FifthCommittee
Meetingscheduled
for Tuesday,5 June 2A07
IntroductoryRemarksby the Under-Secretary-General
for the
Department
of Management
Comprehensive
reporton strengthening
the capacity
of the organizationto manageand sustainpeace
operations
Mr.Chairman,
It is an honourfor me to be heretodayto introduce
the Secretary-General's
proposals
to strengthen
the capacityof the Organization
to manageandsustainpeaceoperations.
Mr.Chairman,
In its resolution611256oI 15 March2OO7on strengthening
the capacityof the
Organization
on peacekeeping
operations,
the GeneralAssemblyaffirmedits support
for the restructuring
of the Department
of Peacekeeping
Operations,
includingthe
establishment
of a Department
of FieldSupport.
ln paragraph3 of that resolution,
the Assemblyrequested
the Secretary-General
to
submita comprehensive
reportelaborating
on the restructuring
of the Department
of
Peacekeeping
Operationsand the establishment
of the Department
of FieldSupport,
- takinginto accountthe
includingbudgetary
discipline
and full financialimplications
recommendations
of the Officeof InternalOversightServicesas containedin its report
N611743dated 14 February2007 on the audit of managementstructuresof the
Departmentof Peacekeeping.
The Comprehensive
reportwas mandatedby the
GeneralAssemblyfor consideration
duringits sixty-first
session.I wishto thankthe
AdvisoryCommitteeand the leadership
of its Chairman,for the thoroughreviewand
insightful
comments
on the Secretary-general's
proposals
thatwereundertaken
in such
Page 1 ot 9
will providea
recommendations
a short periodof time. I hopethat the Committee's
goodbasisfor MemberStatesdiscussions
andan earlyoutcome.
The restructuringproposalsare containedin three reports.The main document
(A/61/858and Corr.1)presentsthe proposedchangesto the currentstructural
arrangements
and staffinglevelswhichare detailedmorefully in the annexesand
in response
to paragraph
4 of General
addendato the repoft.The reportalsodescribes
Assemblyresolution611256,how these proposalstake into full accountthe views
on Peacekeeping
expressedin the 2007sessionof the SpecialCommittee
Operations,
in particular
the needto takeall measures
to guarantee
unityof command,
to promote
integration
operational
bothat Headquarters
of effortsandto strengthen
capacities,
and
in fieldmissions.
Addendum 1 presentsthe proposedresourcesfor the Support Account for
peacekeeping
for the periodfrom1 July2007to 30 June2008.Addendum2
operations
presentsthe regularbudgetrevisedestimates
in respectof Section5, peacekeeping
operations,and Section28D Officeof CentralSupportServicesof the Programme
Budgetfor the currentbiennium2006-2007and the proposedProgrammeBudgetfor
the biennium2008-2009.
Theseaddendacontaindetaileddescriptions
of individual
functions,post justifications,
and the full financialimplications
as requestedin
paragraph
3 of GeneralAssembly
resolution
61/256.
Mr.Chairman,
proposals
presentfundamental
The Secretary-General's
structural
changesto support
seniormanagement
in peacekeeping
and alsorepresents
a continuum
of reformwhich
hasbeenundertaken
by the Organization
to meetthegrowingvolumeandcomplexity
of
peacekeeping
in 2000following
demandsovertheyears.Suchreformeffortsintensified
the recommendations
containedin the reportof the Panelon UnitedNationsPeace
Subsequent
Operations(the"Brahimireport")(fu55i305-S/2000/809).
effortsat reform
were addressedin the reportof the High-level
Panelon Threats,Challengesand
60/1)andthe internal
Change(fu59/565),
the 2005WorldSummitOutcome(resolution
reform strategy of the Departmentof Peacekeeping
Operationsentitled "Peace
Page 2 ol 9
operations2010'. The objectiveof the 2000 reform agendawas to equip the
Departmentof Peacekeeping
with sufficientcapability
Operations
to launchone new
multidisciplinary
missionperyear;yet the past3 yearsalonehaveseenthe start-upor
withthreeadditional
missions
currently
expansion
of ninefieldmissions,
in activestarlup phase. The Secretary-General
underscores
that a significant
depafturefrom the
statusquo is requiredto equipthe Secretariat
to riseto the challenge
of thissubstantial
increasein the volumeandbreadthof operations.
The pace of sustainedexpansionof peacekeeping
has far exceededwhat
operations
anyonehad envisagedor predicted
5 yearsago.The numberof militarycontingents
in
UnitedNationspeacekeeping
missionsgrew from 36,000in 2002103
to a projected
numberof 74,671in 2007/08,representing
a 107per centincrease.
[2006/07- military
contingents
70,9601Similarly,
the numberof militaryobservershasincreased
by 50 per
cent, from 1,804 in 2002103to an estimated2,698 in 2007108.
[2006/07military
observers2,7201.
Overall,the totalnumberof fieldpersonnelin missionsmanagedby
DPKOis nowover100,000
compared
to 57,000fiveyearsago.
ln 2007, the numberof UnitedNationspeaceoperationspersonnelcould furlher
increaseby 20 to 40 per cent with the completion
of deployments
to Lebanonand
presently
Timor-Leste
andthe possible
deployment
of newoperations
underdiscussion,
Nationsmissionin Dadurand the operationin
such as a hybridAfricanUnion/United
Chad and the CentralAfricanRepublic.As you know,the SecurityCouncilhas
to theAfricanUnionin Sudan
the deployment
of theHeavySupportpackage
authorized
which will requiresubstantialresourcesand backstopping.
Recent history has
thatotherdemands
couldarisequitesuddenly
demonstrated
andunexpectedly
as well.
It is thereforeimperative
to ensurethatthe Secretariat
is equippedto be ableto absorb
suchgrowth.
ln view of this level of activity,all Departmentsin the Secretariat
that work with
peacekeeping
need to strengthentheir supportcapacityto continueoperating.
Headquarters
capacitycontinuesto lag behindexpansionin the field, resultingin
Page 3 ot 9
in the reportsof the
as identified
and highlighted
and weakness,
managerial
overstretch
Boardof AuditorsandtheOIOS.
of the growingdemandsthat have been placedon staff at
To providean illustration
of the Brahimireformsin 200203 the ratio
Headquarters,
followingthe implementation
to be sufficient
was 1:96. Thisfigurewas envisaged
to
of DPKOstaffto Fieldpersonnel
Operationsto effectivelymanageexisting
enable the Departmentof Peacekeeping
demand,as well as to absorbthe needto planfor and deployone new unexpected
of 55"h),whichmeansthat the
mission.Today,the ratioin DPKOis 1:149(increase
growingnumberof Field personnelhas not been adequatelyaccompanied
by a
ln the Department
increaseof backstopping
supportat Headquarters.
of
commensurate
Management
exceptOIOS that supportpeacekeeping,
the
and other Departments
recognizes
thatthereis no absolute
ratiosare evenworse.Whilethe Secretary-General
betweenresources
for backstopping
supportand the numberof
linearrelationship
personneldeployedin the field,the growingnumberof Fieldpersonnel
illustrates
the
growingmagnitudeof the demandsthat havebeenplacedon staffat Headquarters
at
all levels.
is not just a matterof quantitybut
It mustalso be saidthatthe groMhin peacekeeping
haveassigned
an increasingly
widerrangeof
of complexity.
SecurityCouncilmandates
responsibilities
missionsover the past severalyears in
to peacekeeping
substantive
promotion
of the ruleof law,supportfor national
of civilians,
suchareasas protection
institutions,
security
childprotection
andgender.
effortsin reforming
Operations
In summary,whilethe Department
and otherareasof the
of Peacekeeping
since 2002103,
the increasedstaff
considerably
Secretariathave been strengthened
withthe growthin the numberof fieldpersonnel
resources
are notcommensurate
being
nor withthe complexity
of tasksmandated
sincethat time.This has been
supported,
structures
in OIOS'recentreporton the auditof the management
of the
recognized
Similarly,at its most recent
Departmentof Peacekeeping
Operations(A/61/743).
sessionas well as at its 2006 session,the SpecialCommitteeon Peacekeeping
Page 4 ot 9
Operationsreiteratedthe urgentneed to strengthenthe operationalcapacityof the
UnitedNationsat all levelsin thefieldandat Headquarters.
resourcesto keeppacewith
requiresa majorinjectionof additional
The Organization
at the mid-to-senior
managerial
activityin the field,especially
the levelof peacekeeping
primarymotivation
The Secretary-General's
in
levels- whetheror not it is restructured.
initiatinga realignmentof Secretariatstructuresmust be seen in this context.The
to mountand sustain
ultimateaim is to strengthenthe capacityof the Organization
peacekeeping
volumeandcomplexity.
in thefaceof theirgrowing
operations
the Departmentof Peacekeeping
Operationsinto two
Consequently,restructuring
of FieldSupportto be headedby an
Departments
andthecreation
of a newDepadment
is of the highestpriority.
Under-Secretary-General
for delivering
The Department
of FieldSupportwouldbe responsible
dedicated
support
to United Nationsfield operations,
includingon personnel,finance,procurement,
logistical,
technology
information
andotheradministrative
communications,
and general
issues.The Department
of FietdSupportwouldbe a providerof services
management
Affairs.To strengthen
to the Departments
of Peacekeeping
Operations
andPolitical
the
efficiencyand coherenceof supporlprovidedto the field and to ensureeffective
oversight,existing Headquarterscapacitiesrelatedto field operationswould be
of FieldSupport.The entiretyof the
consolidatedand assignedto the Department
of Peacekeeping
Operations
would
currentOfficeof MissionSupportin the Department
of FieldSupport.Significant
strengthening
be transferred
to the Department
of its
to establishthe necessarysenior
staffingwould,however,be requiredparticularly
managementcapacityto ensureeffective,coherentand responsivesupportto field
providedby MemberStates.The
andthe effectivemanagement
of resources
operations
new Departmentof FieldSupportwouldbe empoweredby additionaldelegations
of
that will enableit to be more
management
and personnel
authorityfor procurement
focusedon and responsive
to fieldneeds.
Page 5 ot 9
will continueto play its leadershiprole in central
The Department
of Management
policy-setting
in all areasof management,
namely,humanresources,
and monitoring
budgetarydiscipline,finance and accounting,procurementand informationand
technology.
communications
With regardto proposalto establisha FieldProcurement
Servicein the Department
of
FieldSupport,the Secretary-General
believesthat in ordercopewith the increasing
valueof goodsand seruicesprocuredfor peacekeeping
missionswhichis estimatedat
for peacekeeping
operations
$2 billionfor 2006/07,the bestway to mobilizeresources
including
the deployment
in the theatreof operations,
of military
and policepersonnel
is
to vest the Department
of FieldSupportwithadequateauthorityto appointprocurement
officersat Headquarters
and in the field.Thiswouldresultin improved
responsiveness
processto field needsand streamlined
procurement
processes
of the procurement
resultingin moretimelydeliveryof goodsand seruices
to the field.lt wouldprovide
clarityon roles,responsibilities
and accountability;
increased
abilityto exercisecontrol
overpriorities;
and oversight
of all stagesof the supplychainmanagement.
Integrating
procurement
into the supplychain management
systemand simplifying
the line of
authorityand accountabitity
for procurement
wouldalso help addressthe underlying
weaknesses
in controls
identified
by theOfficeof Internal
Oversight
Services.
With respectto procurement,
the Department
wouldcontinueto retain
of Management
procurement
andleadership
of the Secretariat
functionin respectof,
control,ownership
among other things, the vendor database,the vendor review committee,the
procurement
manual,the trainingprogramme
and the websitein orderto preventany
in operation
Procurement
Division
and resources.
willcontinueto undertake
duplication
a reviewthat takes fully into accountthe needs of field procurement
and the
developmentof common informationtechnologysystems for both field and
procurement.
"VendorManagement
The newlyestablished
Headquarters
Team"in the
Procurement
Divisionof the Department
of Management
wouldensurediversityfor
sourcing
requirement
withinthe memberstatesandwillstrivefor business
opportunities
for developing
the Procurement
Reformlmplementation
countries.In addition,
Team
(PRIT)and the new Compliance
and Monitoring
Sectionwill continueto developand
Page 6 ot 9
implementvariousprocurementreforminitiativesfocusingon strengthening
internal
controlmeasures,
optimization
of acquisition
and procurement
management
of United
Nationsprocurement.
The Procurement
Division
in Department
of management
would
procurement
continueto develophigh-levet
policiesand procedures
to be implemented
at the peacekeeping
missions,OfficeAwayof HQs as well as Headquarters
at New
York;it wouldalsocontinueto developtrainingto all procurement
staffincluding
best
value for money and procurementethics.Lastly,the Headquarters
Committeeon
Contracts,with representation
fromthe Department
of FieldSupportwouldserveboth
the Department
of Management
andthe Department
of FieldSupport.
Lastly,Mr Chairman,
additional
resources
for strengthened
capacityare alsoproposed
for otherareasof the Secretariat,
particularly
in the Department
of Management,
the
Officeof lnternalOversightServices,the Department
of PublicInformation
and the
Officeof LegalAffairsto respondto the dramaticincreasein the volumeof demandfor
backstopping
support.
Proposed resourcesfor the support account for peacekeepingoperationsfor
2007108(A/61/858/Add.1
)
The budgetfor the supportaccountfor peacekeeping
operations
for the periodfrom 1
July 2007to 30 June2008amountsto $254.5millionand provides
for 819 continuing
posts.The budgetproposes303 postsfor new functions,185 postsfor conversion
of
functionScurrentlyapprovedunderGTA in 2006107
and 7 transfersfrom the regular
budget.The increase
of $65.5millionin the supportaccountbudgetfromthe 2006107
approvedlevel is 1.2% of the $5.3 billioncurrentlyproposedfor peacekeeping
in
2007108.
The totalsupportaccountbudgetof $254.5millionrepresents
4.8%of the
proposed
2007-08peacekeeping
budgetlevel.
Page 7 of 9
Performancereport tor the supportaccountfor the periodfrom 1 July 2005to 30
June 2006(A/61fl33and Add.1)
Financialand humanresourceperformance:
.
Appropriation:
59/301).
$146.9million(GAresolution
.
Expenditures:
9136.0million.
.
Unencumbered
balance:
rate:92.5o/o.
$10.9millionandbudgetimplementation
Proposedresourcesfor the programmebudgetfor the 2006-07bienniumand the
proposedprogrammebudgetfor the 2008-09(A/61/858/Add.2)
Mr.Chairman,
proposes
The Secretary-General
postfor
to financethe new Under-Secretary-General
DFS,2 newASG postsin DPKOand 1 newASG postin DFSfromthe regularbudget
as part of the core resources
in both Departments.
The changesunderthe regular
budget,pertainto the requirements
for six new postswhichwouldbe met through
realignment
of resourcesand abolitionof sevenexistingposts. Accordingly,
no net
resources
additional
are soughtunderthe programme
budgetfor the biennium20062007.
Actionsto be taken by the GeneralAssembly
The actionsto be takenin respectof thefinancing
of SupporlAccountfor Peacekeeping
Operations,
the programmebudgetfor the 2006-07and the proposedprogramme
budgetfor 2008-09are set out in and paragraph163 of the comprehensive
report
(4/61/858)paragraph
67 of the performance
report(A/61/733).
Conclusion
Mr Chairman,
The Secretary-General
the dauntingtask before MemberStates in
understands
reviewingthese large documents,
withinthe timeframeof the Committee's
current
programmeof work, and has attemptedto providepertinentinformationrequiredby
MemberStatesto be ableto makefullyinformed
The Secretary-General
decisions.
is
lookingfonruard
to the GeneralAssembly's
earlyapprovalin the 61't session,of the
structureand relatedresourcesfor DPKOand the establishment
of the DFS to fully
Page I of 9
implementresolution61i256. lt is of criticalimporlance
that all Departments
in the
secretariatthat supportthis highlyvisibleand important
programme
be strengthened
to
deliversupportand monitoractivities
on the ground.The secretary-General
is counting
on the continuedsupportof Memberstates to provide
the secretariatwith the
resourcesneededto ensureefficientandeffective
peacekeeping
operations.
Thankyou Mr. Chairman.
Pag€ 9 of 9