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 SEVENTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA

Other financial and general questions

Additional funds for the Working Party on the
Evaluation of the Active Partnership Policy

1. At its 268th Session (March 1997), the Governing Body decided to establish a Tripartite Working Party to conduct an evaluation of the Active Partnership Policy. The funding for this evaluation, originally estimated at US$140,000 during 1997 and $15,000 during 1998, was approved by the Governing Body at the same session. At its 270th Session (November 1997) additional funding of $20,000 was approved to cover costs resulting from a change in the Working Party's schedule of meetings.

2. At its present session (March 1998) the Governing Body will have before it a report of its Committee on Technical Cooperation stating in paragraph 151 that the Working Party has been requested to conclude its work between March and November 1998 and to present its final report to the Governing Body at its 273rd Session (November 1998).

3. Although there is no express proposal on this matter before the Governing Body, the continuation of the work of the Working Party, as envisaged in the report referred to above, would require a decision of the Governing Body, at least as regards potential needs for additional financing. For the Governing Body to be in a position to take such a decision, should it wish to do so, the matter is now being referred to the Programme, Financial and Administrative Committee for the report required by article 22, paragraph 3, of the Governing Body Standing Orders.

4. The Office has been informed that there is no final agreement on the plan of work of the Working Party in 1998, that negotiations are ongoing as to the timing, duration and terms of reference for this work, and that the Officers of the Committee on Technical Cooperation intend to seek agreement on these outstanding issues following the conclusion of the current session of the Governing Body. On the basis of the information provided it is estimated that the maximum additional costs would be $28,000. If the final agreement leads to lower costs, then of course there would be corresponding savings as compared to this estimate. These costs could in the first instance be financed by savings under Part I of the budget. Should this not prove possible, the Director-General could propose alternative methods of financing at a later stage in the biennium.

5. The Committee may wish to recommend that, should the Governing Body decide to authorize the possible additional expenditure for the continuation of the work of the Working Party between March and November 1998, such costs, estimated at a maximum of $28,000, be financed in the first instance from savings in Part I of the budget on the understanding that, should this subsequently prove impossible, the Director-General would propose alternative methods of financing at a later stage in the biennium.

Geneva, 25 March 1998.

Point for decision: Paragraph 5.