5 October 2016: The UN Office for Partnerships (UNOP) has briefed Member States on its activities in 2015. Addressing the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), Ann de la Roche, UNOP Officer-in-Charge, said the Office aims to serve as a gateway for public-private partnerships (PPPs) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report of the UN Secretary-General on UNOP (A/71/159), issued on 15 July 2016, covers areas overseen by UNOP, including the UN Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP) that serves as the interface between the UN Foundation and the UN system, and the UN Democracy Fund, established by the UN Secretary-General in July 2005 to support democratization around the world. The report also includes a section on partnership advisory and outreach services.

Introducing the report on 5 October 2016, de la Roche noted that resources allocated to the UNFIP had reached US$1.4 billion by the end of 2015. These resources provided capital to the UN Foundation to initiate programmes related to: women’s and girl’s empowerment; polio eradication; suppression of malaria; and addressing global energy and sustainability issues. She added that by the end of 2015, UNFIP had supported a total of 592 projects implemented by 43 UN entities in 124 countries.

She reported that the UN Democracy Fund, meanwhile, has backed 51 new projects at a total cost of US$9 million, and provided support primarily to civil society organizations in countries at various phases of democratization. Since the Fund’s inception in 2005, said de la Roche, the Fund has supported nearly 600 projects in over 130 countries.

Also at the Fifth Committee meeting, members were updated on the financial situation of the UN and on the increasing shortfalls in the UN’s regular budget since 2013. Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, UN Controller, said “cash positions” are currently positive for the following UN financial categories: regular budget; peacekeeping operations; international tribunals; and Capital Master Plan. However, she added, the UN regular budget cash is at very low levels and regular budget reserves (Working Capital Fund and the Special Account) are almost exhausted. She warned that more severe cash problems will be experienced in the final months of 2016 unless sufficient contributions are received. Tucci Bartsiotas thanked the 126 UN Member States that have already paid in full for the regular budget, and urged the remaining 67 UN Member States to pay their regular budget contributions in full as soon as possible. She said the US$1.19 billion in unpaid assessments is concentrated among a few Member States. She also pointed to increasing shortfalls in the UN’s regular budget: US$31 million as of 31 December 2013; US$81 million at the end of December 2014; and US$217 million at the end of December 2015. [UN Office for Partnerships: Report of the UN Secretary-General] [UN Meeting Coverage] [UNOP Website]