UNGA/C-5: FUNDING FOR AMISOM, CAPITAL MASTER PLAN,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001064 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KUNR PREL UNGA SUBJECT: UNGA/C-5: FUNDING FOR AMISOM, CAPITAL MASTER PLAN, AFTER-SERVICE HEALTH INSURANCE, AND PROCUREMENT ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The Fifth Committee recently held a series of formal meetings on procurement, After-Service Health Insurance (ASHI),support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),and the Capital Master Plan (CMP). The U.S. delivered a statement noting its support for AMISOM and condemning the recent attacks in Somalia against its personnel. African delegations widely called for the UN to continue its support of the Mission, urging that assistance is essential to maintaining security and advancing the peace process in Somalia. Several delegations suggested that plans move ahead for an eventual UNPKO in Somalia. Pertaining to the After Service Health Initiative (ASHI),the Secretariat called for a new two-tier funding approach involving a surge in initial funds and a long term investment plan. On procurement, the Secretariat noted the many steps that it had taken to advance reforms, but the OIOS insisted that the measures taken are not "real" and urged management to take further action. Delegations widely called for sustainable procurement and some stressed the need to include more vendors from the developing world. Japan noted its concern over the steeply rising costs of ASHI and suggested it might be necessary to limit the number of years past retirement that the benefit can be received. The Secretariat presented an optimistic report of the budget and time-line for the Capital Master Plan, but delegations expresses mixed views, while the Board of Auditors questioned the rationale behind purported decreases in the project budget. END SUMMARY PROCUREMENT -------------- ¶2. (U) SECRETARIAT OPTIMISTIC ON REFORM PROCESS: Warren Sach, Assistant Secretary-General for Central Support Services, introduced the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General on UN procurement activities. He outlined efforts to streamline the vendor registration system and to improve procurement opportunities for vendors from developing countries. He also explained the rationale behind the proposed establishment of a Regional Procurement Office in Entebbe, Uganda, on a pilot basis. Finally, he explained the concept of sustainable procurement that incorporates economic, social, and environmental considerations. ¶3. (U) OIOS LESS OPTIMISTIC; CALLS FOR &REAL REFORM8: Inga-Britt Ahlenius, Under Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services, introduced the report of the OIOS outlining the results of its audit of procurement management in the Secretariat. This report pointed out, inter alia, that many of the activities that the Secretariat was trumpeting as successful reforms should, in fact, be considered routine managerial requirements. As such, attention was being diverted from the critical reforms that have yet to be fully implemented, including the long-delayed bid protest system and ethics guidelines. OIOS further noted that the Secretariat only accepted 12 of 25 recommendations provided by OIOS. ¶4. (U) G-77 AND OTHERS CITE LACK OF INFORMATION, SPAR ON SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT: Delegations broadly raised concerns about the lack of sufficient information contained within the comprehensive report on procurement. On specific proposals, however, the Committee was divided, particularly in the case of sustainable procurement. Although blocs such as CANZ and the EU stated their support for sustainable procurement, groups such as the G-77 and the Rio Group expressed concern over the concept and warned the Secretariat not to take steps towards implementing sustainable procurement absent specific mandates from the General Assembly. AFTER-SERVICE HEALTH INSURANCE (ASHI) -------------- ¶5. (U) SECRETARIAT URGES TWO-TIERED FUNDING APPROACH: Jun Yamazaki, the UN Controller, introduced the report of the Secretary-General on the ASHI. He warned that the current "pay-as-you-go8 strategy of funding ASHI was not sustainable in the long term, because growth in ASHI liabilities -- caused by the growing number of eligible retirees and the increasing cost of healthcare -- were outpacing the growth in the budget. The UN share of ASHI liabilities was estimated at USD 2.4 billion in 2007, up from USD 2.1 billion in 2005. As a result, the Secretary-General recommends a two-tiered funding approach that would utilize (1) a one-time infusion of USD 425 million into an ASHI reserve investment fund and (2) maintenance of current funding practices supplemented by charges against salary costs. It is proposed that the funds for the one-time infusion be diverted from unencumbered balances from the 2008/09 peacekeeping budget as well as from the medical and dental reserves. ¶6. (U) POSSIBILITY OF ASHI TIME LIMITS RAISED: Sudan, speaking on behalf of the G-77 and China, indicated their concerns about the proposed funding schedule, as well as their opposition to transferring the unencumbered balances from the 2008/09 peacekeeping budget, calling it &an inappropriate financial management practice8. Japan also raised concerns, suggesting that the &General Assembly may wish to review the scope and coverage of the existing after-service health insurance plans" and that it may be necessary to "consider imposing a limitation on the number of years for which retired staff members and their dependants are covered by ASHI after their retirement" as is the practice in the Japanese civil service. LOGISTICAL SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR THE AFRICAN -------------- UNION MISSION IN SOMALIA (AMISOM) -------------- ¶7. (U) U.S. STATEMENT CONDEMNS ATTACKS AND EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR AMISOM: David A. Traystman delivered the U.S. statement, noting that "the United States strongly supports the important role played by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the decision to strengthen support for AMISOM provided under Security Council resolution 1863." The statement expressed condemnation for the deadly suicide attacks of September 17 against AMISOM. The U.S. noted the extensive logistical and equipment support that it provides to AMISOM forces, along with food and non-food emergency assistance, and added that "we plan to continue this level of support." The U.S. observed that the situation in Somalia "remains tenuous" and called on the Fifth Committee to authorize the "logistical and other support to AMISOM requested by the Secretary-General." It called on the UN to use limited resources in an "efficient, effective and transparent manner." Full text of the statement can be found online at: http://usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/200 9/131863.htm ¶8. (U) UN CONTROLLER EXPLAINS COST RISE, AFRICAN DELEGATIONS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF AMISOM: Jun Yamazaki, the UN Controller, noted that the budget for AMISOM is approximately $90 million less than was originally forecasted for the June 2009/June 2010 period, owing largely to changing circumstances on the ground. Angola spoke on behalf of the African group and praised the role of AMISOM in creating a more secure environment in Mogadishu, which can hopefully allow the peace process to advance. Angola also endorsed the planning of an eventual UN peacekeeping force in Somalia. Ethiopia called for the SYG to continue providing logistical support to AMISOM, calling this assistance critical to the maintenance of security in Somalia. South Africa welcomed the proposed budget, but noted concern over the ACABQ's recommendation to reduce funding by $9.8 million, and hoped that such a cut would not adversely affect AMISOM's work. South Africa also echoed the call for establishing a future UN peacekeeping force in Somalia. Uganda also questioned whether the budget would be adequate and promised to address the issue in informals. REVIEW OF CAPITAL MASTER PLAN (CMP) -------------- ¶9. (U) SECRETARIAT SAYS CMP IS ON ITS WAY TO BEING WITHIN BUDGET (MOSTLY): Assistant Secretary-General Michael Adlerstein provided a status of the CMP and claimed that "the procurement of the project is moving well" and also maintained that "the costs of the project are now less than five percent over the approved budget, and those costs are still moving in the right direction - downward." Adlerstein explained that while last year, the project was $97.5 million over the approved budget, this year it is down to $91.4 million over-budget, and contended that the "gap continues to narrow." While "confident that we will conclude the project on budget," Adlerstein expressed concern "about our ability to absorb the associated costs," and mentioned he is not optimistic that the costs of the Secondary Data Center can be contained within the budget. In terms of time frame, Adlerstein noted that the project remains "on schedule8 to be completed by 2013." ¶10. (U) BOARD OF AUDITORS SKEPTICAL AND CRITICAL OF CMP FUNDING STATUS: Imran Vanker presented the Board of Auditor's report on the Capital Master Plan and noted "concerns about the total cost of the project, the disclosure and accuracy of the project calculations, uncertainties in the schedule of the project, and the weakness in procurement and contract management." While Vanker recognized that the projected costs now are slightly lower than last year's estimate, "it is still higher than the $1.877 Billion approved by the General Assembly, indicating that a cost over-run is still possible." Vanker explained that the cause of reductions in the cost estimate is a function of "a large reduction in the budget for contingencies (including price escalation) from $478 million to $227 million since the Board's last report." The BOA recommends that a more conservative approach be applied, particularly since the "project does not have to absorb what is described as 'the Associated Costs." ¶11. (U) DELEGATIONS EXPRESS MIXED REACTION ON BUDGET AND TIME-LINE: Bangladesh noted appreciation for the cost-savings, but emphasized that "the value engineering must not compromise the quality of work, should not lead to structural change, integrity of the architectural design, and the historic landmarks of the complex." Australia, speaking on behalf of the CANZ group, said they were "naturally concerned that the CMP is coming in over-budget" and welcome "ongoing efforts to bring it back into line, including through design and value engineering exercises." Singapore called for the Secretariat to "redouble its efforts to ensure better planning and coordination for the remainder of the CMP project" and warned against adding "costs and delays to the CMP, which is highly undesirable as it increases the burden on Member States." Sweden, speaking on behalf of the European Union, noted that it was "concerned that certain recommendations made by the Board of Auditors, particularly relating to the dual issues of cost estimates and review of contractual amendments, were not accepted by the Secretary-General." Sweden also expressed regret that associated costs "were not built into the original budget proposals for the Capital Master Plan8 and the EU remains &unconvinced that these costs cannot be absorbed from within the approved budget." Sudan, speaking on behalf of the G-77 and China regretted &the slippage in the current schedule of the Capital Master Plan." Further, while the G-77, appreciated &the gains of the value engineering in maximizing the savings", it warned &against steps that "lead to any structural change and the integrity of the architectural design" and said "the concept needs to be further explained." RICE