since the description and analysis of its work programme appear in document A/50/140, they are not included in the present report, and the Unit considers it timely to discontinue the practice of repeating the description and analysis of its work programmes in future annual reports.
27. In its resolution 45/237 of 21 December 1990, the General Assembly requested the JIU to include in its annual report a summary of its reports and recommendations. The JIU has been doing so over the years. In its view, experience has proved this exercise to be an unnecessary repetition of JIU recommendations that have been previously approved by pertinent legislative bodies, including the General Assembly. If the General Assembly does not object, the Unit considers it timely to discontinue this practice and instead to concentrate its efforts on the actual follow-up and implementation of the JIU recommendations approved by the legislative organs.
