1600

Travel on Official Business

5100

Operation and Maintenance of Equipment

1101-1104, 1106 and 1108

1105

1107 and 1108

Standard professional salary costs applicable to the Nairobi duty station for 2003 have been used for 2003 and 2004 budget proposals. Unspent commitments normally revert to the Trust Fund.

The post of the Administrative Officer continues to be paid from the 13 per cent programme support costs based on actual expenditures.

At the second Meeting of the Parties, in 1990, the ozone secretariat’s present staff –Executive Secretary, Deputy Executive Secretary, Senior Scientific Affairs Officer, Senior Legal Officer and Administrative Officer – were approved. The number of Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol at that time (mid-1990) was 66 and 59 respectively, and the number of controlled substances listed in annex A was eight. In 1996, a sixth post, Programme Officer (Data Management), was approved in response to the urgent requirement to compile and analyse data on ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and to coordinate the computer systems of the secretariat. To date, there are 185 and 184 Parties to the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol respectively, and the number of controlled substances has increased to 96, yet the number of staff has remained the same.

The rise in the number of Parties and the adoption of four Amendments to the Montreal Protocol has resulted in an equivalent increase in the workload. The worldwide interest in the Montreal Protocol has grown steadily, and Governments, research scholars, industries, trade organizations, and non-governmental organizations continuously seek information from the secretariat. Moreover, the introduction of Internet and e-mail communications has increased the workload of the secretariat exponentially.

In addition, there has been a need for increased monitoring of compliance issues under the Montreal Protocol, especially after developing countries began implementation of compliance measures to phase out ODS; increased interaction with Governments through the Implementation Committee on compliance issues; monitoring of illegal trade in ODS; monitoring implementation of licensing systems by Parties; and increased interaction with the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund, as well as with the implementing agencies of the Fund and ozone officers in developing countries and countries with economies in transition on compliance issues.

To respond effectively and efficiently to the requirements of the Parties and other stakeholders, the secretariat has reviewed its staffing levels and requires the strengthening of its capacity to deliver the work by increasing its human resources. Two posts are being presented for approval by the Parties: one Programme Officer (Communication and Information) to be funded from the Vienna Convention Trust Fund, who will be responsible for handling communication and information services, and another Officer (Monitoring and Compliance) to be funded from the Montreal Protocol Trust Fund, who will assist in the monitoring and follow-up of issues relating to compliance with the implementation of the Montreal Protocol.

Budget provision for 6 months only to cover the second half of 2003 has been proposed, as the post (1108) to be funded under the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol will need to be established and classified before recruitment can commence.

Budget provision for 6 months only in 2003 has been proposed as the post will have to be established and classified before recruitment can commence.

The current conference servicing costs have been based on the following assumptions:

(a) 1321: One meeting of the Open-ended Working Group to be held each year during 2003 and 2004, in Nairobi, using six languages;

(b) 1322: The Meeting of the Parties and its preparatory meeting will be held in Nairobi in both years, in six languages. When meetings are not held in Nairobi, the incremental cost will be borne by the host Government;

(c) 1323: The budget allocation in 2003 and 2004 for the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, the Scientific Assessment Panel and the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel will cover the costs of their annual meetings, as well as communication and other sundry costs related to the work of panel members from developing countries and countries with economies in transition;

(d) 1324: Two bureau meetings are scheduled for each of the years 2003 and 2004, in two languages;

(e) 1325: At least two Implementation Committee meetings are scheduled for each of the years 2003 and 2004 with interpretation as required. From 2003, an intersessional meeting of the Implementation Committee will be held prior to the Meeting of the Parties;

(f) 1326: At least one informal consultation meeting per year is envisaged for 2003 and 2004 on the promotion of the ratification of and compliance with the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments. It is expected to take place in Nairobi.

3301

The participation of representatives from article 5 Parties in the various Protocol meetings is assumed at $5,000 per participation taking into account not more than one person’s travel costs per country, using the most appropriate and advantageous economy-class fare and United Nations per diem allowances.

Travel of around 80 article 5 members in the Assessment Panel meetings (Scientific Assessment Panel, Environmental Effects Assessment Panel and Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and its Technical Options Committees) has been allocated for 2003 and 2004 respectively.

part of informal consultations on non-compliance with the Montreal Protocol, assumed to be held in Nairobi.