091124_Fifth_budget_IT

(as delivered)

Thank you Mr Chairman

I have the honour to speak today on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I would like to thank the Chief Information Technology Officer and Chair of the ACABQ for introducing the relevant reports on information and communications technology.

Mr Chairman

CANZ delegations are long-time supporters of unified governance and implementation of modern information and communications technologies within the Organisation and we remain strong supporters of ICT reform in the United Nations.

We welcome the role being played by the Office of Information and Communications Technology and continue to have high expectations of it to modernise the Organisation by addressing the fragmentation of ICT systems, programs and services.

For the United Nations to be effective in the modern era, it must achieve a global, coherent, rational and harmonised approach to ICT both through a coordinated, strategic direction and recognition of the important role of the end-user, particularly in the field. Accountability and oversight are also integral to this process.

Mr Chairman

In 2006, this Committee approved a move by the Organisation to an Enterprise Resource Planning system, which would enable the better and more efficient management of human, financial and physical resources, including through major ICT elements, but also through the systematic redesigning of antiquated business processes, such as in the areas of supply chain, procurement and logistics, payroll, central support services and finance.

Momentum on this project has increased in the past year, and we now have before us a much more detailed proposal, seeking considerable funding over the coming years.
CANZ delegations believe that the ERP project is not only a fundamental piece of management reform, it is also an important element of other contemporary reform processes, and we look forward to its expeditious and efficient implementation.

The ERP project has the potential to provide an unprecedented level of unity of UN systems and visibility of UN resources. It should enable significant resources within the Organisation to be freed up and used to fulfill other mandates, and should greatly improve productivity and efficiencies across the board.

However, as with any important project, in particular one of this size, CANZ delegations will look closely at the funding request and arrangements and will judge them according to reasonableness and appropriateness. We will want to ensure appropriate audit trails, progress markers and justification for resources are evident. We look forward to a substantive debate on the project in coming weeks.
Mr Chairman

An important element of the modernisation of the Organisation and one that is an integral part of the ICT and ERP cluster is business continuity management.

CANZ delegations believe it is essential that the United Nations plans for events that may interrupt the usual course of business. We therefore welcome related initiatives by the Secretary-General, in particular the establishment of the business continuity unit within the Office of Central Support Services. However, we share the ACABQ’s disappointment that the preliminary estimates related to business continuity management were not included in the 2010-11 proposed biennium budget.

In light of its coordinating role with all UN entities, CANZ sees merit in the placement of the business continuity unit within the Department of Management rather than the Office of Central Support Services, and we will look carefully at the proposals contained in the report of the Secretary-General. We look forward to considering this matter further during informals.

Our delegations also note the efforts made to provide for secondary data centre requirements in connection with the Capital Master Plan pending agreement on a longer term strategy. We will continue to watch this matter closely, and look to the Secretariat to continue to identify efficiencies and improve productivity to ensure real gains are realised and related costs are offset.

Mr Chairman

In closing I would like to assure you of the willingness of CANZ to engage constructively on this important item.