20 April 2001

FICSA Update No. 14 2001

United Nations General Assembly Concludes First Resumed Fifty-fifth Session

    Fifth Committee made considerable progress on human resources management

  • Following extensive consultations, at the conclusion of its first resumed fifty-fifth session (13 March to 9 April), the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) decided to defer action on human resources.

  • Working mostly in informal consultations throughout the four weeks, the Committee discussed a draft resolution extending over some 200 operative paragraphs based upon contributions from various delegations, and covering numerous aspects of human resources management: role of the Office of Human Resources Management; human resources planning; contractual arrangements; recruitment and placement of personnel; conditions of service; mobility; delegation of authority; questions related to equitable geographical distribution; administration of justice; career development and performance management.

  • The Committee was able to reach agreement on about 180 operative paragraphs. Given the length and detail of the document, it was not a small achievement. Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry (Pakistan), coordinator of the informal consultations, was praised for his "heroic efforts".

  • About 20 paragraphs regarding contractual arrangements, recruitment, placement and administration of justice are deferred to the second resumed session to be held in May. As regards contractual arrangements and administration of justice, however, Mr. Joseph E. Connor, Under-Secretary-General for Management, stated on 29 March, that the Secretary- General was not yet ready to make final proposals.

  • It is recalled that FICSA contributed to the advancement of the work during its recent advocacy campaign in New York (see FICSA Update No. 12/2001). Whilst the substance of the agreement is not yet known to us, the words of optimism expressed by the delegations at the wrap-up meeting augur well.

    Fifth Committee defers consideration of the "strengthening of the international civil service"

  • The Committee approved û without a vote û a draft decision deferring consideration of the reports of the Secretary-General on strengthening the international civil service until the fifty-sixth session.

  • The phrase "strengthening the international civil service" stands, in essence, for "review of the composition, mandate and functioning of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC)".

  • It is recalled that the matter was brought up by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1997, in his report on renewing the United Nations: a programme for reform (A/51/950). He had "stressed that urgent efforts were needed to enhance the effectiveness with which human resources are managed in the United Nations and to strengthen the international civil service" and "recommended to the General Assembly that it initiate a review of the International Civil Service Commission, including its mandate, membership and functioning in order to increase its effectiveness in meeting the challenges facing the United Nations system of organizations" (paragraph 1 of document A/55/526).

  • Four General Assembly sessions later, the review (one of the urgent efforts) is still in the starting blocks, with the most vocal opposition to it coming from the country of origin of the ICSC Chairman.

    Other matters

  • The Fifth Committee, among other matters of interest to staff, adopted draft decisions on the reports of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). It also discussed the ways of improving the financial situation of the Organization and considered the phasing out of gratis personnel provided to the Organization by Member States, senior appointments within the Organization, internal and external printing practices of the Organization and the construction of additional facilities in Bangkok and Addis Ababa.