Statement by Minister Counsellor Mr. Fumito Miyake under Item3: Strategic management, budgetary and administrative questions
2016/5/23
Introduction and Japan’s contribution
Japan recognizes UNODC as an important strategic partner and highly values its unique operational capacity to deliver technical assistance through its high expertise and strong network of field offices.
Addressing transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism is a common and shared responsibility of the international community. In this spirit, Japan has contributed about 16 million USD to the UNODC this year to prevent and counter terrorism and other organized crime in West, North and East Africa, the Middle East as well as to support Afghanistan and neighboring countries. This contribution exemplifies Japan’s firm commitment to implement the Doha Declaration as well as our initiative toward the 2020 Crime Congress in Japan.
FCR
Japan commends UNODC’s efforts to ensure transparency and accountability of its administrative, budgetary and strategic management. In this regard, Japan highly appreciated the 2014 Annual Report issued by UNODC, which offers a wide range of content and gives Member States a full picture of UNODC’s work.
Japan is also convinced that the provisional implementation of Full Cost Recovery (FCR) will lead to enhanced transparency, accountability and cost effectiveness of UNODC’s activities. In order to realize the maximum benefits from FCR, we would like to emphasize the following 3 points.
First, the transparent and consistent application of FCR is important to gain credibility for UNODC’s program delivery.
Second, appropriate allocation of programme support cost between the UNODC Headquarters and Field Offices is needed to ensure the proper implementation of UNODC field activities and promote cost effectiveness and efficiency in the Headquarters.
Third, an assessment of the provisional implementation of FCR, in particular its impact on program delivery and the performance of Field Offices is indispensable prior to its full implementation. To this end, timely disclosure of crucial information by UNODC and commencement of discussions this year are required. As for the full implementation of FCR, a timeline for compiling the 2018-2019 consolidated budget needs to be clarified.
Umoja
The recent UN-wide introduction of Umoja has become another challenge for effective resource management in UNODC. Japan is understanding of the difficulties facing the Office in this regard, however is looking forward to seeing the positive outcomes from the use of 'Umoja' as soon as possible.
At the same time, Japan would like to encourage the timely delivery of a new reporting platform since the discontinuation of the ProFi system has caused much inconvenience among donors.
Conclusion
In order to improve UNODC’s administration, open, transparent and timely discussion with member states is the key. In this context, Japan supports the role of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Finance and Governance, FinGov, as a forum for information sharing and constructive dialogue. Japan will continue to actively engage in further discussions on these important issues, including through FinGov.
Thank you for your attention.
Japan recognizes UNODC as an important strategic partner and highly values its unique operational capacity to deliver technical assistance through its high expertise and strong network of field offices.
Addressing transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism is a common and shared responsibility of the international community. In this spirit, Japan has contributed about 16 million USD to the UNODC this year to prevent and counter terrorism and other organized crime in West, North and East Africa, the Middle East as well as to support Afghanistan and neighboring countries. This contribution exemplifies Japan’s firm commitment to implement the Doha Declaration as well as our initiative toward the 2020 Crime Congress in Japan.
FCR
Japan commends UNODC’s efforts to ensure transparency and accountability of its administrative, budgetary and strategic management. In this regard, Japan highly appreciated the 2014 Annual Report issued by UNODC, which offers a wide range of content and gives Member States a full picture of UNODC’s work.
Japan is also convinced that the provisional implementation of Full Cost Recovery (FCR) will lead to enhanced transparency, accountability and cost effectiveness of UNODC’s activities. In order to realize the maximum benefits from FCR, we would like to emphasize the following 3 points.
First, the transparent and consistent application of FCR is important to gain credibility for UNODC’s program delivery.
Second, appropriate allocation of programme support cost between the UNODC Headquarters and Field Offices is needed to ensure the proper implementation of UNODC field activities and promote cost effectiveness and efficiency in the Headquarters.
Third, an assessment of the provisional implementation of FCR, in particular its impact on program delivery and the performance of Field Offices is indispensable prior to its full implementation. To this end, timely disclosure of crucial information by UNODC and commencement of discussions this year are required. As for the full implementation of FCR, a timeline for compiling the 2018-2019 consolidated budget needs to be clarified.
Umoja
The recent UN-wide introduction of Umoja has become another challenge for effective resource management in UNODC. Japan is understanding of the difficulties facing the Office in this regard, however is looking forward to seeing the positive outcomes from the use of 'Umoja' as soon as possible.
At the same time, Japan would like to encourage the timely delivery of a new reporting platform since the discontinuation of the ProFi system has caused much inconvenience among donors.
Conclusion
In order to improve UNODC’s administration, open, transparent and timely discussion with member states is the key. In this context, Japan supports the role of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Finance and Governance, FinGov, as a forum for information sharing and constructive dialogue. Japan will continue to actively engage in further discussions on these important issues, including through FinGov.
Thank you for your attention.
The Practical Export Control Workshop was hosted by the Wassenaar Arrangement as part of its 20th Anniversary programs and held at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna on 27 and 28 June 2016. More than 100 government representatives from 46 countries participated in the technically focused Practical Workshop.
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf
Workshop speakers included the 2016 WA Plenary Chair Ambassador Anu Laamanen (Finland), 2016 WA General Working Group Chair Ambassador Paul Beijer (Sweden), 2015-2016 WA Experts Group Chair Robertas Rosinas (Lithuania), 2016 WA Licensing and Enforcement Officers Meeting Chair Jon Erik Strömö (Norway), as well as the Head of the WA Secretariat, Ambassador Philip Griffiths. The WA control lists as well as export licensing and enforcement topics were covered during the two days.
The following link from WA’s webpage contains more details:
http://www.wassenaar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/June-2016-Workshop-media-release.pdf