The UN would spend US$ 5.53 billion to finance its activities over the next two years (2014-2015), including its administrative, judicial, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations worldwide, PANA reports.
A UN statement, obtained by PANA in New York on Monday, stated that the fund was approved by the 193-member UN General Assembly on Friday.
It said that the Assembly approved the budget for the biennium 2014-2015 by consensus, acting on the recommendation of its committee dealing with administrative and budgetary matters, known as the Fifth Committee.
It quoted UN Chef de Cabinet, Ms. Susana Malcorra, as saying that “the new budget is lower than the one for the previous biennium (2012-2013), reflecting our shared wish for a fiscally responsible Secretariat”.
She stated: “We will continue to adapt and equip the United Nations to better implement its mandates,” noting that the secretary-general had urged “all managers to rethink their business practices, reduce overlap, embrace innovation, encourage creativity and build synergies”.
She also stated that “it would be unrealistic to presume that any substantial budget reduction will have no impact while mandates keep growing.”
Ms. Malcorra, however, said that the secretary-general was disappointed that the Assembly had failed to reach agreement on strengthened agreements for private-sector partnerships and on a managed mobility policy.
