Council

DECISION

IMPLEMENTATION

HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL
(Rome, 26-28 November 2003)

ACTIVITIES OF FAO AND WFP

THE REPORTING FORMAT OF THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FOLLOW-UP

Promote a more detailed discussion and review of the format of the CFS at its next Session and explore feasible mechanisms, consistent with the timing of the established timetable for Regional Conferences and the limited resources available (para. 5)

Action taken. At its Thirtieth Session, the CFS decided that the Secretariat should convene a regionally-balanced working group of experts to review various options. The Secretariat would then prepare a revised format for consideration by the CFS Bureau.

Forward the report on monitoring the implementation of the WFS Plan of Action for examination to the FAO Regional Conferences and the CFS (para. 5)

Action taken. The CFS Secretariat provided a general introduction to the document on the Follow-up of World Food Summit at the FAO Regional Conferences in 2004.

PROGRAMME, BUDGETARY, FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

PROGRAMME OF WORK AND BUDGET (PWB) 2004-2005

Continue to maintain an appropriate balance between normative and operational activities in light of the requirements of the entire Membership (para. 13)

This is part of the Organization’s continuing monitoring activities. Through the Field Programme Monitoring Information System (FPMIS), the Programme and Project Review Committee (PPRC), and the Field Programme Committee (FPC), the TC Department, for example, deals with overall monitoring, project by project review, and policy-setting on particular issues. The FO Department also ensures that field experiences are fed into the normative activities and has allocated 25 % of staff time to activities related to the development and implementation of the field programme. FO is also involved in the implementation of 30 projects with global or regional dimensions, especially as regards provision of project backstopping and technical advice.

Both the Economic and Social and the Agriculture Departments have continued to pursue a balanced approach to normative and operational activities within their areas of work, in close consultation with Field offices and other FAO units, in due recognition of the concerns of Member Nations.

In addition, the Sustainable Development Department has become involved in an increasing number of field projects, thereby augmenting its relative share of resources for direct support to Member Nations and for the development of the field programme in the PWB 2004-2005 at Headquarters and at regional level.

Finally, the Fisheries Department is implementing five regional projects and over 60 national projects in the field of policy advice, aquaculture, fish utilization and trade in Member Nations.

Promote further efforts to reconcile diverging opinions ahead of the discussion and decisions at the Conference in the following week (para.19)

Resolution 7/2003 was adopted by the Thirty-second Session of the Conference on 5 December 2003.

REPORT OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE PROGRAMME COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
(ROME, SEPTEMBER 2003)

Strengthen the independent role of the Evaluation Service, within its existing location in PBE by:

1. improve internal coordination on evaluation with the Technical Departments, including the Technical Cooperation Department, through the establishment of an Internal Evaluation Committee under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Director-General (para. 21)

Action is under way towards the establishment of this Committee.

2. formalizing and enhancing of the current arrangements for interaction and consultation between the Office of the Inspector-General and the Evaluation Service (para. 21)

Close interaction is being ensured through regular meetings.

3. preparing a separate budget and allocating sufficient resources for Major Programme and thematic evaluations for the Governing Bodies and management
   (para. 21)

Increased allocation for evaluation work was made in the PWB 2004-05. See document C 2003/3.

4. disseminating and updating approaches and methods for conducting evaluations (para. 21)

This is an on-going task of the Evaluation Service.

5. institutionalizing current practices to guarantee independence in initiating and conducting evaluations and their thorough review by the pertinent Bodies (para. 21)

The Evaluation of Decentralization was submitted to the Ninety-second Session of the Programme Committee and the Hundred and Eighth Session of the Finance Committee (Rome, 27 September – 1 October 2004) for discussion. See documents CL 127/12 and CL 127/15.

Have the Programme and Finance Committees reconsider the issue of combining meetings of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) and the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) in May 2004 on the basis of revised proposals (para. 23)

See document CL 127/8, reflecting proposed changes in the scheduling of CCP and COAG. The dates for the CCP are now 11-13 April 2005, and those for COAG are 13-16 April 2005.

REPORT OF THE 90^TH SESSION OF THE PROGRAMME COMMITTEE

Encourage substantive discussion and recommendations on relative priorities to be taken up by the Programme Committee at its next Session in May 2004, on the basis of the proposed new arrangements and the supporting information to be prepared by the Secretariat (para. 26)

A document to this effect was submitted to the Ninety-first Session of the Programme Committee in (Rome, 10-14 May 2004). See document CL 127/11.

Initiate a process to adapt the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) to evolving circumstances since its launch many years ago (para. 27)

A paper on "Policy and Operational Framework of the Technical Cooperation Programme” was presented to the Ninety-second Session of the Programme Committee, in September 2004, proposing items to be covered and a calendar for this process. See document CL 127/12.

REPORT OF THE 104^TH SESSION AND 105^TH SESSION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE (ROME, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2003)

Urge all Member Nations to pay their contributions in full in order to enable the Organization to continue to fulfill its mandate
(para. 29)

The Organization continues to take action to remind the Member Nations of their outstanding contributions and has issued quarterly statements of account to Member Nations since mid-2003.

Establish a Working Group to review further the options and determine the terms under which a revised Methodology for the Determination of Equitable Geographic Distribution could be implemented (para. 31)

Action taken. The Working Group was established by the Hundred and Twenty-fifth Session of the Council and its report was provided to the Thirty-second Session of the Conference. Based on the recommendation of the Working Group, the Conference decided to introduce in FAO a new methodology for the determination of equitable geographic distribution. See Conference Resolution 15/2003 on Methodology for Equitable Geographic Distribution.

Concurrently take further concrete measures in redressing the under-representation of certain Member Nations, irrespective of the Methodology adopted, and report to the Finance Committee on this matter at its next Session (para. 32)

Document 107/16 “Action Plan on Recruitment from Under-Represented Countries” describing the actions being taken to redress the under-representation of certain Member Nations was prepared for the Hundred and seventh Session of the Finance Committee (Rome May 2004). The Committee welcomed the report and the efforts made by the Secretariat to address this issue.

Split Assessments

Protect the approved Programme of Work and Budget from the effects of fluctuating exchange rates (para. 33)

Action taken. Resolution 11/2003 amending FAO's Financial Regulations was adopted by the Thirty-second Session of the Conference.

Promote efforts to reach a consensus decision on Split Assessments at the Thirty-second Session of the Conference, and urge all concerned to work together towards this aim (para. 33)

Ditto.

Capital Budgeting

Forward a Draft Resolution to the Conference on Amendment to Regulation VI of the Financial Regulations (Capital Budgeting) for adoption (para. 34)

Action taken. Resolution 10/2003 was adopted by the Thirty-second Session of the Conference.

Liabilities for After-Service Medical Costs

Have the 2004-2005 Budget Resolution include an amount of US$14.1 million to offset the amount of the liability to be amortized during the biennium, according to the biennial actuarial valuation, review this amount in each subsequent biennium and adjust it accordingly to reflect the current valuation (para. 37)

The amount of US$ 14.1 million was approved in the context of the Resolution 7/2003 adopted during the Thirty-second Session of the Conference.

CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

REPORT OF THE 75^TH SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

Agreement with the International Office of Epizootics (OIE)

Forward the proposed Agreement with the International Office of Epizootics (OIE), to the Conference for confirmation (para. 39)

Action has been taken. See document C 2003/LIM/15.

Cooperation Agreement with the International Organization for the Development of Fisheries in Eastern and Central Europe (EUROFISH)

Forward the proposed Cooperation Agreement with the International Organization for the Development of Fisheries in Eastern and Central Europe (EUROFISH) to the Conference for confirmation (para. 40)

Action has been taken. See document
C 2003/LIM/16.

The Number and Length of Office of the Director-General

Transmit the proposed revised version of Article VII.1 of the Constitution as well as to the relevant draft Conference Resolution to the Conference (para. 41)

Action has been taken. See document
C 2003/LIM/14.

National Execution of Technical Assistance Projects

Submit the proposed amendment to Financial Regulation VI to the Conference for consideration and adoption (para. 42)

Action has been taken. See document
C 2003/LIM/19.

Recognition of “ Spouses” under Same-sex Marriages

Have the Organization follow closely the discussion within the United Nations System with a view to reaching a common position (para. 44)

Action is being taken. See documents CL 127/5 and CL 127/21.

OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL MATTERS

Invitations to Non-Member Nations to attend FAO Sessions

Have the Russian Federation attend its Session as an observer. (para. 45)

Action has been taken. Invitation was despatched on 11 November 2003.

Composition of the Finance Committee

Transmit a Draft Resolution to the Conference on the Composition of the Finance Committee (para. 49)

Action has been taken. Resolution 12/2003 was adopted on 1 December 2003.

Suspend Rule XXVII, paragraph 2 of the General Rules of the Organization only with regard to nominations for election to the Finance Committee, in accordance with Rule XLVIII, paragraph 1 of those Rules (para. 50)

Action has been taken.

Set the new deadline for the submission of nominations to the Finance Committee
(para 50)

Action has been taken.

REVISED CALENDAR OF FAO GOVERNING BODIES AND OTHER MAIN SESSIONS

Convene the Hundred and Twenty-sixth Session of the Council in Rome on 11 December 2003 (para. 51)

This session of the Council met on the morning of 11 December 2003.

HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL
(Rome, 11 December 2003)

PROVISIONAL CALENDAR OF FAO GOVERNING BODIES AND OTHER MAIN SESSIONS 2004-2005

Have the new extended dates of the Ninety-first Session of the Programme Committee and the Hundred and Sixth Session of the Finance Committee decided in consultation between the newly-elected Presidents of the Programme and Finance Committees and the Independent Chairperson of the Council (para. 11)

Action has been taken. The new dates are reflected in the Provisional Calendar of FAO Governing Bodies and other Main Sessions 2004-2005.

DATE AND PLACE OF THE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL

Convene the Hundred and Twenty-seventh Session of the Council from 22 to 27 November 2004 (para. 14)

Action has been taken. Invitations were despatched on 23 September 2004.