1 June 2016
Fifth Committee Requests More Detail on 2030 Agenda, AAAA Budget
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The UN General Assembly's (UNGA) Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) decided not to approve the UN Secretary-General's request for extra US$33.5 million for the biennium 2016-2017 and US$42.5 million for 2018-2019 to enhance the Secretariat's role in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA).

The Committee has requested further detail on the requested funding.

unga7024 May 2016: The UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) decided not to approve the UN Secretary-General’s request for an extra US$33.5 million for the biennium 2016-2017 and US$42.5 million for 2018-2019 to enhance the Secretariat’s role in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA). The Committee has requested further detail on the requested funding.

To avoid delays in implementing the Agendas, the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) recommended that the UNGA authorize commitments of up to US$10 million in 2016 to implement mandated activities.

During the meeting of the Fifth Committee on 24 May 2016, in New York, US, Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, UN Department of Management, presented the report of the Secretary-General on ‘Supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development’ (A/70/794), which was issued in March 2016. Bartsiotas said the requested budgetary difference lies primarily in the application of a different vacancy rate: 50% for new temporary professional posts in the first biennium, and 9% for the continuation of those posts. All 62 posts are proposed as “temporary,” as the 2030 Agenda only covers the period through 2030. The requirements for the upcoming biennia, including 2018-2019, will again be reviewed and validated in the context of the biennial programme budget formulation process, she said.

Bartsiotas said the proposals include: supporting the strengthening of capacity and improving policy coherence at the regional, national, subnational and local levels; facilitating regional and international cooperation; catalyzing new partnerships and improving the effectiveness and accountability of existing partnerships; supporting a favorable enabling environment through intergovernmental processes; supporting follow-up and review; and undertaking public advocacy of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She added that, over the next 15 years, it is expected that the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UNGA and its committees, special sessions, high level meetings and other processes will guide the UN system on how to best contribute to the two agendas.

Carlos Ruiz Massieu, ACABQ Chair, presenting that body’s related report (A/710/883), said the Committee has noted that the Secretary-General’s report does not comply with UNGA resolution 70/247 of 2015, and does not contain a request for appropriation of the related resource requirements.

In the ensuing discussion, Thailand for the Group of 77 and China (G-77/ China), supported by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, expressed disappointment that the Secretary-General’s report lacks detailed presentation and justification as well as a request for appropriation, making it “incomplete and incoherent.” Chad, for the African Group, said the Secretary-General’s current proposal lacks a plan to strengthen capacities, through appropriate mechanisms, particularly for the most vulnerable countries, despite specific requests in that regard submitted by more than 100 Member States.

The EU noted that the international community needs to adapt itself to the new development agenda, not the status quo, and said no request for new resources can be proposed without a specific and well-defined need that is clearly linked to the new agenda.

The US called for a more comprehensive discussion of the issue in the main part of UNGA’s 71th session. [UN Meeting Coverage] [Supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development: Report of the Secretary-General] [Report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions]

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