UNITAR Hosts Course For New Delegates On The Fifth Committee
4 September 2018, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations, has organized an Orientation Course for New Delegates on the 5th Committee in the United Nations Headquarter. The course took place between4-7 September 2018. This is the second year that UNITAR has partnered with the Swiss Mission for this week long- course, consisting of four half-day workshops. A course of this magnitude is crucial due to the nature of the work required for Fifth Committee delegates. UNITAR continues to fulfill its role in being the main training body of the delegates in New York with 90 inscriptions on the training.
The opening remarks of the first session were delivered by the UNITAR New York Head of Office Mr. Marco Suazo. He then introduced H.E. Ms. Gillian Bird, the Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations and incoming President of the 5th Committee, as well as H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber, the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, who gave background and context on the 5th Committee, as well as welcoming remarks for the four-day Orientation Course.
The audience was then addressed in a session on the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), by Ms. Shari Klugman, the Secretary of ACABQ. Ms. Klugman shared insight on the nature of ACABQ’s relationship with the 5th Committee, as well as their reports, which encapsulate Secretary General proposals and reports in a summarized, yet technical manner. In response to audience questions, Ms. Klugman also discussed how ACABQ reviews budget expenditures and proposals in a manner that is dependent on the budget cycle of funded programs. Mr. Suazo then asked about the response of ACABQ when a proposal isn’t feasible, to which Ms. Klugman remarked that the Chairman of ACABQ has informal latitude to speak with Senior officials and to work on items that need further development.
Mr. Wiryanto Sumitro, Deputy Secretary of the Administrative and Budgetary Secretary, then addressed the audience on Key Players of the United Nations Budget, giving an overview of the 5th Committee and its work. In his overview, Mr. Sumitro examined General Assembly (GA) Rules and Procedures 155 and 157, which determine how the ACABQ works, and addressed the legislative basis for the Administrative & Budgetary Committee of the GA. Mr. Sumitro remarked on the assistance of technical advisory committees, noting that committee members of ACABQ are appointed by the GA on recommendation of the 5th Committee, through the permanent missions of the United Nations to New York. In speaking on the rules and procedures regarding appointments and elections, Mr. Sumitro gave special regards to earlier speakers, H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber and H.E. Ms. Gillian Bird. Mr. Marco Suazo finished the session by giving closing remarks and welcomed the delegates to the week-long orientation series for New Delegates on the 5th Committee.
The next session was resumed on 5September with the focus on Oversight Mechanisms by Mr. David Kanja, UN Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) from the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and Mr. Achamkulangare Gopinathan, Inspector for the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU). There was also an overview of the UN International Civil Service Commission by Ms. Regina Pawlik. 6 and 7 September featured a session on the reforms of the Human Resources and Managements presented by Mr. Christian Saunders, ASG, for the Office of Central Support-Services in the Department of Management as well as the updates on the UN Budget Process presented by Mr. Yacine Hamzaoui, Chief of Service III, Programme Planning and Budget Division and Mr. Tek Pokwal, Chief of Service I, Programme Planning and Budget Division.