Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, On Agenda Item 138: Proposed Programme Budget for 2022 and Agenda Item 139: Proposed Programme Plan for 2022, at the Main Part of the 76th Session of the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly
2021/10/13
(Check against delivery)
Mr. Chair,
At the outset, I would like to extend my appreciation to His Excellency Secretary-General António Guterres for introducing the Proposed Programme Budget for 2022. I would also like to thank the Committee for Programme and Coordination and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for their respective reports.
Japan strongly supports the overall direction of the reform initiatives led by Secretary-General Guterres. At the end of the third year of the reform, and ahead of the review of the annual budget cycle in the 77th session, we are of the view that this is a good opportunity to apply the benefits of the reform to further improve the UN budget in many areas, including efficiency, responsiveness and accountability. In this regard, while we acknowledge that certain outcomes of the reform have assisted the UN response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the quick mobilization of resources and the application of new working methods to ensure business continuity, we believe that the budget proposal for 2022 can further reflect the impact of COVID-19 in the context of the annual budget cycle. We look forward to discussing this in further detail in the upcoming sessions.
Mr. Chair,
A large number of the so-called ‘Add-Ons’ undermine the transparency and predictability of the UN budget. We believe that the use of Add-Ons should be minimized, making the best use of the annual budget cycle. In this session, we would like to discuss how to improve the budget methodology, including this topic, looking ahead to next year’s review of the annual budget.
Mr. Chair,
We note that the amount of the programme budget has been continuously increasing. The total proposed budget for 2022, including Add-Ons, is expected to exceed the approved budget for 2021 by approximately 100 million dollars. Given the current economic situation, which has been severely affected by the pandemic, ensuring the accountability of the UN budget to national fiscal authorities and taxpayers is ever more critical. We will carefully assess the overall level of the proposed budget, based on technical evidence and budgetary discipline, to determine the sufficient level of resources for the implementation of the UN’s mandate.
In particular, we will keep a close eye on post resources. While we appreciate those departments which have optimized their staff structure, the proposed budget for 2022 includes 48 more posts than the previous year. Furthermore, some of those posts do not seem to take into account the organization’s rejuvenation strategy. We will make a thorough review of the posts, especially long-vacant posts.
With respect to programme planning, regardless of the decision to be taken by other main committees on how to address the open programmes, we should proceed with discussions promptly on related agenda items in the Fifth Committee, bearing in mind our purview and responsibility to approve the programme plan and budget in a timely manner.
Mr. Chair,
Finally, my delegation is committed to engaging positively and constructively in the negotiations in order to achieve a consensual outcome on these important agenda items in as efficient a manner as possible. You can count on my delegation’s full cooperation in that regard.
I thank you, Mr. Chair.
At the outset, I would like to extend my appreciation to His Excellency Secretary-General António Guterres for introducing the Proposed Programme Budget for 2022. I would also like to thank the Committee for Programme and Coordination and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions for their respective reports.
Japan strongly supports the overall direction of the reform initiatives led by Secretary-General Guterres. At the end of the third year of the reform, and ahead of the review of the annual budget cycle in the 77th session, we are of the view that this is a good opportunity to apply the benefits of the reform to further improve the UN budget in many areas, including efficiency, responsiveness and accountability. In this regard, while we acknowledge that certain outcomes of the reform have assisted the UN response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the quick mobilization of resources and the application of new working methods to ensure business continuity, we believe that the budget proposal for 2022 can further reflect the impact of COVID-19 in the context of the annual budget cycle. We look forward to discussing this in further detail in the upcoming sessions.
Mr. Chair,
A large number of the so-called ‘Add-Ons’ undermine the transparency and predictability of the UN budget. We believe that the use of Add-Ons should be minimized, making the best use of the annual budget cycle. In this session, we would like to discuss how to improve the budget methodology, including this topic, looking ahead to next year’s review of the annual budget.
Mr. Chair,
We note that the amount of the programme budget has been continuously increasing. The total proposed budget for 2022, including Add-Ons, is expected to exceed the approved budget for 2021 by approximately 100 million dollars. Given the current economic situation, which has been severely affected by the pandemic, ensuring the accountability of the UN budget to national fiscal authorities and taxpayers is ever more critical. We will carefully assess the overall level of the proposed budget, based on technical evidence and budgetary discipline, to determine the sufficient level of resources for the implementation of the UN’s mandate.
In particular, we will keep a close eye on post resources. While we appreciate those departments which have optimized their staff structure, the proposed budget for 2022 includes 48 more posts than the previous year. Furthermore, some of those posts do not seem to take into account the organization’s rejuvenation strategy. We will make a thorough review of the posts, especially long-vacant posts.
With respect to programme planning, regardless of the decision to be taken by other main committees on how to address the open programmes, we should proceed with discussions promptly on related agenda items in the Fifth Committee, bearing in mind our purview and responsibility to approve the programme plan and budget in a timely manner.
Mr. Chair,
Finally, my delegation is committed to engaging positively and constructively in the negotiations in order to achieve a consensual outcome on these important agenda items in as efficient a manner as possible. You can count on my delegation’s full cooperation in that regard.
I thank you, Mr. Chair.