A/HRC/38/26
between the support provided through the Fund and that provided through the fund for
small island developing States and least developed countries.
11.
In addition to covering travel costs, the Fund also provides for the payment of a
daily subsistence allowance at the rate applicable to Geneva at the time of travel. Under the
standing official provisions for such travel, a Government formally requesting such
assistance would be advised of the official entitlements for travel and daily subsistence
allowance in connection with the required itinerary, which would then be reimbursed upon
completion of the trip and upon provision of the necessary supporting documentation. That
arrangement, however, proved onerous for many requesting Governments, which were
unable to submit the claims documenting the travels and were therefore not reimbursed. In
an effort to address that issue, between the seventeenth session of the Working Group on
the Universal Periodic Review (21 October–1 November 2013) and November 2015, the
secretariat arranged to provide economy class tickets prior to travel and paid the daily
subsistence allowance upon arrival in Geneva, thereby alleviating most of the difficulties
associated with retroactive reimbursement of expenses.
12.
In November 2015, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR), together with most of the United Nations Secretariat, started using
Umoja, which has completely changed the way in which the Secretariat manages its
administration, executes its work processes, conducts its business and manages its
resources. The new system also implies some changes to the way travel arrangements are
processed. Once a Government requests the assistance of the Fund, it is advised of the
official entitlements for travel and daily subsistence allowance. OHCHR is required to
make the necessary arrangements for the issuance and payment of the ticket in advance.
The daily subsistence allowance is provided in two instalments, with 75 per cent of the total
amount paid in advance, either by bank transfer or upon arrival in Geneva, and the
remaining amount and terminal expenses disbursed after the completion of the mission on
the basis of required documentation.
13.
The direct ticketing does, however, require more advance planning since
Governments are required to designate their delegate with sufficient lead time to enable the
secretariat to make the travel arrangements and issue the ticket in accordance with the
United Nations official travel policies. However, and unlike the practice until November
2015, in cases where such direct ticketing is not possible, the previous arrangement for
retroactive reimbursement of travel expenses can no longer be provided. Undoubtedly, the
fact that retroactive travel reimbursement is no longer an option under Umoja has had a
substantial impact on the support provided to States.
14.
Table 2 below shows the breakdown of financial assistance and annual expenditures,
complete with the amount authorized, status of reimbursement and total commitments to
date with regard to the financial assistance provided for the travel of government delegates
to Geneva.
Table 2
Expenditures for travel of government representatives to attend sessions of the
Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review and plenary sessions of the Human
Rights Council
Number of countries funded
Amount paid
(United States dollars)
2008
6
16 885.00
2009
17
23 568.00
2010
23
39 942.00
2011
21
11 698.00
2012
3
11 295.00
2013
6
35 176.00
2014
15
53 939.00
2015
23
95 512.00
Year
4
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