text: Programme planning andco-ordination relatetotheInformation Systems Unit. Duringthebienniums 1982-1983 and1984-1985 theactivities oftheUnitwere financed fromdepartmental savings. According torepresentatives ofthe Secretary-General, thisarrangement isnolongerpossible. Inthisconnection, the Advisory Committee recalls that,atitstwenty-fourth session, theCommittee for Programme andCo-ordination recommended thata"solution totheauestion ofthe Unit'sinstitutional andfinancial baseshouldbeprovided bythe Secretary-General, inthecontext ofthe1986-1987 biennium budget, soastopermit theUnitto·continue itsusefulwork".7/Byitsresolution 39/238, theGeneral Assembly subseauently ap~roved thisrecommendation. 6.6Atitsrequest, theAdvisory Committee wasprovided withadditional information ontheworkoftheunit,aswellasthefunctions oftheproposed posts. Inthecircumstances, theAdvisory Committee recommends approval oftheP-4 andP-2posts. However, giventhenumberofGeneral Service postsavailable tothe Department, itisnotconvinced oftheneedtoapprove thetwo(oneprincipal level)General Service posts.Ittherefore recommends thattheSecretary-Generalis estimate bereduced by$92,800. 6.7Forthereasonprovided inparagraph 6.56oftheproposed programme budget, theSecretary-General alsoproposes toredeploy oneP-4postfromtheprogramme Globalsocialdevelopment issuestotheAnalysis ofworldpopulation programme. TheAdvisory Committee hasnoobjection tothisredeployment. 11Official Records oftheGeneral Assembly, Thirty-ninth Session, Supplement NO.38(A/39/38), para.340. -67-II I' I' I, i I: I' f !I, !, ',.•':i: "6.8Asstatedinparagraph 6.12oftheproposed programme budget, andascanbe seenfroffitable6.4,$130,000 (atrevised 1985rates)inresource growthis proposed fortheacquisition ofelectronic data-processing andword-processing equipment. Details regarding thisprovision areinparagraphs 6.19,6.35, 6.50, 6.62, 6.77, 6.95and6.107oftheproposed programme budget. 6.9Onthebasisoftheinformation beforeit,inclUding details ontheamountand distribution ofexisting equipment withintheDepartment, theAdvisory Committee recommends acceptance oftheSecretary-Generalis proposals. 6.10Theestimate of$8,036,100 forGlobalsocialdevelopment issues(table6.16) includes anon-recurrent provision of$62,500 (atrevised ,1985rates)foran adhoc expertgroupmeeting approved bytheGeneral Assembly initsresolution 39/26,as described inparagraph 6.70oftheproposed programme budget. Asstatedin paragraph 6.73oftheproposed programme budget, anon-recurrent amountof$20,300 (atrevised 1985rates)hasalsobeenincluded undertravelofstafftoservice meetings inconnection withthismeeting. TheAdvisory Committee hasnoobjection tothesenon-recurrent amounts. 6.11Representatives oftheSecretarY-General informed theCommittee that$9,000 oftheamountof$11,000 (atrevised 1985rates)forotherofficial travelof staff,shownforprogramme element 3.1inparagraph 6.74oftheproposed programme budget, shouldbed~leted, asitisalready provided forundertravelofstaffto service meetings. Thereduction totheSecretary-Generalis estimate for1966-1987 wouldtherefore amountto$9,700. Moreover, theAdvisory Committee wasinformed thattheamountof$2,000(atrevised 1985rates)forthebiennial meeting of Statesparties (programme element 3.1)shouldbeincluded undertravelofstaffto service meetings ratherthanotherofficial travelofstaff. 6.12Inaddition totheprovision forfournewpostsfortheInformation Systems unit(seepara.6.5above), theestimate of$6,158,300 forProgramme planning and co-ordination (table6.20)includes fundsforan adhocexpertgroupmeeting which will"identify thewaysandmeansofmeeting therequirement forthefull establishment ofself-evaluation" (para.6.104oftheproposed programme budget). TheSecretary-General alsostatesthatthegroupwillbe"composed primarily of regional andsectoral evaluation officers andsomeresource experts onevaluation fromoutside theSecretariat". 6.13TheAdvisory Committee hasnoobjection totheholding ofsuchameeting. However,itisnotconvinced oftheneedforoutside expertise. Furthermore, the Advisory Committee pointsout,thatthroughout theprogramme budgetprovision is madefortravelofstafftoconsult withHeadquarters, inviewofthisthe
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the budget and planning of a specific unit within the United Nations, focusing on the allocation of funds and the justification for certain expenses. The topics mentioned, such as the acquisition of electronic data-processing and word-processing equipment, the holding of expert group meetings, and the travel of staff, suggest that the unit is involved in information systems, planning, and coordination. Given the context of the United Nations, it is likely that the unit's activities are related to global development and international cooperation.