VI. Measures to enhance the functioning of the unit
28. The improvement of any activity is a continuous process. The General Assembly has adopted several resolutions encouraging the JIU to improve its performance, effectiveness and efficiency. The Unit has in turn remained attentive to all comments and recommendations concerning its performance, has responded positively to them and continues to make efforts in this regard.
29. The impact of the work of the Unit should not only be regarded in terms of its reports and recommendations. The interactions of Inspectors with the various heads of participating organizations and other United Nations system officials during the course of inspections, investigations and evaluations have proved to be a key advisory tool for encouraging those heads and officials to take concrete steps for solving specific difficulties faced by the various services of the United Nations system. Those heads and officials have benefited from the broad system-wide experience of the Inspectors and in many cases have anticipated suggestions and recommendations which later appear in the Unit's reports. This intangible role of the JIU should always be kept in mind when the Unit's performance is being assessed.
30. The JIU has, on several occasions, submitted to the General Assembly proposals to improve its work, some of which are contained in its reports for 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. In its 1994 report, 4/ the Unit recapitulated the actions taken to implement a number of recommendations which had been addressed to it, in particular those contained in General Assembly resolution 48/221.
31. The Unit also presented its views on measures to improve the effectiveness and possible strengthening of the external oversight mechanisms, as requested by the General Assembly in its decision 47/454, paragraph (b), of 23 December 1992, and reaffirmed in its decision 48/493 A of 29 July 1994.
32. Furthermore, the General Assembly has regularly reaffirmed the statute of the Unit. Resolutions 48/218 and 48/221 are of particular relevance in this respect. In section II, paragraph 6, of resolution 48/218 A of 23 December 1993, the Assembly emphasized the need to ensure respect for the separate and distinct roles and functions of external and internal oversight mechanisms and also to strengthen the external oversight control mechanisms. In its resolution 48/221, the Assembly reaffirmed the statute of the Joint Inspection Unit as the only independent system-wide inspection, evaluation and investigation body.
33. Without wishing to repeat its previous proposals, the Unit considers it necessary to call to the attention of the General Assembly the actions it has taken and the recommendations it has made over the years to improve its performance, as described, in particular, in its 1993 report. It is hoped that such a review of internal improvement initiatives would contribute to the ongoing debate in the Assembly's Fifth Committee on ways and means of strengthening the external oversight bodies.
34. The Unit established a working group to develop a set of internal standards and guidelines for inspection, evaluation and investigation. The Unit is engaged in refining those important tools for its work, as envisaged in article 8 of its statute.
35. The Unit is gradually developing a solid internal technological information system that will be the core element of an information and documentation centre which it plans to establish soon and which should help to improve the Unit's productivity in issuing reports and recommendations. The Unit wishes to recall its request for additional computer workstations included in its 1991 report. 1/
36. Subsequently, in paragraph 42 of its report on the functioning of the JIU, as cited in paragraph 10 above, the ACABQ indicated that "it would consider an increase in computer resources in the context of the proposed programme budget, taking account of the contribution computers may make as a way of improving productivity". Although this recommendation was approved by the General Assembly, corresponding provision was not included in the proposed programme budget for 1994-1995.
37. When the Unit was moved in 1993 from the Palais des Nations, where it was at least technically connected to the United Nations main library and technological information systems, to a building outside the Palais complex, it became disconnected from such systems. This and other inconveniences have constituted a setback in the Unit's performance.
38. After continuous efforts, most of the technical requirements are being met and the Unit will be able to set up its own technological information system, provided it receives the necessary resources for both the acquisition and the installation of the additional computer workstations that are needed.
39. The Unit expects to increase tangibly its research capacity when such a system is in place, particularly through having a more solid database; making more feasibility studies before choosing new items for inspection, investigation or evaluation; making a thorough analysis of the discussions, reports, resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and of the legislative organs of other participating organizations, as expressed in paragraph 28 of its 1994 report, 4/ and establishing a very accurate follow-up mechanism. The importance and the impact of such systems are described in paragraph 66 of the 1994 report.
40. In paragraph 5 of resolution 48/221, the General Assembly requested "the Joint Inspection Unit, when appropriate, to provide in its reports information on estimated financial implications or possible cost-savings resulting from implementation of the recommendations formulated therein". The Unit wishes to recall that in its report entitled "'Analysis of cost savings from JIU reports, 1985-1992" (see A/48/606), it gave an account of the cost-savings resulting from its past recommendations. The Unit considers its useful for the General Assembly to take that report into account when discussing the Unit's performance.
41. In general, the Unit is increasingly exercising the collective wisdom approach in preparing its reports, as envisaged in article 11, paragraph 2, of its statute and consistent with the relevant General Assembly resolutions and its internal guidelines and procedures in developing its programmes of work.
42. None the less, along with its internal efforts and endeavours, the JIU also needs more engagement and support from the Member States and the participating organizations and other associated bodies. This requires analysing the JIU reports and drawing concrete conclusions from them.
43. Finally, the Unit wishes to add certain observations on issues of particular concern to it and to its constituencies. It is, of course, aware of certain proposals made and discussions under way among Member States and officials of the United Nations system.
44. The main issues relate to the strengthening of the Unit's secretariat, the selection of inspectors, the budgetary and administrative independence of the Unit, and the Unit's leadership.
45. First, as discussed in chapter IV, despite the General Assembly's recognition of the Unit's support staff needs, its requirements have not yet been met. The Unit remains of the opinion that its requests for strengthening its support staff continue to be in the interest of Member States in having a more effective oversight performance of the Unit.
46. Secondly, the Inspectors would like to reiterate their belief that the General Assembly should continue to pay special attention to the selection and appointment of inspectors, in accordance with the requisite qualifications stipulated under article 2, paragraph 1, of the statute of the Unit.
47. Thirdly, the very fact that, in accordance with article 20 of the statute, the Unit's budgetary proposals are assessed and decided upon by the Secretary-General of the United Nations after consultation, within the ACC, with the executive heads of the participating organizations, who are precisely the subjects of the Unit's inspection, investigation and evaluation responsibilities, poses an institutional dilemma for both the Unit and the Secretary-General and ACC. Although the General Assembly stipulated in article 7 of the Unit's statute that: "The Inspectors shall discharge their duties in full independence and in the sole interest of the organizations", the Unit's independence has been compromised in practical terms by existing interpretations of articles 17 and 20 of the statute. The General Assembly may wish to clarify this dilemma.
48. Fourthly, and within the context of article 18 of its statute, the Unit is studying ways of having more effective leadership roles by its Chairman and Vice-Chairman, including modifying the rotational practice.
