62nd SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Update - 25 June 2008
The Second Resumed Session of the Fifth Committee was originally scheduled to finish at the end of May. However, the Committee needed more time to come to agreement as many reports were submitted late. It was finally able to finish its work on 13 June. On 20 June, the General Assembly approved $7 billion for 15 peacekeeping accounts. Click here [1] for the DPI report. The Center will provide an analysis on the second resumed session soon.

REPORTS & ANALYSES

Analysis: The Governance Crisis in the Fifth Committee [2]
by Lydia Swart, 7 May 2008
This analysis explores the premise that there is a governance crisis in the Fifth Committee (Budgetary and Administrative) and is based on conversations with a number of key delegates from the EU, Group of 77, and the US as well as other insiders.

Fifth Committee Update - 28 March 2008 [3]
The Fifth Committee's first resumed session in March did not result in many substantive decisions, suggesting a serious governance crisis in this committee.

Fifth Committee Report: 10-14 March 2008 [4]
The Fifth Committee continued to discuss reform proposals on Human Resources Management and Procurement as well as efforts to strengthen investigations, development related activities, and the Department of Political Affairs’ capacity in regard to conflict prevention.

Fifth Committee Report: 3-7 March 2008 [4]
On 4 March 2008, Member States received briefings by UN officials in two separate sessions. Alicia Barcena, Under-Secretary-General for Management, and Jane Holl Lute, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Field Support, gave briefings on Human Resources Management during the morning session. In the afternoon, USG Barcena briefed the membership on the Comprehensive Accountability Architecture.

Fifth Committee Analysis: Why was the UN Budget Approved by Vote and not by Consensus? [5]
by Lydia Swart, 29 January 2008
A look at the current dynamics in the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee which deals with budget and administrative matters, based on conversations with key players from the EU, Group of 77, and the US. In particular, the following focuses on the powerful Group of 77 and the US. The latter insisted on the vote to approve the budget.

Fifth Committee Report: 5-9 November 2007 [5]
After delays caused by the fact that the report of the ACABQ on Administration of Justice took longer than expected, the Fifth Committee this week finally started its work to consider the proposed new internal system of justice. Member States agreed last spring that the new system should be implemented by January 2009.

Fifth Committee Report: 22-26 October 2007 [5]
This week, no specific reform proposals were discussed in the Fifth Committee. However, at the introduction of the proposed programme budget for 2008-2009 by the Secretary General on 25 and 26 October, the Secretary-General did stress the ongoing reform process. The between 15-25% expected final increase in the proposed budget, which will include add-ons still to be submitted, raised considerable concern among those Member States who pay most of the dues.

Fifth Committee Report: 15-19 October 2007
From 15-19 October 2007, the Fifth Committee mostly considered budget matters and the reports of the OIOS and Board of Auditors. Discussions on Administration of Justice which had originally been scheduled for this week were delayed as the ACABQ report on this subject is not yet available.

Fifth Committee Report: 5-11 October 2007 [5]
From 5 to 9 October 2007, the Fifth Committee considered the organization of its work and received briefings on reform issues from the Deputy Secretary-General, the Under-Secretary-General for Management and Assistant Secretaries-General on management reform, human resources, administration of justice and IT.

61st SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Center for UN Reform Education started following the work of the Fifth Committee (Budgetary and Administrative) during the 61st session of the General Assembly (GA). When the Fifth Committee was in session, the Center published (bi)weekly reports on the reform issues being negotiated, in particular on administration of justice, governance and oversight, human resources management, and procurement reform.

REPORTS & ANALYSES

UN Management Reform - the Role and Perspective of the Group of 77 [6]
by Irene Martinetti, 10 September 2007

Management Reform - the Role and Perspective of the United States [7]
by Julia Hurley, 21 june 2007

Fifth Committee Report: 1-8 June 2007 [7]
On 8 June 2007, the Fifth Committee concluded discussions on all issues except DPKO reform. Amid the issues taken up by the Committee during the session, the Center for UN Reform tracked the negotiations on the strengthening of the oversight mechanisms of the United Nations, and on the budgetary requirements for the restructuring of DPKO.

Fifth Committee Report: 14-29 May 2007 [7]
During the past two weeks, Fifth Committee delegates reportedly continued discussions on the Reform of the Oversight and Governance systems of the UN. A draft resolution establishing the Indepedent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC) and deciding the modalities for the strengthening of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is currently under negotiation.

Fifth Committee Report: 7-11 May 2007 [7]
During the first meeting of its second resumed session, the Fifth Committee addressed, inter alia, the reform of Governance and Oversight. The Committee is expected to finalize the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC) and establish the nomination and selection procedures for its members. The strengthening the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is also a key agenda item.

Pushing Decisions through a Clogged Bottleneck [8]
by Irene Martinetti and Lydia Swart, 25 April 2007
Should there be a review of the Fifth Committee's Working Methods?

Fifth Committee Report: 19-30 March 2007 [8]
Over the past two weeks the Fifth Committee, in conjunction with the Sixth Committee, has been engaged in discussions on the subject of the reform of the Internal Justice system at the UN. A draft resolution was approved by the Committee on 29 March 2007

Fifth Committee Report: 5-9 March 2007 [8]
From 5-9 March 2007, Member States discussed, inter alia, the reform of the United Nations administration of justice system, an audit report of the tsunami relief operations, and a report on progress implementing strengthened, unified United Nations security system.

Much Needed Change in UN Human Resources Policies Gets a Timid Start [9]
by Irene Martinetti, 21 December 2006

Fifth Committee Report: 18-22 December 2006 [9]
From December 16 to 22, the Fifth Committee concluded negotiations on several resolutions. This report provides an updated analysis of the resolutions on Procurement Reform, Human Resources Reform, and Scale of Assessments.

Fifth Committee Report: 11-15 December 2006 [9]
From 9-15 December, the Fifth Committee discussed, inter alia, a series of reports on the reform of the oversight and governance system of the UN. Informal consultations continued on procurement and human resources management reform among others.

Fifth Committee Report: 4-8 December 2006 [9]
From 4 to 8 December Informal consultations continued at the Fifth Committee concerning the draft resolution on human resources management reform. The following is a summary of issues raised with respect to mobility and career development and support.

Reforming Oversight and Governance of the UN Encounters Hurdles [10]
by Irene Martinetti, 1 December 2006

Fifth Committee Report: 21 November - 1 December 2006 [10]
Informal consultations continued in the Fifth Committee on scale of assessments, programme budget, United Nations pension system, procurement reform and human resources reform among others.

5th Committe Considers Progress on Procurement Reform [11]
by Lydia Swart, 15 November 2006

Fifth Committee Report: 13-17 November 2006 [11]
Informal Consultations were held on oversight and governance and procurement reform. Furthermore, Informal Consultations on Human Resources Management Reform continued and discussions on the Secretary General Reports were concluded.

Fifth Committee Report: 6-10 November 2006 [11]
This report is based on Fifth Committee meetings held from 6-10 November on Human Resources Management, UN Pension Fund, UN Financial Situation and the Economic Commission for Africa.

Fifth Committee Report: 30 October - 3 November 2006 [11]
This report is based on Fifth Committee meetings held from 30 October - 3 November on Human Resources Management, Procurement Reform, and the Joint Inspection Unit.

Fifth Committee Report: 23-27 October 2006 [11]
This report is based on Fifth Committee meetings held from 23-27 October on procurement reform, the report of the International Civil Service Commission and the Joint Inspection Unit.

Fifth Committee Report: 16-20 October 2006 [11]
The following report is based on Fifth Committee meetings held in the week of 16-20 October, 2006 regarding Governance and Oversight and the Program Budget for 2006-2007.