Independent Audit Advisory Committee Conducts Seventieth Meeting
The United Nations Independent Audit Advisory Committee recently convened its seventieth session from April 14 to 16 at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa. Chaired by Anton Kosyanenko, the meeting brought together most committee members, excluding newly elected member Eric Osae. The discussions focused on the committee’s oversight responsibilities, the effectiveness of various UN entities, and the challenges related to achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Key Discussions and Participants
During the session, the Independent Audit Advisory Committee engaged with several senior officials from the United Nations. Notable attendees included Claver Gatete, the Executive Secretary for the Economic Commission for Africa; Parfait Onanga Anyanga, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union; Yacoub Ali El Hillo, the Regional Director for Africa at the Development Coordination Office; Ramiz Alakbarov, the Resident Coordinator for Ethiopia; and Cheick Condé, the Chief of Staff for the Office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.
The discussions revolved around the roles of these entities within the UN system and their contributions to advancing the Secretary-General’s agenda. Key topics included the effectiveness of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and the impact of its recommendations. The committee also examined the implementation of recommendations from the Board of Auditors and the Joint Inspection Unit, as well as the current state of enterprise risk management and internal control systems.
Focus on the 2026 Programme Budget
A significant portion of the session was dedicated to finalizing the Independent Audit Advisory Committee’s report on the OIOS programme budget for the fiscal year 2026. The committee met with Fatoumata Ndiaye, the Under-Secretary-General for OIOS, and other senior officers to discuss the final budget proposal. They reviewed statistics on retaliation cases, external quality assessments, and the impact of financial constraints on OIOS operations.
Additionally, the committee consulted with Chandramouli Ramanathan, the Assistant Secretary-General and Controller, to discuss the proposed budget and recent decisions from the resumed seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly. They also addressed critical risks identified in the revised risk register, particularly those related to financial challenges.
Future Sessions and Ongoing Activities
The chair of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee also provided updates to the Management Committee regarding the committee’s activities since their last meeting in March 2024. The committee plans to convene its seventy-first session from July 23 to 25 in New York, continuing its oversight and advisory functions within the UN framework.
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