FC 94/1 Add.1

Finance Committee

Ninety-fourth Session

Rome, 8 - 12 May 2000

Provisional Annotated Agenda

 

1. Adoption of Agenda and Timetable (docs. FC 94/1, FC 94/1 Add.1, FC 94/INF/1)

for decision
In accordance with the internal working procedures, the Provisional Timetable provides for discussion at the beginning of the meeting of those items on which the Committee is required to make decisions or recommendations to the Council.
2. Election of Vice-Chairman

for decision
In accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Committee, at the first session of each calendar year the Committee shall elect a Vice-Chairman.
 

I. BUDGETARY MATTERS
3. Programme and Budgetary Transfers in the 1998-1999 Biennium and Annual Report on Budgetary Performance to Member Nations (FC 94/3)

for discussion
The Committee will receive a report for information on the budgetary transfers made in accordance with the approval already given by it under General Rule XXVII 7(d) at its September 1999 Session (see CL 117/4 para 14). In addition, in accordance with Financial Regulation 4.6(b) the Committee will receive, for its review, the Report of Budgetary Performance for 1999. Any comments the Committee may wish to make will be submitted to the Council at its forthcoming session. The Annual Report will be appended to the Report of the Committee.
4. Review of Support Costs:
The Finance Committee at its 93rd Session reviewed a paper (FC 93/4) on the issue of Support Costs. It welcomed the broadly based review initiated in the paper and acknowledged the conceptual framework as a helpful basis for further development of proposals. The Committee requested the Secretariat to provide information on various related areas.

a) Current Profile of FAO's Field Programmes and Other Programmes Funded from Voluntary Contributions (FC 94/4(a))

for information
This paper provides the Committee with information about the general features of the field programme funded from extra-budgetary and Regular Programme sources as well as the extent of other activities which are funded from voluntary contributions. The document is for information only and no decision is sought.

b) Current Reimbursement Rates for Support Costs on Field Programmes and Other Voluntary Contributions (FC 94/4(b))

for information
This paper deals with current reimbursement rates for support costs on field programmes and other voluntary contributions. The document is for information only.

c) Methodology Used to Calculate the Cost of Supporting Field Programmes and Other Programmes Funded from Voluntary Contributions (FC 94/4(c))

for information
The paper provides the Committee with information on the work measurement survey and the cost measurement system through which expenditure data is analyzed to reflect the principles of cost accounting wherein both fixed and variable indirect overheads are distributed over the productive activities of the Organization.

d) Proposed Principles for Support Cost Reimbursement Rates for Field Programmes and Other Programmes Funded from Voluntary Contributions (FC 94/4(d))

for decision
This paper builds on the conceptual framework which was developed for the last meeting of the Committee and the analysis of the existing support cost reimbursement regime to propose some principles for consideration by the Committee. Once the principles have been agreed, the Secretariat will develop the consequent internal policy and procedures which are to be applied to support cost reimbursements.
5. Budgetary Transfers in the PWB 2000-2001 Arising out of the Conference Approval of the Budget at Lire 1,875 (doc. FC 94/5)

for decision
The weaker US Dollar/Lira exchange rate at which the 2000-2001 budget was approved would allow some re-programming of resources with consequent adjustments to the distribution of the appropriation by Chapter. This document provides the distribution of the appropriations by Chapter following the reprogramming of resources for approval by the Finance Committee under Financial Regulation 4.5.

II. FINANCIAL MATTERS
6. Financial Position of the Organization

a) Financial Position as at 29 February 2000 (FC 94/6(a))

for discussion
The Committee will receive a report on the Financial Position of the Organization as at 29 February 2000. This report will contain information on the collection of assessed contributions and obligations incurred in the implementation of the appropriation for 1999-2000. At the Session the Committee will receive a further working paper providing updated information.

b) Financial Outturn of the 1998-1999 Biennium (FC 94/6(b))

for discussion
The Committee will receive a report on the Outturn of the 1998-1999 Biennium. This report will contain information on income and expenditure and the movements in the General and Related Funds, Working Capital Fund and Special Reserve Account.

c) Report on Investments 1999

i) Regular Programme and Trust Funds (FC 94/6c(i)
ii) Compensation Plan Reserve Fund (FC 94/6c(ii)
iii) Separation Payments Scheme (FC 94/6c(iii)

for discussion
In accordance with Financial Regulation 9.2 and General Rule XXVII 7(i), the Committee will receive reports on investments currently held in respect of the above-referenced funds for its information.
7. Progress Report on the Implementation of External Auditor's Recommendations (FC 94/7)

for discussion
As requested by the Committee a further report will be provided on actions taken in respect of recommendations made by the External Auditor in his report on the 1998-1999 accounts.
8. Programme of Work of the External Auditor - Biennium 2000-2001 (FC 94/8)

for discussion
This paper responds to the request of the Committee that an item be included in the agenda for the Ninety-fourth Session covering the work to be performed by the External Auditor and relative priorities for the next biennium, for discussion with the External Auditor.
9. Request to the External Auditor for Specific Reports concerning the Emergency Farm Reconstruction Project to be executed by FAO on behalf of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (FC 94/9)

for decision
On the basis of the information provided in the document, the Finance Committee is invited, in line with the provisions of Financial Regulation 12.6, to request the External Auditor to perform a special audit of the Emergency Farm Reconstruction Project.
 

III. PERSONNEL MATTERS
10. Annual Reports of the ICSC and UN Joint Staff Pension Board to the General Assembly, and Summary of the Decisions taken (FC 94/10)

for information
In accordance with standard practice, the Committee will be informed of any developments which took place at the General Assembly which are of interest to this Organization.
11. Changes in Salary Scales and Allowances (FC 94/11)

for information
The Committee will be informed of those changes in salaries and allowances that have taken place since the last Session. In addition, the Committee will be provided with information on the impact of a recent Judgement by the International Labour Organisation Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT) on the calculation of general service salaries in Rome.
12. Flexible Use of Education Grant Travel - Change in Staff Regulation 301.0334 (FC 94/12)

for discussion
Under the terms of Rule XXVII.7 (r) of the General Rules of the Organization the Committee is invited to review a proposal to amend the Staff Regulations to permit more flexible use of the entitlement for education grant travel and to submit it to the Council for approval.
 

IV. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
13. 1999 Annual Activity Report of the Office of Inspector-General (FC 94/13)

for information
In accordance with the practice established at the 87th Session, this report will be provided to the members of the Finance Committee for their information.
14. UN Joint Inspection Report

for information
- Review of the Administrative Committee on Coordination and iths Machinery (CL 119/INF/11)
This document will be provided to the Committee for information and any comments it may wish to make to the Council.

V. WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME
15. Report on WFP Chartered Flight KSV 3275 to Kosovo (FC 94/15)

for information
This report to the WFP Executive Board was considered at its meeting in January 2000. It informed the Board on action taken by the Secretariat and other concerned authorities subsequent to the tragic crash of WFP chartered flight KSV 3275 and sought the Board's approval of the source of funding of the KSV 3275 Disaster Special Account. It is provided to the Finance Committee for information.
  

VI. OTHER MATTERS
16. Working Methods of the Finance Committee

for discussion
In accordance with the standard practice of the Committee, members will be given an opportunity to comment on the functioning of the session and to make suggestions for future improvements.
17. Date and Place of the Ninety-fifth Session

for information
The Committee will be informed of arrangements for its next session.