Status of AEWA contributions in arrears. 108. Dr Xxxxxxxxxxx introduced this agenda item by saying that he wanted to discuss with the StC the idea of increasing measures for Parties that did not pay their mandatory contributions. Since MOP4 (2008) the MOP had, at each session, reiterated its decision through its resolution on financial and administrative matters to exclude countries from the funding of their delegates at AEWA meetings, if they had payments in arrears of more than three years (see for example AEWA Resolution 7.12 para 13). Many donors, moreover, requested that Parties with arrears should not be eligible for funding of participants to specific meetings such as the training of trainers. As a new item Dr Xxxxxxxxxxx suggested to discuss the idea of suspending Parties from the right to vote in case of arrears, a measure that was already in place at CMS.
Status of AEWA contributions in arrears. The Meeting decided to publish and maintain an up-to-date list of contributions in arrears on the AEWA website. The Secretariat should forward invoices to the relevant national Focal Points for follow-up. The Secretariat should publish and regularly update the status of contributions and arrears on the AEWA website. Mr Xxxxxxxxxxx will explore other appropriate actions to reduce the amount of arrears.
Status of AEWA contributions in arrears. 183. Unpaid pledges amounted to roughly half a million EUR in total, and to about 300,000 EUR for the current triennium despite the efforts made by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat. Mr Xxxxxxxxxxx highlighted the endeavours made by Sudan to solve the issue of problems with transferring its annual contributions to the AEWA Trust Fund by enlisting the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Office in Sudan. The UNDP Office had proved to be very helpful in facilitating the transfer of the annual contributions and this could be used as an example of a possible solution for other countries experiencing similar difficulties.
Status of AEWA contributions in arrears. 115. Mr Xxxxxxxxxxx presented the Secretariat’s proposal to improve the payments of the mandatory contributions and to reduce the amount of arrears (document StC 12.18 Corr. 1), explaining that efforts were being made to follow up on pending payments and that this had become increasingly relevant due to Umoja regulations and payment modalities. The Secretariat was concerned, particularly by the big deficits and was ready to provide any assistance required by national Focal Points. Since the move to IPSAS and its strict liquidity regime, the Secretariat could run into cash-flow problems, if debts were not recovered.
Status of AEWA contributions in arrears. 149. Mr Xxxxxxxxxxx updated everyone on the unpaid mandatory contributions, noting that 21 Parties had more than three years of arrears and that 6 Parties have not paid at all since their accession. This prevented an improvement of the Trust Fund balance. The Secretariat was working with all Parties to reduce the arrears and some successes had already been achieved.
