UNGA: FIFTH COMMITTEE DISCUSSES ICT GOVERNANCE,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000985

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/MPR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OARC
SUBJECT: UNGA: FIFTH COMMITTEE DISCUSSES ICT GOVERNANCE,
SYSTEM UPGRADES AND DISASTER RECOVERY PROVISIONS


1. Summary: In a formal session on October 22 of the UN
General Assembly (UNGA) Fifth Committee (Administrative and
Budgetary),Secretariat officials and delegations discussed a
number of reports on Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) reform, ICT governance and disaster preparedness.
Delegations agreed that the existing Integrated Management
Information System (IMIS) is outdated and should be replaced,
but diverged on funding requirements. Wary of the risks of
such an extensive project, some counseled drawing lessons
from the last major ICT upgrade. Headquarters and field
elements will divide ICT responsibilities. On disaster
preparedness, Member States were caught off guard by the
decision to forego the previously proposed ICT back-up site
in the New York City area. End Summary.


2. The Under Secretary-General (USYG) for Management Angela
Kane introduced the Secretary-General,s (SYG,s) reports on
Investing in Information and Communications Technology
(A/62/793 and A/62/793/Add.1); ICT Security, Disaster
Recovery and Business Continuity (A/62/477); and Enterprise
Systems (A/62/510/Rev.1). Chairman of the Advisory Committee
on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) Susan
McLurg then presented a separate report on ICT (A/63/487).
Delegates also heard from Chief Information Technology
Officer (CITO) Choi Soon-hong. Kenneth Herman, Senior
Advisor on Information Management Policy Coordination of the
Secretariat of the UN Chief Executives Board for
Coordination, also introduced the reports of the Joint
Inspection Unit, Knowledge Management (JIU/REP/2007/6) and A
Common Payroll for UN System Organizations (JIU/REP/2005/4).
These reports were followed by interventions by
representatives of France (speaking for the EU),Antigua and
Barbuda (speaking for the G77 and China),Canada (speaking
for CANZ),Switzerland (also speaking for Liechtenstein),
Singapore, South Korea, the United States (see paragraph 9),
Russia, and Japan. Statements available in full text have
been sent to IO/MPR via e-mail.


3. The SYG's reports outlined the need to improve ICT
management and noted that the absence of an integrated
information system is seriously hampering the UN's
effectiveness. Kane proposed management oversight, advisory
bodies, strengthening the CITO, replacement of the aging IMIS
and ancillary systems with a commercially available
Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP). The CITO will be
responsible for strategic and System-wide functions, while
the Department of Field Support (DFS) is to retain day-to-day
control of communications systems in peacekeeping missions.
The SYG is requesting UNGA approval for these improvements.


4. Speakers generally agreed that IMIS must go. Antigua and
Barbuda cited the risks to which the UN is exposed by using
fragmented ICT systems. South Korea (ROK) expressed hope for
timely development of a new ICT structure. The Swiss
representative called current ICT platforms "not only
outdated, but also incompatible with each other, even within
the same agency or within the Secretariat."


5. Paying for the new system will not be so simple. The
SYG's report claims that the ERP proposal can be funded at
USD 280 million over five years. While ROK welcomed the
budget-neutral proposal to enhance the CITO's office by
drawing on the existing Secretariat resources, others were
skeptical. Antigua and Barbuda prognosticated a total cost
exceeding USD 372 million that would be robbed from other
programs. "Expressions of support without the underlying
funding run the risk of being an empty promise." Contrary to
the others, Switzerland encouraged investing more, stating
that it would be unwise for the UNGA to exercise
"disproportionate budgetary restraint" that would save money
only in the short run.


6. Other delegations expressed concern about possible
ballooning costs and risks of replacing IMIS with ERP. The
Japanese representative encouraged initial approval of "only
the minimum necessary for the design phase," to be followed
next year by "a more streamlined cost estimate". He also
inquired about the possibilities of delays and cost overruns.
Antigua and Barbuda and the ROK urged the Secretariat to use
lessons already learned in building IMIS and the
trial-and-error experiences of other international
organizations in implementing an ERP, e.g. UNICEF, UNDP, UNHR
and WFP.


8. USYG Kane withdrew the proposal for a data back-up center
in Long Island City, New York. The ACABQ Chair called on the
Secretariat to explain why they are no longer requesting the
facility and recommended that the SYG submit a new proposal
for a secondary data center.


9. United States representative noted, "Given the difficult


economic conditions we are operating under and the rapidly
escalating expenses we are facing both under the regular and
peacekeeping budgets, we must ensure that the resources we
provide are used in an efficient, effective and transparent
manner." Full U.S. delegation remarks are available at the
Mission's web site, www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov.
Khalilzad