UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION EXECUTIVE BOARD. Hundred and seventy-second session

Transcription

1 172 EX/FA/EG PARIS, 21 September 2005 Original: English/French UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION EXECUTIVE BOARD Hundred and seventy-second session REPORT OF THE GROUP OF EXPERTS ON FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS (This document is also available on the Executive Board website along with other documents for this session of the Board)

2 172 EX/FA/EG INTRODUCTION 1. The Group of Experts on Financial and Administrative Matters of the Executive Board met from 14 to 16 September The Group of Experts was composed of the following 12 members: Mr Fatih Bouayad-Agha (Algeria), Ms Dominique Levasseur (Canada), Mr Fidel Emilio Vascós González (Cuba), Mr Vivian Crawford (Jamaica), Mr Ryuhei Hosoya (Chairperson) (Japan), Mr Wassef Azar (Jordan), Ms Trudie Amulungu (Namibia), Mr Sergey Khalizov (Russian Federation), Ms Victoria Harris (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Ms Mwamini Tulli (United Republic of Tanzania), Mr Oleg Yatsenkivsky (Ukraine) and Mr Ho Minh Tuan (Viet Nam). 3. Mr Ryuhei Hosoya, Chairperson of the Group of Experts, opened the meeting and recalled the mandate of the Group. 4. During its work, the Group was assisted by the representative of the Director-General and other members of the Secretariat who provided the relevant additional information requested. The Group of Experts also benefited from the presence of the representative of the External Auditor who provided all clarifications needed on the Report by the Director-General on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the External Auditor on audits already undertaken. The experts on financial and administrative matters expressed their gratitude to the representative of the External Auditor for her contributions to the debates, and to the representative of the Director- General and other members of the Secretariat for their efficient cooperation throughout the meeting. They also welcomed the participation of the Member States who submitted an item to the Executive Board for consideration. 5. The Group of Experts considered all items on the provisional agenda of the Finance and Administrative Commission of the Executive Board at its 172nd session. Item Title and document 3 Report by the Director-General on the execution of the programme adopted by the General Conference (172 EX/4 Part II (Budget adjustments authorized within the Appropriation Resolution for and Management Chart for Programme Execution in (32 C/5 Approved) Status as at 30 June 2005 (non-audited)), 172 EX/INF.5, 172 EX/INF.6 and 172 EX/INF.9) 4 Report by the Director-General on the follow-up of decisions and resolutions adopted by the Executive Board and the General Conference at their previous sessions (172 EX/5, 172 EX/INF.5 and 172 EX/INF.6) (Administrative and financial aspects) 6 Preliminary report on the desirability and scope of an international charter on traditional games and sports (172 EX/7) (Administrative and financial aspects) 7 Proposed establishment of the International Centre for Girls and Women s Education in Africa (CIEFFA), under the auspices of UNESCO, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (172 EX/8) (Administrative and financial aspects) 10 Report by the Director-General on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development: international implementation scheme and UNESCO s contribution to the implementation of the Decade (172 EX/11) (Administrative and financial aspects)

3 172 EX/FA/EG page 2 11 Establishment of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy funded by the People s Republic of China (172 EX/12 and Corr.) (Administrative and financial aspects) 12 Report by the Director-General on the development of the International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) and strategy of action proposed for (172 EX/13) (Administrative and financial aspects) 13 Report by the Director-General on a feasibility study for the establishment of an international centre of excellence in Venezuela, under the auspices of UNESCO (172 EX/14) (Administrative and financial aspects) 14 Report by the Director-General on a feasibility study for the establishment of an IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, under the auspices of UNESCO (172 EX/15 and Corr. (English only)) (Administrative and financial aspects) 15 Report by the Director-General on the feasibility study for granting the status of a regional institute under the auspices of UNESCO to the Instituto de Matematica Pura e Aplicada (IMPA) in Brazil (172 EX/16) (Administrative and financial aspects) 16 Proposed establishment of the European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology in Lodz, Poland, under the auspices of UNESCO (172 EX/17) (Administrative and financial aspects) 21 Consideration of the Draft Programme and Budget for (33 C/5) and recommendations of the Executive Board (33 C/5 Draft Rev. and Add., 172 EX/INF.5 and 172 EX/INF.6) (Administrative and financial aspects) 33 Financial report and interim financial statements relating to the accounts of UNESCO as at 31 December 2004 for the financial period ending 31 December 2005 (172 EX/31 and Corr.) 34 Special financial regulations submitted in accordance with Article 6.7 of UNESCO s Financial Regulations (172 EX/32) 35 Report by the Director-General on the status of contributions of Member States and of payment plans (172 EX/33 and Add.) 37 Report by the Director-General on the geographical distribution and gender balance of the staff of the Secretariat (172 EX/35) 38 Report by the Director-General on a global plan of action for the UNESCO Medical Benefits Fund together with a timetable for the implementation of the recommendations of the External Auditor (172 EX/36) 39 Report by the Director-General on the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the External Auditor on audits already undertaken (172 EX/37 and Corr. (English, French and Chinese only)) (Administrative and financial aspects) 40 Report by the Director-General, in cooperation with the Headquarters Committee, on managing the UNESCO Complex (172 EX/38)

4 172 EX/FA/EG page 3 41 Report by the Director-General on the implementation of the Participation Programme and emergency assistance (172 EX/39) 49 Proposal for the establishment of the International Issyk-Kul Centre of the Dialogue among Cultures under the auspices of UNESCO (172 EX/45) (Administrative and financial aspects) 50 Proposal for the establishment of the ARTEK International Youth and Children Centre under the auspices of UNESCO (172 EX/46) (Administrative and financial aspects) 53 Status report on UNESCO s contribution to international action against terrorism through education, the sciences, culture and communication and information (172 EX/49) (Administrative and financial aspects) 56 Establishment of the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education funded by the Kingdom of Bahrain (172 EX/34) (Administrative and financial aspects) 57 Proclamation of 2009 as International Year of Astronomy (172 EX/51) (Administrative and financial aspects) 59 Assessment of the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition and draft statutes of the International Scientific Committee for the Slave Route Project (172 EX/23) (Administrative and financial aspects) 60 Proposal for the establishment of a regional centre for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage (Cuzco, Republic of Peru), under the auspices of UNESCO (172 EX/53 and Add.) (Administrative and financial aspects) 61 Proposed establishment of the Regional Water Centre for Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAZALAC) under the auspices of UNESCO, in La Serena, Chile (172 EX/54) (Administrative and financial aspects) 6. During the discussions observers from the following Member States took the floor: Brazil, Finland and Germany. 7. The Group expressed its appreciation to the secretariat of the Finance and Administrative Commission, Ms Christine Gossa, Mr Silviu Dragan, Mr Eliot Minchenberg, Ms Janet Boulmer and Ms Dominique Michet, who efficiently assisted the Group in its work. Items 4, 6, 12, 34, 41, 49 and The Group of Experts decided to pass the following items to the FA Commission without any debate, considering that they either do not give rise to financial or administrative implications for UNESCO or that these implications did not call for a discussion by the Group, given its technical mandate, at this session:

5 172 EX/FA/EG page 4 Item Title and document 4 Report by the Director-General on the follow-up of decisions and resolutions adopted by the Executive Board and the General Conference at their previous sessions (172 EX/5, 172 EX/INF.5 and 172 EX/INF.6) (Administrative and financial aspects) 6 Preliminary report on the desirability and scope of an international charter on traditional games and sports (172 EX/7) (Administrative and financial aspects) 12 Report by the Director-General on the development of the International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP) and strategy of action proposed for (172 EX/13) (Administrative and financial aspects) 34 Special financial regulations submitted in accordance with Article 6.7 of UNESCO s Financial Regulations (172 EX/32) 41 Report by the Director-General on the implementation of the Participation Programme and emergency assistance (172 EX/39) 49 Proposal for the establishment of the International Issyk-Kul Centre of the Dialogue among Cultures under the auspices of UNESCO (172 EX/45) (Administrative and financial aspects) 53 Status report on UNESCO s contribution to international action against terrorism through education, the sciences, culture and communication and information (172 EX/49) (Administrative and financial aspects) Category II centres General debate 9. The Group of Experts decided to group the items on the agenda relating to proposals for category II centres into discussion units. The first unit concerned items 13, 16, 14 and 61 and the second unit comprised items 15, 50 and 60. Before starting the examination of each item, the Group felt that a general debate on UNESCO s institutes and centres of category II should take place. 10. Noting that a relatively important number of countries have already negotiated agreements with UNESCO since the 171st session of the Executive Board when a set of criteria for the establishment of category II centres were approved, members of the Group pointed out that the Executive Board had not anticipated the popularity of that modality and, therefore, had not requested the Director-General to present an analysis of the future impact on UNESCO of having a rapidly increasing network of category II centres. It was also pointed out that some attention should also be given to the impact on the workload of the Executive Board and the General Conference of having several new agenda items relating to the approval of category II centres. 11. In particular, some members asked whether consideration had been given to the capacity of the Organization to absorb all the demands. It was considered that UNESCO should come up with a clear vision including the definition of modalities, methods of work, as well as the programmatic, budgetary and legal implications. One member requested that a cost-benefit analysis be included. The Group pointed out that it would be advisable for the General Conference, when considering the set of guidelines and criteria, to request the Director-General to present to the Executive Board at its 175th session a report outlining the number of centres having entered into relation with UNESCO and a strategic analysis.

6 172 EX/FA/EG page The representative of the Director-General expressed satisfaction regarding the increasing number of centres in relation with UNESCO which can be seen as a genuine interest to be associated with UNESCO. The Group was assured that all requests for the establishment of an institute or a centre submitted by Member States were carefully examined. He underlined the complementary role that institutes and centres play in terms of programme implementation but also the unbalanced capability of the sectors to handle them. The representative of the Director-General recalled that the centres are not legal entities of UNESCO and confirmed that a sunset clause is generally included in the agreement with the host country to cope with the evolving programme needs of the Organization. They should be considered as strategic partnerships for a given period of time. 13. The Group was informed that a Steering Group has been established to review the implementation of the overall strategy, principles and guidelines with regard to UNESCO Education institutes and centres belonging to category I. Several members welcomed the approach developed by the Director-General and suggested that an identical exercise could be undertaken for category II institutes and centres. 14. After the examination of the eight reports presented to the Board, the Group made a number of suggestions to improve their presentation. Regional centres should seek and clearly identify partners having expressed their interest. When contractual relations already exist between UNESCO and the centre, information should be provided on the financial implication of UNESCO. Links with UNESCO s main priorities and programmes should be clearly defined as well as the added value of the anticipated cooperation. Noting that some feasibility studies are already available on the UNESCO website, this practice was encouraged. 3. Report by the Director-General on the execution of the programme adopted by the General Conference (172 EX/4 Part II (Budget adjustments authorized within the Appropriation Resolution for and Management Chart for Programme Execution in (32 C/5 Approved) Status as at 30 June 2005 (non-audited)), 172 EX/INF.5, 172 EX/INF.6 and 172 EX/INF.9) 15. The representative of the Director-General presented a summarized introduction of the document which comprised two parts, i.e. budget adjustments authorized within the Appropriation Resolution and the Management Chart for Programme Execution in While appreciating the quality and the usefulness of the information particularly in Table 2(A) (Programme implementation) in terms of harmonization between the regular programme and the extrabudgetary projects, certain members stressed the importance of evaluating the programme deliveries against objectives. It was also suggested that the table could be enhanced by showing, if donors agree, future pledged extrabudgetary funds for the biennium, as both sources could then be fully comparable. Further, with regard to the table on decentralization, it was noted that the detailed facts presented on decentralization of the budget did not necessarily relate to a value judgement on programme delivery. The importance of evaluating programme delivery vis-à-vis the expected results was again emphasized. 17. A member expressed concern on the possibility of the budget ending up with an unspent balance in the five major programme areas while having a deficit in the non-programme area of the budget. While acknowledging this concern, the representative of the Director-General explained that such a result would be due to the fact that the funds for central services had been cut continuously over the years in order to preserve the programmes. It was further explained that the budget for central services had reached a limit in order to be able to deliver necessary programme

7 172 EX/FA/EG page 6 support while facing inevitable cost increases coming from factors such as inflation and local employment conditions. 18. While appreciating the contents presented in Table 4 (Temporary assistance, travel and contractual services), members expressed their concern on over-expenditure particularly under Travel. The representative of the Director-General explained that the expenditure was mainly controlled on overall activity budget, and that the budget amounts by Objects-of-Expenditure were indicative. She also reiterated that shortfalls under certain categories of expenditure arose due to the time lag between the preparation and the implementation of the 32 C/5 budget, and furthermore, that variances between budgets and expenditure arose from the discrepancy in cost categorization between the budget planning and expenditure registration. The Secretariat is making efforts to solve this problem of cost categorization in the 33 C/5 work plan exercise by forecasting expenditure precisely and bringing in improvements in SISTER. 19. A member highlighted the difficulties faced when attempting to link the results achieved (presented in document 172 EX/4 Part I) with the expenditure presented in document 172 EX/4 Part II. The representative of the Director-General acknowledged this fact and also informed that while several United Nations agencies had managed to build budgets using the RBM concept, they were still struggling to monitor and report the results achieved in relation to expenses incurred. One member said that a knowledge culture should be developed in order to implement fully resultsbased management and recommended that UNESCO should pool the lessons learnt from that method with other agencies that had many similarities with our Organization. 20. A member requested that the office rentals offered in kind to certain field offices be recognized and listed as a part of the donations. The representative of the Director-General assured the Group that he would seek a procedural solution for this purpose. With regard to the low rates of expenditure for the decentralized budget under Social and Human Sciences and training in Africa, the Group was informed that the updated rates of expenditure for these items as of September 2005 were satisfactory. 21. At the conclusion of its discussion, the Group recommended that the Finance and Administrative Commission adopt the following draft decision: 1. Having examined the Director-General s report on donations and special contributions received since the beginning of the biennium and appropriated to the regular budget, as well as the between-appropriation-line transfers proposed within the budget appropriation, in accordance with the terms of the Appropriation Resolution approved by the General Conference at its 32nd session (32 C/Resolution 85, para. A(b) and (e)), document 172 EX/4 Part II.A and the recommendations of the Finance and Administrative Commission thereon (172 EX/ ), I 2. Takes note that the Director-General has, as a consequence of these donations and special contributions, increased the appropriations to the regular budget by a total amount of $2,181,797 as follows:

8 172 EX/FA/EG page 7 $ Part II.A Major Programme I 621,059 Part II.A Major Programme II 613,795 Part II.A Major Programme III 40,643 Part II.A Major Programme IV 217,208 Part II.A Major Programme V 211,603 Part II.C Programme Related Services 213,658 Part III Support for Programme Execution 263,831 (indirect costs for field offices) Total 2,181, Expresses its appreciation to the donors listed in paragraph 6 of document 172 EX/4 Part II.A; II 4. Recalling the provision of the Appropriation Resolution by virtue of which transfers between appropriation lines may be made by the Director-General with the prior approval of the Executive Board, 5. Approves the transfer of $937,300 from Part IV to Parts I-III of the budget to cover increases in staff costs due to statutory and other factors; 6. Takes note of the revised Appropriation Table attached in the Annex to the present decision.

9 PART I GENERAL POLICY AND DIRECTION Annex (Part A) Revised Appropriation Table for Appropriation line 32 C/5 Approved 32 C/5 Approved as Adjusted (169 EX/Dec.6.2) (170 EX/Dec.7.8.6) (171 EX/Dec.3.6) Proposed Appropriation and Transfers (i) Donations received (ii) Transfer from Part IV $ $ $ $ A. Governing bodies 1. General Conference Executive Board Total, Part I.A Staff costs 32 C/5 Approved as adjusted 172 EX/FA/EG page 8 B. Direction (Including: Directorate; Office of the Director-General; Internal Oversight; International Standards and Legal Affairs) C. Participation in the Joint Machinery of the United Nations System TOTAL, PART I PART II PROGRAMMES AND PROGRAMME RELATED SERVICES A. Programmes Major Programme I - Education I. Personnel II. Activities I.1 Basic education for all I.1.1 Basic education for all: targeting key goals I.1.2 Supporting EFA strategies I.2 Building learning societies I.2.1 Beyond universal primary education I.2.2 Education and globalization UNESCO education institutes UNESCO International Bureau of Education (IBE) UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) UNESCO Institute for Education (UIE) UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) UNESCO International Institute for Capacity-Building in Africa (IICBA) UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) Projects relating to cross-cutting themes* Total, Major Programme I Major Programme II - Natural sciences I. Personnel II. Activities II.1 Science, environment and sustainable development II.1.1 Water interactions: systems at risk and social challenges II.1.2 Ecological sciences: developing stewardship by people for nature II.1.3 Earth sciences: improving the understanding of the solid Earth and enhancing disaster prevention II.1.4 Towards sustainable living in small islands and in coastal regions II.1.5 UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission II.2 Capacity-building in science and technology for development II.2.1 Capacity-building in the basic and engineering sciences II.2.2 Science and technology policies for sustainable development Projects relating to cross-cutting themes* Total, Major Programme II Major Programme III - Social and human sciences I. Personnel II. Activities III.1 Ethics of science and technology, with emphasis on bioethics III.2 Promotion of human rights and the fight against discrimination III.3 Foresight, philosophy, human sciences and human security III.4 Management of social transformations: MOST - Phase II Projects relating to cross-cutting themes* Total, Major Programme III

10 Appropriation line 32 C/5 Approved 32 C/5 Approved as Adjusted (169 EX/Dec.6.2) (170 EX/Dec.7.8.6) (171 EX/Dec.3.6) Proposed Appropriation and Transfers (i) Donations received (ii) Transfer from Part IV 32 C/5 Approved as adjusted $ $ $ $ Major Programme IV - Culture I. Personnel II. Activities IV.1 Mainstreaming cultural diversity into policy agendas at national and international levels IV.1.1 Promotion of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and implementation of its Action Plan IV.1.2 Strengthening the links between cultural policies and development policies IV.2 UNESCO's contribution to the protection of the world's cultural diversity through cultural and natural heritage preservation IV.2.1 Promotion and implementation of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage IV.2.2 Protecting cultural diversity through the preservation of cultural heritage in all its forms and through normative action IV.3 Safeguarding cultural diversity through creativity and developmen IV.3.1 Encouraging arts and crafts for sustainable development IV.3.2 Strengthening the role of cultural creation in human and economic development Projects relating to cross-cutting themes* Total, Major Programme IV Major Programme V - Communication and information I. Personnel II. Activities V.1 Fostering equitable access to information and knowledge for development, especially in the public domain V.1.1 Fostering actions to reduce digital divide and promote social inclusion V.1.2 Harnessing ICTs for education V.1.3 Promoting the expression of cultural and linguistic diversity through communication and information V.2 Promoting freedom of expression and communication development V.2.1 Promoting freedom of expression and the independence and pluralism of the media V.2.2 Supporting development of communication media Projects relating to cross-cutting themes* Total, Major Programme V UNESCO Institute for Statistics Field - Management of decentralized programmes Total, Part II.A Staff costs B. Participation Programme C. Programme Related Services 1. Coordination of action to benefit Africa Fellowships Programme Public information Strategic planning and programming monitoring Budget preparation and monitoring Total, Part II.C TOTAL, PART II PART III SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMME EXECUTION AND ADMINISTRATION A. Field management and coordination B. External relations and cooperation C. Human resources management D. Administration, maintenance and renovation of Headquarters premises TOTAL, PART III TOTAL, PARTS I - III Reserve for reclassifications PART IV ANTICIPATED COST INCREASES ( ) 0 TOTAL APPROPRIATION APPROVED AS ADJUSTED * Cross-cutting themes: 1. Eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty. 2. The contribution of information and communication technologies to the development of education, science and culture and the construction of a knowledge society. 172 EX/FA/EG page 9

11 172 EX/FA/EG page Proposed establishment of the International Centre for Girls and Women s Education in Africa (CIEFFA), under the auspices of UNESCO, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/8) 22. In introducing this item, the representative of the Director-General stressed that the Centre meets the criteria for category II and its activities are in line with the objectives of UNESCO. The Group was also informed that in July 2004 the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union approved the principle of making CIEFFA an institution for the entire continent under the aegis of the African Union. The Centre will be a regional institution for the promotion of girls and women s education in Africa and will also advance South-South cooperation. 23. The Group expressed satisfaction with the proposal as well as the quality of the document. A member emphasized that this Centre s catalytic and policy advisory role corresponds exactly to what is expected from a category II centre. The fact that UNESCO is a member of the Board of Governors to which the Director of the Centre is accountable was also welcomed by a member of the Group. 24. Clarification was however sought with regard to UNESCO s financial implications in the operation of the Centre. The representative of the Director-General indicated that the Government of Burkina Faso covers all resources, either financial or in kind, needed for the administration and proper functioning of CIEFFA as well as space, furniture and equipment. UNESCO makes no contribution to recurrent costs. 25. The following information on UNESCO s financial contribution since document 30 C/5 was also provided: $400,000 in , $204,450 in and $230,000 in These funds are decentralized to the UNESCO Bamako Office, which ensures their utilization in conformity with the work plans submitted and agreed upon with the CIEFFA. 26. The representative of the Director-General added that CIEFFA benefits from financial and technical support from other partners including UNICEF, the Agence de la francophonie, Belgian bilateral cooperation and UNDP. One member stressed that partnerships with other institutions of the United Nations system should be encouraged. 27. A member of the Group inquired also about the added value of establishing a category II centre rather than keeping its current status. The representative of the Director-General replied that the feasibility study showed that there is no such resource centre and clearing house in the region for girls and women s education. It is an intellectual reference for the region, which is a necessary complement to UNESCO s action in Africa. 28. With regard to the draft agreement with the host country, a member of the Group encouraged the inclusion of a provision for an External Auditor. 29. Finally, the Group expressed its appreciation for the transparency of the proposal, notably the fact that the feasibility study is available on the Internet. 30. The Group recommended that the Finance and Administrative Commission adopt the following draft decision: 1. Recalling 21 C/Resolution 40, 165 EX/Decision 5.4 and 171 EX/Decision 23,

12 172 EX/FA/EG page Further recalling the Pan-African Conference on the Education of Girls in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) in 1993 which put forward strategies to be implemented, aimed at attracting and retaining girls in the education systems, the World Education Forum in Dakar (Senegal) in 2000, which notably placed special emphasis on improving access to quality basic education and gender equality (Goal 5), and the United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000) adopted by the Member States of the United Nations, and especially the two Millennium Development Goals relating to education, 3. Having examined document 172 EX/8 and its Annex, 4. Welcomes the proposal of the Government of Burkina Faso requesting that the International Centre for Girls and Women s Education in Africa (CIEFFA) be placed under the auspices of UNESCO, which is in line with the existing principles and guidelines (21 C/36) and the proposed strategy for this category of institutes and centres (171 EX/18); 5. Recommends to the General Conference at its 33rd session that it approve the establishment, under the auspices of UNESCO, of the International Centre for Girls and Women s Education in Africa (CIEFFA), and authorize the Director-General to sign the agreement between the Government of Burkina Faso and UNESCO which is annexed to the present document. 10. Report by the Director-General on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development: international implementation scheme and UNESCO s contribution to the implementation of the Decade (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/11) 31. After a short debate, the Group recommended that the Finance and Administrative Commission adopt the following draft decision: 1. Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolutions 57/254, 58/219 and 59/237 concerning the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), 2. Further recalling the presentation of a shorter version of the draft framework for the Implementation Scheme (Annex I of the present document) for the DESD at the 32nd session of the General Conference (32 C/INF.9), and of a draft International Implementation Scheme at the Executive Board s 171st session (171 EX/7), 3. Having examined document 172 EX/11, 4. Considers and adopts the consolidated text of the International Implementation Scheme (Annex I of the present document) elaborated by UNESCO through extensive consultations with United Nations agencies, national governments, civil society organizations and NGOs, experts and specialists; 5. Invites the Director-General to take all necessary measures to further ensure UNESCO s response to United Nations General Assembly resolutions 57/254, 58/219 and 59/237; 6. Further invites the Director-General to pursue his consultations with other United Nations agencies, with Member States and with civil society and NGOs with a view to

13 172 EX/FA/EG page 12 facilitating the smooth implementation of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development; 7. Requests the Director-General to ensure wide dissemination of this consolidated International Implementation Scheme to Member States, other United Nations agencies, civil society organizations and NGOs. 11. Establishment of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy funded by the People s Republic of China (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/12 and Corr.) 32. The representative of the Director-General introduced the proposed UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, emphasizing that the prize is intended to reward activities of outstanding individuals, governments or governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations working in literacy for rural adults and out-of-school youth, particularly women and girls. It was also indicated that the prize will provide concrete support to the Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE) being launched by UNESCO. 33. One member of the Group sought clarification regarding the gender focus of this Prize. The representative of the Director-General replied that while understanding that there are literacy issues in some regions that concern boys more than girls, UNESCO will however emphasize girls and women s access to literacy through this Prize in the regions and contexts where they are more disadvantaged. 34. Another member questioned paragraph 5.2 of the Statutes of the Prize (Annex I of document 172 EX/12 and Corr.) which states that the working language for deliberations by the Jury shall be English. In response, the representative of the Director-General informed the Group that, despite budgetary constraints, assistance was provided to French-speaking members of the Jury. 35. The representative of the Director-General thanked China for its generous offer that meets the criteria established by UNESCO for such prizes. 36. The Group recommended that the Finance and Administrative Commission adopt the following draft decision: 1. Bearing in mind that the Government of the People s Republic of China proposed to establish and fund a prize entitled UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy whose objectives are consonant with those of UNESCO in the field of education, particularly within the framework of the United Nations Literacy Decade and the Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE), 2. Having examined document 172 EX/12 and Corr. concerning the creation of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, 3. Noting that the proposed Prize complies with the strategy and criteria for UNESCO prizes as contained in document 171 EX/19, in conformity with 171 EX/Decision 24, 4. Expresses to the Government of the People s Republic of China its deep gratitude for this initiative and for the generous offer of a fund amounting to US $150,000 per year for an initial period of five years;

14 172 EX/FA/EG page Approves the Statutes of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, as set out in Annex I to the present decision; 6. Takes note of the Financial Regulations of the Special Account for this Prize, as set out in Annex II to the present decision. 13. Report by the Director-General on a feasibility study for the establishment of an international centre of excellence in Venezuela, under the auspices of UNESCO (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/14) 14. Report by the Director-General on a feasibility study for the establishment of an IHP- HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, under the auspices of UNESCO (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/15 and Corr. (English only)) 16. Proposed establishment of the European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology in Lodz, Poland, under the auspices of UNESCO (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/17) and 61. Proposed establishment of the Regional Water Centre for Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAZALAC) under the auspices of UNESCO, in La Serena, Chile (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/54) 37. The Group examined jointly these items as they all concern the establishment of centres under the auspices of UNESCO in the field of science. The debate focused on issues related to their regional and international coverage in terms of programme activities, on their capacity to stimulate the sharing of knowledge through networking, on their financial resources and on the existence of termination and sunset clauses in the agreements signed with the host countries. There was also discussion on the role of the Secretariat in the examination of the proposals submitted by the respective Member States for establishing these centres. A summary of the debates that took place in connection with these items is presented in the following paragraphs. 38. In respect of Item 13 Report by the Director-General on a feasibility study for the establishment of an international centre of excellence in Venezuela, under the auspices of UNESCO (172 EX/14), the Group was informed that the International Centre for Biological Sciences (CICB) in Venezuela will be built on the basis of three existing Centres which have had long-term association with the Natural Sciences Sector, namely the Latin American Centre for Biological Sciences (CLAB), the Simón Bolivar International Centre for Scientific Cooperation (CICCSB) and the International Centre for Tropical Ecology (CIET). The new Centre (CICB), while overseeing the ongoing activities of the three centres at regional and international levels, will also design, develop and implement activities independently. 39. The CICB will promote regional cooperation among Latin American and Caribbean Member States. In this context the Group recommended that, in the future, some information on the views and responses of other Member States in the region should be included in the feasibility study report. 40. Regarding the other three items related to the establishment of water centres: Item 14 Report by the Director-General on a feasibility study for the establishment of an International IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the

15 172 EX/FA/EG page 14 University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, under the auspices of UNESCO (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/15 and Corr. (English only)); Item 16 Proposed establishment of the European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology in Lodz, Poland, under the auspices of UNESCO (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/17); and Item 61 Proposed establishment of the regional Water Centre for Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAZALAC) under the auspices of UNESCO, in La Serena, Chile (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/54), the representative of the Director-General explained that the purpose of establishing these centres was to contribute to the implementation of the Organization s objectives in water-programme activities, and that the activities of each centre in certain disciplines would cover both regional and international water-related issues. 41. Furthermore, the Group was informed that the establishment of these centres was intended to stimulate the sharing of knowledge through networking, for example with the Regional Centre in Cairo on Arid Zones and the possible centre on droughts to be established in southern Africa. 42. In the ensuing discussion additional information was requested on the funding of the centres, the existence of termination and sunset clauses in the agreements signed with the host countries and on the role of the Secretariat in the examination of the proposals submitted by the respective Member States for establishing these centres. 43. The Group was informed that the centres would be financed entirely from extrabudgetary funding, in particular the contributions made by the host countries. Each agreement between UNESCO and the host country contains a termination clause which allows UNESCO to end the agreement under specific conditions and also a sunset clause stipulating that each agreement would lapse after a certain period of time unless it is renewed. 44. Regarding the role of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP), as an intergovernmental programme, in the establishment of these centres, the Group was informed that the proposals submitted by the respective Member States had been thoroughly examined by IHP, and that consultations through IHP Regional Meetings, the IHP Bureau and the IHP Intergovernmental Council were held at regional level before submitting these proposals to the Executive Board. 45. The Group recommended that the Finance and Administrative Commission adopt the following draft decisions: Item Recalling 21 C/Resolution 40.1, 165 EX/Decision 5.4, 171 EX/INF.20 and 171 EX/Decision 23, 2. Taking into account 171 EX/Decision 23, 3. Having examined document 172 EX/14 and its Annex,

16 172 EX/FA/EG page 15 Item 14 Item Welcomes the proposal of the Government of Venezuela to establish the International Centre for Biological Sciences (CICB) in Venezuela under the auspices of UNESCO; 5. Recommends to the General Conference at its 33rd session that it approve in principle the establishment of the International Centre for Biological Sciences (CICB) in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, under the auspices of UNESCO (category II), on the condition that the Venezuelan authorities provide additional information on the legal status of the new Centre (CICB), in relation to the current legal status of the three existing centres, i.e. CLAB, CIET and CICCSB, whose work and functions CICB is intended to coordinate and on the administrative and managerial structures of CICB when it is formally established in early 2006; 6. Further recommends to the General Conference to delegate to the Executive Board at its 174th session the final decision to authorize the Director-General to sign the Agreement to be signed between UNESCO and the Government of Venezuela presented in the Annex to document 172 EX/14, with necessary modifications that may be needed following the actual establishment of CICB in early 2006, and provided that all the conditions required under paragraph 5 above are fulfilled by the Venezuelan authorities. 1. Recalling 21 C/Resolution 40.1, 165 EX/Decision 5.4, 171 EX/Decision 23 and 171 EX/Decision 63, 2. Further recalling paragraphs 29 and 33 of the Science Agenda Framework for Action adopted by the World Conference on Science in Budapest in June 1999, as well as the decision adopted by the Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) in June 2002 and endorsed by the IHP Bureau in June 2003, 3. Having noted document 172 EX/15 and its annexes, 4. Having also noted Resolution XVI-5 of the 16th IHP-IGC in Annex I, 5. Welcomes the proposal of the Government of the United Kingdom to establish an International Centre on Water Law, Policy and Science under the auspices of UNESCO, which is in line with the principles and guidelines for institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO (category II) as outlined in document 171 EX/18 approved by the Executive Board in 171 EX/Decision 23; 6. Recommends to the General Conference at its 33rd session that it approve the establishment of the IHP-HELP Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, Scotland, UK, as a category II centre under the auspices of UNESCO and authorize the Director-General to sign the Agreement presented in Annex II to document 172 EX/ Recalling 21 C/Resolution 40.1, 165 EX/Decision 5.4 and 171 EX/Decision 23,

17 172 EX/FA/EG page 16 Item Further recalling Resolution XV-12 adopted at the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) in June 2002, 3. Having examined document 172 EX/17 and its annexes, 4. Welcomes the proposal of the Government of Poland to establish the European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology under the auspices of UNESCO, which is in line with the principles and guidelines for institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO (category II) as outlined in document 171 EX/18 and approved by the Executive Board by 171 EX/Decision 23; 5. Recommends to the General Conference at its 33rd session that it approve the establishment of the European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology in Lodz, Poland, as a centre under the auspices of UNESCO (category II), and authorize the Director-General to sign the Agreement presented in Annex II to document 172 EX/ Recalling 21 C/Resolution 40.1, 165 EX/Decision 5.4 and 171 EX/Decision 23, 2. Further recalling Resolution XIV-5 adopted at the 14th session of the Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) in June 2000, 3. Having examined document 172 EX/54 and its annexes, 4. Welcomes the proposal of the Government of Chile to establish the Regional Water Centre for Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of Latin America and the Caribbean under the auspices of UNESCO, which is in line with the principles and guidelines for institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO (category II) as outlined in document 171 EX/18 and approved by the Executive Board in 171 EX/Decision 23; 5. Recommends to the General Conference at its 33rd session that it approve the establishment of the Regional Water Centre for Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of Latin America and the Caribbean in La Serena, Chile, as a centre under the auspices of UNESCO (category II), and authorize the Director-General to sign the Agreement presented in Annex II to document 172 EX/ Report by the Director-General on the feasibility study for granting the status of a regional institute under the auspices of UNESCO to the Instituto de Matematica Pura e Aplicada (IMPA) in Brazil (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/16) 50. Proposal for the establishment of the ARTEK International Youth and Children Centre under the auspices of UNESCO (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/46) and 60. Proposal for the establishment of a regional centre for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage (Cuzco, Republic of Peru), under the auspices of UNESCO (Administrative and financial aspects) (172 EX/53 and Add.)

18 172 EX/FA/EG page After an introduction by the representative of the Director-General, the Group of Experts examined these items in a joint discussion. Some members sought general clarifications on the use of the name and the logo of UNESCO. In reply the Legal Adviser recalled that according to the legal texts of UNESCO, category II centres are authorized to use the name and the logo of UNESCO. 47. With regard to IMPA, the representative of the Director-General outlined the potential benefits of this institute for developing capacity-building in mathematics and strengthening regional and scientific cooperation among developing countries in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean. 48. The Group requested additional information on the regional nature of the institute, to which specific UNESCO programmes IMPA s activities are relevant and complementary, and on the existence of financial controls within the institute in terms of public auditing. 49. The representative of the Director-General assured the Group of the important contribution of the institute to the development of mathematics in the region and the strengthening of scientific cooperation of Brazilian researchers with mathematicians from the region and that the approach of IMPA was all-inclusive in support of regional projects for cooperation. 50. With regard to programme relevance and coherence with UNESCO s programmes, members were informed that the institute s activities are relevant to UNESCO s mandate of capacity-building in the basic sciences, including mathematics, in the framework of the International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP). 51. On the subject of public auditing, the representative of the Director-General informed the Group that this issue was considered in the study, and, in this context, IMPA receives its major funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil, and is subject to regular auditing. 52. An Observer reaffirmed support for this proposal and stressed the important regional role played by IMPA. He emphasized that if granted category II status, the institute would further develop its regional objectives and functions. 53. When considering item 50 proposed by Ukraine on the establishment of the ARTEK Centre, it was considered as an innovative initiative. The mechanism for the settlement of disputes was questioned. The Legal Adviser indicated that it is a standard mechanism. 54. Regarding the Centre for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage in Peru, the Group was informed that the Peruvian Government has indicated its intention to double the existing budget of $250,000. This budget of $500,000 would widen the participation of countries in Latin America in its activities. In this regard, the representative of the Director-General provided the list of the 10 countries which will participate in the activities, i.e. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. 55. The representative of the Director-General drew the attention of the members to the Draft Agreement between the Government of Peru and UNESCO which sets out the cooperation with UNESCO for a six-year period. This would allow an evaluation of the commitments foreseen in the agreement so as to decide whether to maintain the cooperation with the Centre. 56. The representative of the Director-General also informed the Group that an addendum to document 172 EX/53, providing further information on the Centre, will be submitted to the Executive Board at its present session.