Update on 1994 Programme Expenditure and on Programme and Funding Projections for 1995

EC/1995/SC.2/CRP.14

I. INTRODUCTION

1. An update of UNHCR programme and funding projections for 1994 and 1995 was presented to the 32nd meeting of the Sub-Committee on Administrative and Financial Matters of 16 January 1995 (EC/1995/SC.2/CRP.6). The present document provides further updated information on programme expenditure for 1994 (Part II) and a summary of programme and funding projections for 1995, including an analysis of overall staffing levels (Part III).

II. 1994 EXPENDITURE

2. As shown in Annex I to the Information Note on Income and Expenditure for the Year 1994 (EC/1995/SC.2/CRP.10), funds available in 1994 under all sources of funds, including funds brought forward from 1993, totalled $ 1,480,634,000 (excluding the Working Capital and Guarantee Fund). Obligations entered into during 1994 totalled $ 1,166,762,000 ($ 390,697,000 for General Programmes and $ 776,065,000 for Special Programmes), leaving a total carry-over of $ 313,872,000 at year-end (not including the Working Capital and Guarantee Fund) to meet initial activities in 1995. The carry-over is composed of $ 56,233,000 for General Programmes and $ 257,639,000 for Special Programmes.

3. In the above-mentioned document presented to the January 1995 SCAF (EC/1995/SC.2/CRP.6), UNHCR anticipated that General Programmes expenditure for 1994 was likely to total some $ 395.0 million. As noted above, the final obligation level was $ 390.7 million, i.e. $ 4.3 million less than anticipated, mainly as a result of a careful examination of outstanding obligations at year-end.

4. In regard to Special Programmes, UNHCR anticipated that expenditure for 1994 was likely to total some $ 816.5 million (EC/1995/SC.2/CRP.6 refers). As also noted above, the final obligation level was $ 776.1 million, a difference of $ 40.4 million. As under General Programmes, this was due to a careful examination of all outstanding obligations at year-end. The main differences relate to the following programmes:

• the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA), where some $ 50.8 million were obligated as compared to projected needs of $ 71.4 million;

• the Burundi/Rwanda Emergency, where some $ 240.1 million were obligated as compared to a projected expenditure figure of $ 254.2 million (excluding $ 4.0 million allocated from the 1994 Emergency Fund);

• the Horn of Africa, where some $ 24.8 million were obligated as compared to a projected expenditure figure of $ 33.9 million. This largely reflected UNHCR's inability to implement planned activities in areas constantly affected by fighting and insecurity.

III. UPDATE OF 1995 PROGRAMME AND FUNDING PROJECTIONS

5. Annex I provides an update as of 1 March 1995 of total projected needs for activities programmed in 1995, and a forecast of expected income for the year, taking into account, inter alia, unobligated funds brought forward from 1994. It should be noted that the unobligated funds brought forward from 1994 and shown in Annex I relate only to programmed activities.

6. With regard to General Programmes, it will be recalled that the Executive Committee, in its meeting of 17 January 1995, approved an increase in the 1995 General Programmes target from $ 415.4 million to $ 428.7 million (A/AC.96/824, para.7 (a) refers). This target includes:

(a) the Emergency Fund ($ 25.0 million), against which allocations totalling $ 6.4 million had been made by 1 March (mainly for the Rwanda/Burundi Emergency, the Chechnya and Guinea), leaving an unallocated balance of $ 18.6 million.

(b) the General Allocation for Voluntary Repatriation ($ 20.0 million), against which allocations totalling $ 6.3 million had been made by 1 March, leaving an unallocated balance of $ 13.7 million.

(c) the Programme Reserve ($ 14.0 million). Of the initial 1995 Programme Reserve of $ 33.7 million approved by the Executive Committee in October 1994, $ 19.7 million were allocated as a result of the comprehensive programme review exercise undertaken in late 1994, leaving a balance of $ 14.0 million for the remainder of 1995. Further allocations totalling $ 2.2 have since been made, leaving a balance of $ 11.8 million as at 1 March 1995.

7. As regards Special Programmes, projections for 1995 currently amount to $ 866.0 million. These projections take into account updates under programmes for which funding appeals have been issued in coordination with the Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA). Details on voluntary repatriation programmes planned for 1995 are provided in document EC/1995/SC.2/CRP.12. Major changes in Special Programmes requirements since these were submitted in Annex VIII of document EC/1995/SC.2/CRP.6 are as follows:

• Horn of Africa: reduction from $ 72.1 million to $ 56.0 million (including an allocation of $ 3.0 million from the 1995 General Allocation for Voluntary Repatriation);

• inclusion of $ 28.7 million as budgetary requirements for Western Sahara (the Secretary-General has meanwhile proposed 1 June 1995 as the start of the transition period);

• Burundi/Rwanda emergency: increase from $ 279.5 million to $ 291.8 million (including an allocation of $ 2.0 million from the 1995 Emergency Fund);

• inclusion of $ 10.4 million as budgetary requirements for Chechnya (including an allocation of $ 2.4 million from the 1995 Emergency Fund).

8. In summary, against projected total needs in 1995 of $ 1,294.7 million (General Programmes $ 428.7 million and Special Programmes $ 866.0 million), on 1 March 1995 $ 483.5 million were available ($ 272.9 million unobligated funds carried over from 1994 programmed activities and $ 210.6 million in 1995 income). Further 1995 income was projected as $ 616.4 million. Actual and projected availability of funds is thus $ 1,099.9 million or $ 194.8 million short of projected total needs. The High Commissioner appeals to donor Governments for an early announcement of contributions so as to permit continuation and timely implementation of the various assistance programmes.

9. An update of Table XI in the Overview of UNHCR Activities presented to the October 1994 Executive Committee (A/AC.96/824) is provided as Annex II and shows an analysis of overall staffing levels as of 1 January 1995. The overall increase of 601 posts since 1 July 1994 relates primarily to the Burundi/Rwanda emergency, both in Rwanda and in the surrounding countries of asylum.