VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0660/01 1892148
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 082148Z JUL 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6868

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000660 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA CPC
SUBJECT: UN: COMMITTEE ON PROGRAMMING AND COORDINATION 
(CPC) CONCLUDES 49TH SESSION 
 
¶1. SUMMARY. The Committee for Program and Coordination (CPC) 
concluded its 49th session on July 2 and adopted its report 
containing recommendations for ECOSOC and the General 
Assembly. See A/64/16 (Pending publication see 
E/AC.51/2009/L.4/Add.1-10). The CPC Report will be considered 
by ECOSOC during its July session and will be considered by 
the GA during its 64th session this fall. The Committee's 
work was primarily dedicated to three issues: review of 
several in-depth evaluation reports, changes made to 
strategic frameworks due to action in the GA last fall (i.e. 
Human Resource Management and Information Communications 
Technology) and a discussion of the committee's working 
methods and schedule. As last year, the U.S. participated as 
an observer, which allowed the USdel to present views on 
issues raised but not participate in decisions taken by the 
Committee, including recommendations for language to be 
included in the CPC's final report. The key players during 
this session of the CPC were delegates from Brazil, China, 
Cuba, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Nigeria, and South Africa. The 
Italian delegation was the only consistent and effective WEOG 
voice. (Note: There are currently four WEOG vacancies on the 
CPC. End note.) END SUMMARY. 
 
CPC BUREAU MEMBERS 
FOR 49TH SESSION 
------------------- 
¶2. The committee was chaired by South Africa with 
Vice-Chairpersons from Belarus, Italy and Venezuela. The 
delegate from of Iran served as Rapporteur. 
 
 
REPORTS CONSIDERED 
------------------ 
¶3. The following are the reports considered by CPC in its 
forty-ninth session: 
- Proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011: 
Offices of Human Resourses Management and Office of 
Information and Communication Technology (A/64/6. Sections 
28C and 29). 
- OIOS report on strengthening the role of evaluation and the 
application of evaluation findings on programme design, 
delivery and policy directives (A/64/63 and Corr.1). 
- SG consolidated reports on the changes to the biennial 
programme plan as reflected in the proposed programme budget 
for the bienniums of 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 (A/64/73 and 
A/64/74). 
- Overview report of the UN System Chief Executives Board 
(CEB)(E/2009/67) 
- OIOS report on UN support of least developed countries, 
landlocked developing countries, small island developing 
States and Africa (E/AC.51/2009/2). 
- OIOS triennial review of the implementation of 
recommendations made by the CPC to the department of 
political affairs (E/AC.51/2009/3). 
- OIOS triennial review of the implementation of 
recommendations made by the CPC on the thematic evaluation of 
knowledge management networks in the pursuit of the MDG's. 
(E/AC.51/2009/4). 
- OIOS report on the thematic evaluation of lessons learned: 
protocols and practices (E/AC.51/2009/5). 
- OIOS report on the thematic evaluation of UN coordinating 
bodies (E/AC.51/2009/6). 
- SG report on UN system support for NEPAD (E/AC.51/2009/7). 
 
KEY AREAS OF DISCUSSION 
----------------------- 
¶4. Upon considering evaluation reports, several discussions 
arose over the appropriateness of statements made by the 
OIOS. Many delegations, in particular those from Cuba and 
Nigeria, believed the OIOS overstepped its bounds by making 
"value judgments" on issues still being considered by the GA. 
This was particularly highlighted in the OIOS triennial 
review of the implementation of recommendations made to the 
department of political affairs (E/AC.51/2009/3), wherein the 
OIOS stated that although the conflict-strategy proposed by 
the SYG was still to be endorsed by the GA, it marked a 
significant milestone towards developing a clear role and 
vision for the DPA. Further consternation for delegates, 
particularly from G-77 countries, arose over OIOS language in 
the evaluation of UN support of least developed countries, 
landlocked developing countries, small island developing 
States and Africa (E/AC.51/2009/2).  OIOS expressed the view 
that although the SG's proposal for an alignment of functions 
of the Office of High Representative and Office of Special 
Advisor to Africa was initially rejected by the GA, it still 
had merit. Many delegations believed that OIOS overstepped 
its mandate as an evaluation body by offering opinions on 
issues already decided upon by the GA. The delegation from 
Cuba proposed language that expressed deep regret over such 
statements made by the OIOS. The USGdel opposed such language 
that could hinder the OIOS from making effective and useful 
evaluations. Spain and Italy joined the US position that the 
 
language proposed could potentially set a precedent that may 
incapacitate, or at the very least impede, the ability of the 
OIOS to fulfill its role as an evaluator. In the end, the 
language was softened on the issue of "value judgments" and 
offering opinions on items currently before the GA. Regarding 
the DPA report, the CPA adopted language reading: "The 
committee questioned the appropriateness of the view 
expressed by OIOS in paragraph 45 of its report 
E/AC.51/2009/3, and requested the SG to recall the need for 
the Office to refrain from value judgments on issues that are 
still under consideration by the GA." Regarding the latter 
instance (E/AC.51/2009/2), the committee adopted language 
reading: "The Committee expressed concern that the assessment 
by OIOS of the Office of High Representative and the Office 
of Special Adviser disregarded the relevant mandates of the 
two Offices and resolutions of the GA and regretted that OIOS 
expressed support for the SG's proposal for an alignment of 
functions between the two Offices when the GA had decided not 
to approve the proposal." 
 
¶5. Regarding coordination, the committee welcomed the 
priority the CEB placed ensuring the effectiveness and 
coordination of the United Nations system support for Africa 
and NEPAD (E/AC.59/2009/L.4/Add.7). The committee called for 
CEB to scale up their efforts to align CEB priorities with 
those of NEPAD. 
 
¶6. (U) When considering changes to the proposed program 
budgets for the 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 bienniums (A/64/73 
and A/64/74), the committee continued to promote results 
based management and spent a good deal of time discussing 
expected accomplishments of the secretariat and respective 
indicators of achievement. Regarding human resources 
management, the committee recommended the addition of an 
indicator of achievement calling for an increased number of 
young professionals recruited through improved and more 
extensive outreach for the Secretariat as a whole. The 
committee also recommended striving for an increased number 
of recruitments from qualified candidates identified through 
national competitive recruitment examinations at the 
Secretariat. There was an effort to make indicators of 
achievement quantifiable, something that had been lacking in 
the past. Finally, the delegations noted Enterprise Resource 
Planning (ERP) was absent from the seemingly relevant 
Subprogramme 5 (ICT strategic management and coordination) 
and Subprogramme 6 (ICT operations) of Section E (OICT) of 
the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2010-2011. The 
Secretariat informed the Committee that ERP budgeting is 
contained under section 28C, Office of Human Resources 
Management, of the proposed programme budget. However, the 
committee suggested the secretariat to consider the 
possibility of including ERP in the seemingly relevant 
subprogrammes 5 and 6.  (E/AC.51/2009/L.4/Add.9). 
 
Working Methods 
And Strategic Framework 
----------------------- 
 
¶7. Contentious debates ensued over the agenda item "improving 
the working methods and procedures of the CPC within the 
framework of its mandates." With the exception of Italy, all 
delegations immediately expressed interest in no longer 
having a discussion of working methods as a recurrent agenda 
item. The committee was unable to be self-critical and felt 
that satisfactory progress had been made in improving the 
working methods over the 11 years that the item had been on 
the agenda. They stated that this item should cease to waste 
the Committee's time and resources when other substantive 
items could be discussed in its place. They also indicated 
that the CPC is the only committee that discusses its own 
working methods on an annual basis. Italy was isolated and 
faced broad opposition to include language in the draft 
report (E/AC.51/2009/L.4/Add.10) merely recognizing the 
importance of improving the Committee's working methods 
within the framework of its mandate. Even such mild language 
was diluted by a statement in the same paragraph expressing 
the Committee's satisfaction with all efforts made and 
progress achieved in regard to previous efforts to improve 
working methods. France, Israel, and Spain supported Italy in 
principle, but showed little interest and no effort to 
actively partake in the negotiations, and the UK and US were 
constrained by their status as observers. In the end, the 
item of working methods was removed from the agenda as a 
recurrent item and will only be discussed 'as and when 
needed' in future sessions. 
 
¶8. Italy proposed modifying the work schedule of the CPC to 
better accommodate the disproportionate workloads between 
budgetary and non-budgetary years. The committee recognized 
that the workload is significantly higher during non-budget 
years when it considers all of the strategic frameworks. The 
proposal was to allocate three weeks and five weeks to 
 
budgetary and non-budgetary years respectively. The proposal 
does not have any budgetary implications as it does not 
change the number of weeks the CPC would be in session over 
the biennium. The Committee agreed to allow the Chairman to 
make a statement to the Fifth Committee regarding this issue. 
The Fifth Committee will consider this proposal in the fall. 
 
¶9. WEOG influence is on the verge of disappearing from the 
CPC. The UK withdrew from the Committee in 2005, the US in 
2006 and Japan in 2007. This left only one of the UN's top 
five contributing countries (France) to have input when 
setting program priorities for the Organization. In the most 
recent session, the delegation from Italy was the only 
experienced and influential WEOG player who actively and 
effectively engaged in the negotiations. Other WEOG members, 
notably Israel, France and Spain, were consistently silent 
throughout the entire process. This left Italy isolated 
facing broad opposition when advocating positions often in 
line with those of the US (i.e. protecting the independence 
of OIOS and reforms in working methods). Unless new 
unforeseen players come into the scene, it is likely the CPC 
will be completely absent of a significant WEOG voice in the 
near future. 
RICE