Explanatory notes for the budget

1.The 1993 budget is as approved at its second meeting by the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and is presented here as a background to the 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 budgets.The Parties to the Vienna Convention will have an opportunity to review the 1997 budget at their fourth meeting, in 1996.

2.Guidelines for the 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 budgets are as follows:

a/Although the staff costs have not included any significant increases, it is understood by the Parties that since the Secretariat has been in operation for a while, they agree to any upgrading of the posts as and when recommended by UNEP management in order to accomodate promotions of meriting staff members of the Secretariat.This, however, does not constitute a permanent upgrading of the posts as the original levels will be applied when new staff members are being recruited.

b/1301-1320The grades of the support staff costs have been adjusted to reflect the new seven-level General Services salary-scale effective in UNEP as of 1May1993.

c/1321-1323The conference-servicing costs have been based on the following assumptions:

One Ozone Research Managers meeting will be held during 1995 in Geneva using six languages and lasting seven days.While it is expected that the Ozone Research Managers meeting will be held in 1995, it may be held in 1996.

The preparatory and Parties' meetings in 1996 will be convened back-to-back in Nairobi and will as usual also be back-to-back with those of the Montreal Protocol using six languages.Although costs for a preparatory meeting have been budgeted for in 1996, the Secretariat will assess the need for the meeting and make recommendations to the Parties in 1995 on the need for it for their decision.

One Bureau meeting is scheduled for 1996 and it will be held back-to-back with the preparatory and Parties' meetings.

d/1601The costs of travel on official business have been adjusted to $10,000 in 1994, $40,000 in 1995, $10,000 in 1996 and $15,000 in 1997 on the understanding that the Ozone Research Managers meeting will be held in Geneva and the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties and its preparatory meeting will be held in Nairobi.

e/3321-3323The costs of participation of developing countries in the various Convention meetings (using an average of $6,000 per mission) have been estimated as follows:

The cost of the Ozone Research Managers meeting has been estimated at $180,000 for 1995 even though there is a possibility that the meeting may be held in 1996.

The preparatory and Parties' meetings participation costs for 1996 have been estimated at the level of $180,000.The travel cost of one participant per country per series of meetings will be financed on the basis of the most advantageous economy fare.

Costs of the Bureau meetings for 1996 are based on three participants to the meeting.

f/4201-4203The cost of non-expendable equipment in 1994 is to allow for up-grading computing facilities and installation of electronic mail in the UnitedNations premises to which the Ozone Secretariat has moved back.The 1995-1997 cost provides for normal office equipment upgrades.

g/5201-5202The general reporting costs have allowed for a normal increase for the period 1994-1997 and reporting for the Research Managers has been allowed for in 1995.