text: Europe assigned totheGeneva Office ofUNICEF. Funding 85.Inviewofthesteady increase inresource levels, onedelegation commended theExecutive Director forhisfund-raising efforts. However, several delegations notedwithconcern theconstant increase inUNICEFactivities funded through supplementary funding andreiterated theviewthatUNICEFactivities should be financed primarily fromgeneral resources. Itwasfeltthatthiswouldensure neutrality andflexibility, andBoardmembers wereurgedtocontribute generously togeneral resources inordertostrengthen thefinancial baseoftheorganization. 86.Onedelegation wasoftheopinion thattheExecutive Boardwasbestqualified toseethatthebasicprinciples underlying UNICEF. action wererespected andthat thebestusewasmadeofthefunds. Therefore, itwassuggested thattheBoard should takeacloser lookattheUNICEF funding policy. -19-Management 87.Theimportance ofsoundmanagement inUNICEF wasunderscored bymany delegations. Onedelegation pointed outthatnetresources available for development coulddecline inthemonths aheadandthatagencies thatwerethemost efficient andeffective wouldhavetheedgeincompeting forthemodest levelsof development resources. Therefore, UNICEF wasurgedtoapplythemostrigorous standards toallaspects ofitsoperations andnottogrowcomplacent because of itsfund-raising success. Procurement 88.Several delegations mentioned theimportant rolethattheUNICEF procurement policy couldplayinencouraging industry andcapacity-building indeveloping countries andstressed thatthisshould beseenasanessential element ofthe national capacity-building referred tointhemedium-term plan. Another delegation suggested thatUNICEF shouldconsider achangeinprocurement policies, giving preference tolocalindustry without compromising product quality andwasinformed thatUNICEF already followed thatprinciple. -20-Ill.OTHERMATTERS Documentation 89.Several delegations commended thesecretariat onthegoodquality ofthe documentation, whichprovided precise facts, competent assessments andaclear overview ofthesituation ofchildren, aswellasofthemultifaceted activities of theorganization. Thedocumentation alsoillustrated thedimension andcomplexity ofUNICEF tasksandthechallenges facing theorganization. Twodelegations expressed appreciation tothesecretariat forthemorerapidtranslation ofthe documents submitted during thesession. However, theyregretted thatthedocuments received before thesession arrived toolateforconsultations withtherelevant ministries. Future workandprocedures oftheExecutive Board 90.TheChairman oftheExecutive Boardpresented thedraftrecommendation onthe future workandprocedures oftheExecutive Board(E/ICEF/1990/CRP.28). One delegation commented extensively onthissubject. Although thedocuments presented tothesession weregenerally ofhighquality, therewasconsiderable overlapping andthetotalnumber ofpagesofdocumentation hadexceeded 2,000. Therefore, continued efforts should bemadetoreduce thenumber andlength ofdocuments. On theotherhand,thedelegation notedthatBoardmembers hadpresented alarge number ofrequests foradditional information anddocumentation andthatitwasin thebestinterest ofboththeBoardandthesecretariat tofindwaystorationalize thesituation, perhaps bycombining documents whenpossible. Itwasalsoproposed thatmanyoftherequests should beaddressed inthereport oftheExecutive Director. Itwassuggested thatdocumentation forthe1991Boardsession should notexceed 1,000pagesandthatefforts towards biennialization ofBoard discussions should continue. 91.Thesamedelegation reiterated thatthesix-week limitforthepresentation of documents totheBoardmustbefollowed. Fartoomanydocuments arrived toolate, makingitimpossible forBoardmembers torelateproperly tothesubject-matter. 92.Theannouncement ofdeadlines forthesubmission ofdraftproposals wasan improvement. However, thebasisfordecision-making inBoarddocuments ­ particularly thedraftrecommendations -couldbeimproved. Ontheotherhand,it wasfeltthatBoardmembers shouldalsoconsider carefully theneedfordraft resolutions soastolimitthenumber asmuchaspossible.
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the internal workings and policies of UNICEF, specifically the Executive Board, and its relationship with funding, procurement, and documentation. It seems to be focused on the organizational aspects of UNICEF's activities, rather than specific projects or programs. The text also touches on the importance of sound management, transparency, and efficiency in UNICEF's operations.