BRIEFING ON UNAMA'S PROPOSED BUDGET - SPECIAL

S E C R E T USUN NEW YORK 000947

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2018
TAGS: AF PGOV PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: BRIEFING ON UNAMA'S PROPOSED BUDGET - SPECIAL
ALLOWANCE AT RISK

REF: A. USUN 000937

B. USUN 000697

C. USUN 000585

D. USUN 000572

E. USUN 000375

F. USUN 000362

Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) and (D)


1. (S) In a briefing on October 9th to Fifth Committee
experts of the Friends of Afghanistan on the
soon-to-be-issued proposed 2009 budget of the UN Assistance
Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA),Scott Smith of DPKO confirmed
many of the facts and figures he conveyed in a briefing on
July 30th (Reftel B). Following discussion of the major
components of the proposed budget (see paragraph 3 below),
Smith highlighted the positive impact the Special Afghanistan
Allowance (SAA) given to UN staff serving at UNAMA
($1,620/month) has had on recruiting and retaining staff and
underlined the importance of the Fifth Committee continuing
the SAA in 2009 particularly considering that the
Secretary-General will be requesting 516 new civilian posts
in the proposed budget. Note: In a meeting on October 13th
(Reftel A),SRSG Eide lamented the fact that the UN's
cumbersome hiring system significantly diminished UNAMA's
ability to achieve its expanded mandate. Ambassador
Khalilzad assured Eide that the US would work to ensure the
SAA remained in place. End Note.


2. (SBU) Fifth Committee experts, including from Australia,
Canada, and the UK, underlined the linkage between the Fifth
Committee,s upcoming consideration of the US proposal on
streamlining of contracts and harmonization of conditions of
service, i.e., benefits and allowances, for staff in the
field and the Committee,s consideration of the proposed
UNAMA budget which includes funding for continuing the SAA in

2009. We are concerned that should the Fifth Committee fail
to adopt an acceptable harmonization proposal, Member States
may not be prepared to support continuation of the SAA
because of the special treatment accorded to the staff of two
missions (UNAMA and UNAMI (Iraq)). As has been recognized,
agreement on an overall harmonization package applying to all
field personnel should obviate the need for such special
allowances. UNAMA and UNAMI personnel would continue to
receive hazard pay ($1,300/month).


3. (U) Proposed Budget for 2009 - Facts and Figures:

2009 proposed budget - $170 million - includes $18 million
for projected over-expenditures in 2008.
2008 budget - $84 million.

2009 proposed budget includes -
$1.2 million - military and police components
$76.5 million - civilian staff - includes 516 additional
posts (142 international posts, 358 national posts, 16 UN
Volunteer posts) for an overall total of 2,102.
$82.6 million - operational costs - includes additional costs
for air assets, 135 new armored vehicles, and one-time costs
for construction of new provincial offices.
Wolff