SEA/RC62/4 - Matters relating to programme development and management: review of the implementation of workplans for programme budget 2008-2009

Abstract

This paper reviews the WHO collaborative programmes in the South-East Asia Region implemented during the 2008-2009 biennium. The budget for Assessed Contribution (‎AC)‎ for the Region for the 2008-2009 biennium stands at US$ 100 million, with the Voluntary Contribution (‎VC)‎ budget being US$ 438 million for a total regional budget of US$ 538 million. Voluntary Contributions play an increasingly significant role in financing the programme of work of the Region (‎81%)‎. As at 31 May 2009, resources available under AC stood at US$ 100 million (‎98%)‎ and resources mobilized against VC budget stood at US$ 299 million (‎68%)‎. Over 75% of VC to the Region are specified and contribute to disparities in the distribution of resources between countries and across Strategic Objectives. Expenditure at country level of AC stands at 69% of resources available and at 65% of VC available. The Implementation has been particularly low for Strategic Objectives 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The attached working paper was submitted to the Second Meeting of the Subcommittee on Policy and Programme Development and Management (‎SPPDM)‎ for its review and recommendations for consideration by the Sixty-second Session of the Regional Committee. The SPPDM made the following recommendations: Action by Member States (‎1)‎ Countries to put more emphasis on increasing the implementation rate of VC while implementing activities; (‎2)‎ To ensure full implementation of the AC component of the budget, which cannot be carried over to the next biennium. Action by WHO/SEARO (‎1)‎ WHO country offices to identify “core functions” and work with governments to increase funding for core functions from the assessed contribution; (‎2)‎ Programme Managers throughout the Region to explore sharing resources as a mechanism to channel donor funding to relevant areas with common themes, e.g. HIV/HTM and their relation to Child Health, e.g. SO-2 supporting SO-4; (‎3)‎ WHO to continue training and capacity-building activities within the Region to enhance capacity with respect to management of VC; (‎4)‎ Strengthen efforts to facilitate communication and information-sharing within the Region to ensure, inter alia, focus of delivery, coherence of programming and avoid duplication of activities both in WHO and in Member States; (‎5)‎ Give particular attention to achievement of indicators as part of the End-of-Biennium Programme Budget Performance Assessment (‎PBPA)‎ exercise. The paper is now submitted to the Sixty-second Session of the Regional Committee for its consideration.