UN: COMMITTEE ON PROGRAMMING AND COORDINATION

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000660

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA CPC
SUBJECT: UN: COMMITTEE ON PROGRAMMING AND COORDINATION
(CPC) CONCLUDES 49TH SESSION


1. SUMMARY. The Committee for Program and Coordination (CPC)
concluded its 49th session on July 2 and adopted its report
containing recommendations for ECOSOC and the General
Assembly. See A/64/16 (Pending publication see
E/AC.51/2009/L.4/Add.1-10). The CPC Report will be considered
by ECOSOC during its July session and will be considered by
the GA during its 64th session this fall. The Committee's
work was primarily dedicated to three issues: review of
several in-depth evaluation reports, changes made to
strategic frameworks due to action in the GA last fall (i.e.
Human Resource Management and Information Communications
Technology) and a discussion of the committee's working
methods and schedule. As last year, the U.S. participated as
an observer, which allowed the USdel to present views on
issues raised but not participate in decisions taken by the
Committee, including recommendations for language to be
included in the CPC's final report. The key players during
this session of the CPC were delegates from Brazil, China,
Cuba, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Nigeria, and South Africa. The
Italian delegation was the only consistent and effective WEOG
voice. (Note: There are currently four WEOG vacancies on the
CPC. End note.) END SUMMARY.

CPC BUREAU MEMBERS
FOR 49TH SESSION
--------------

2. The committee was chaired by South Africa with
Vice-Chairpersons from Belarus, Italy and Venezuela. The
delegate from of Iran served as Rapporteur.


REPORTS CONSIDERED
--------------

3. The following are the reports considered by CPC in its
forty-ninth session:
- Proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011:
Offices of Human Resourses Management and Office of
Information and Communication Technology (A/64/6. Sections
28C and 29).
- OIOS report on strengthening the role of evaluation and the
application of evaluation findings on programme design,
delivery and policy directives (A/64/63 and Corr.1).
- SG consolidated reports on the changes to the biennial
programme plan as reflected in the proposed programme budget
for the bienniums of 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 (A/64/73 and
A/64/74).
- Overview report of the UN System Chief Executives Board
(CEB)(E/2009/67)
- OIOS report on UN support of least developed countries,
landlocked developing countries, small island developing
States and Africa (E/AC.51/2009/2).
- OIOS triennial review of the implementation of
recommendations made by the CPC to the department of
political affairs (E/AC.51/2009/3).
- OIOS triennial review of the implementation of
recommendations made by the CPC on the thematic evaluation of
knowledge management networks in the pursuit of the MDG's.
(E/AC.51/2009/4).
- OIOS report on the thematic evaluation of lessons learned:
protocols and practices (E/AC.51/2009/5).
- OIOS report on the thematic evaluation of UN coordinating
bodies (E/AC.51/2009/6).
- SG report on UN system support for NEPAD (E/AC.51/2009/7).

KEY AREAS OF DISCUSSION
--------------

4. Upon considering evaluation reports, several discussions
arose over the appropriateness of statements made by the
OIOS. Many delegations, in particular those from Cuba and
Nigeria, believed the OIOS overstepped its bounds by making
"value judgments" on issues still being considered by the GA.
This was particularly highlighted in the OIOS triennial
review of the implementation of recommendations made to the
department of political affairs (E/AC.51/2009/3),wherein the
OIOS stated that although the conflict-strategy proposed by
the SYG was still to be endorsed by the GA, it marked a
significant milestone towards developing a clear role and
vision for the DPA. Further consternation for delegates,
particularly from G-77 countries, arose over OIOS language in
the evaluation of UN support of least developed countries,
landlocked developing countries, small island developing
States and Africa (E/AC.51/2009/2). OIOS expressed the view
that although the SG's proposal for an alignment of functions
of the Office of High Representative and Office of Special
Advisor to Africa was initially rejected by the GA, it still
had merit. Many delegations believed that OIOS overstepped
its mandate as an evaluation body by offering opinions on
issues already decided upon by the GA. The delegation from
Cuba proposed language that expressed deep regret over such
statements made by the OIOS. The USGdel opposed such language
that could hinder the OIOS from making effective and useful
evaluations. Spain and Italy joined the US position that the

language proposed could potentially set a precedent that may
incapacitate, or at the very least impede, the ability of the
OIOS to fulfill its role as an evaluator. In the end, the
language was softened on the issue of "value judgments" and
offering opinions on items currently before the GA. Regarding
the DPA report, the CPA adopted language reading: "The
committee questioned the appropriateness of the view
expressed by OIOS in paragraph 45 of its report
E/AC.51/2009/3, and requested the SG to recall the need for
the Office to refrain from value judgments on issues that are
still under consideration by the GA." Regarding the latter
instance (E/AC.51/2009/2),the committee adopted language
reading: "The Committee expressed concern that the assessment
by OIOS of the Office of High Representative and the Office
of Special Adviser disregarded the relevant mandates of the
two Offices and resolutions of the GA and regretted that OIOS
expressed support for the SG's proposal for an alignment of
functions between the two Offices when the GA had decided not
to approve the proposal."


5. Regarding coordination, the committee welcomed the
priority the CEB placed ensuring the effectiveness and
coordination of the United Nations system support for Africa
and NEPAD (E/AC.59/2009/L.4/Add.7). The committee called for
CEB to scale up their efforts to align CEB priorities with
those of NEPAD.


6. (U) When considering changes to the proposed program
budgets for the 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 bienniums (A/64/73
and A/64/74),the committee continued to promote results
based management and spent a good deal of time discussing
expected accomplishments of the secretariat and respective
indicators of achievement. Regarding human resources
management, the committee recommended the addition of an
indicator of achievement calling for an increased number of
young professionals recruited through improved and more
extensive outreach for the Secretariat as a whole. The
committee also recommended striving for an increased number
of recruitments from qualified candidates identified through
national competitive recruitment examinations at the
Secretariat. There was an effort to make indicators of
achievement quantifiable, something that had been lacking in
the past. Finally, the delegations noted Enterprise Resource
Planning (ERP) was absent from the seemingly relevant
Subprogramme 5 (ICT strategic management and coordination)
and Subprogramme 6 (ICT operations) of Section E (OICT) of
the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011. The
Secretariat informed the Committee that ERP budgeting is
contained under section 28C, Office of Human Resources
Management, of the proposed programme budget. However, the
committee suggested the secretariat to consider the
possibility of including ERP in the seemingly relevant
subprogrammes 5 and 6. (E/AC.51/2009/L.4/Add.9).

Working Methods
And Strategic Framework
--------------


7. Contentious debates ensued over the agenda item "improving
the working methods and procedures of the CPC within the
framework of its mandates." With the exception of Italy, all
delegations immediately expressed interest in no longer
having a discussion of working methods as a recurrent agenda
item. The committee was unable to be self-critical and felt
that satisfactory progress had been made in improving the
working methods over the 11 years that the item had been on
the agenda. They stated that this item should cease to waste
the Committee's time and resources when other substantive
items could be discussed in its place. They also indicated
that the CPC is the only committee that discusses its own
working methods on an annual basis. Italy was isolated and
faced broad opposition to include language in the draft
report (E/AC.51/2009/L.4/Add.10) merely recognizing the
importance of improving the Committee's working methods
within the framework of its mandate. Even such mild language
was diluted by a statement in the same paragraph expressing
the Committee's satisfaction with all efforts made and
progress achieved in regard to previous efforts to improve
working methods. France, Israel, and Spain supported Italy in
principle, but showed little interest and no effort to
actively partake in the negotiations, and the UK and US were
constrained by their status as observers. In the end, the
item of working methods was removed from the agenda as a
recurrent item and will only be discussed 'as and when
needed' in future sessions.


8. Italy proposed modifying the work schedule of the CPC to
better accommodate the disproportionate workloads between
budgetary and non-budgetary years. The committee recognized
that the workload is significantly higher during non-budget
years when it considers all of the strategic frameworks. The
proposal was to allocate three weeks and five weeks to

budgetary and non-budgetary years respectively. The proposal
does not have any budgetary implications as it does not
change the number of weeks the CPC would be in session over
the biennium. The Committee agreed to allow the Chairman to
make a statement to the Fifth Committee regarding this issue.
The Fifth Committee will consider this proposal in the fall.


9. WEOG influence is on the verge of disappearing from the
CPC. The UK withdrew from the Committee in 2005, the US in
2006 and Japan in 2007. This left only one of the UN's top
five contributing countries (France) to have input when
setting program priorities for the Organization. In the most
recent session, the delegation from Italy was the only
experienced and influential WEOG player who actively and
effectively engaged in the negotiations. Other WEOG members,
notably Israel, France and Spain, were consistently silent
throughout the entire process. This left Italy isolated
facing broad opposition when advocating positions often in
line with those of the US (i.e. protecting the independence
of OIOS and reforms in working methods). Unless new
unforeseen players come into the scene, it is likely the CPC
will be completely absent of a significant WEOG voice in the
near future.
RICE