A/HRC/23/61 II. Expenditure* Staff costs 0.00 Experts and consultants’ fees and travel 0.00 Travel of staff Travel of representatives Contractual services 3 795 13 940 7 272 General operating expenses 0.00 Supplies and materials 0.00 Grants, contributions and seminars Programme support costs Total expenditure Net excess (shortfall) of income over expenditures for the period Opening balance 01.01.2012 Miscellaneous adjustments/savings/refunds to donors Total fund balance as at 31.12.2012 * 0.00 3 251 28 258 427 051 1 579 278 122 293 2 128 622 Includes disbursements and obligations ($5,434) 11. Since the establishment of the Fund, a total of 15 countries have made financial contributions. Table 2 below provides an overview of all contributions received. 12. While most of the contributions come from a small group of countries, 2012 witnessed an expansion of the donor base. Given the universal nature of the mechanism, all Member States, including developing countries, are encouraged to contribute from within their means. 13. Since the Fund has not enjoyed a predictable pattern of income, substantial resources have been kept as a reserve for future activities. This accounts for the conservative disbursement pattern, which is intended to, inter alia, ensure that enough funding is available at all material times for travel of delegations requesting financial assistance. Table 2 Voluntary Fund for Participation in the Universal Periodic Review: voluntary contributions from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2012 (United States dollars) Donor 2007 Italy Romania Russian Federation 201 613 73 746 100 000 Biennium 2008–2009 Austria 157 729 Germany 418 410 Italy 221 239 Japan 200 000 Saudi Arabia 25 000 Switzerland 95 238 5