United Nations System
Standing Committee on Nutrition

 

Report of the Sub-Committee on Nutrition at its Twenty-Fifth Session

I.  Matters for the Attention of the CCPOQ and ACC

A.  Financial Matters

  1. At its 24th Session, concern had been expressed about the uncertain financial situation regarding the period 1996-1997 and also for the budget 1998-1999.  These uncertainties were caused by the decision of some UN agencies to sharply reduce or eliminate their contributions to the core budget. Uncertainties also existed with respect to funding the SCN's programme activities. In response to these concerns the SCN reviewed the financial situation on the basis of a document submitted by the Technical Secretary.  With respect to the core budget for 1996-1997, the anticipated reductions in contributions had led to the establishment of a revised budget of $820,000. Owing to a combination of factors, including a number of drastic economy measures (e.g. vacancy of the post of Technical Secretary for about seven months, favourable developments in the Swiss Franc/US dollar exchange rate and reduced costs of the AGN), it had been possible to keep core expenditure within the reduced budget of $820,000, as well as to accommodate some unforeseen expenses.
  2. With respect to the programme activities during 1996-1997, funds and in-kind contributions were obtained from bilateral, UN and NGO donors to issue the Third Report on the World Nutrition Situation (as well as the Update 1996). Several agencies collaborated in data analysis for the Third Report, thus considerably reducing costs to the SCN budget. Furthermore the Refugee Nutrition Information System reports were issued throughout the biennium, as well as two Nutrition Policy Papers, and one issue of the SCN News (July 1997).  Regarding 1998-1999 programme activities, the need to adequately fund the work of the Commission on the Nutrition Challenges of the 21st Century was stressed. The Chair observed that the amount originally budgeted would be needed to meet the requirements of the Commission, and would cover the cost of 1.5 full time research staff for a period of about nine months.  Approval had been given at the SCN's 24th Session to continue these programme activities, subject to funds being made available.
  3.   The transparency of the financial data presented was appreciated. With very limited resources available the Technical Secretary had been able to carry out a full programme of work, culminating in the publication of the Third Report on the World Nutrition Situation. While the financial situation for the biennium 1998-1999 had improved over that of the previous biennium, there remained cause for concern, notably with respect to the contributions by WHO and FAO. The FAO representative confirmed that his organization would not make any contribution to the SCN core budget for 1998. The Chairman noted that an FAO contribution in 1999 would still be in time to support the SCN's 1998-99 biannual budget and asked that the FAO representative explore positively this possibility. As regards WHO, for which a core contribution of $42,000 had been proposed, the WHO representative indicated he was pleased to be able to increase WHO's contribution from $10,000 to $25,000, as well as continuing to provide accommodation and administrative/financial services for the SCN Secretariat. He agreed to seek a further increase once the new Director-General is appointed.
  4. The IAEA had for the first time contributed $12,500, and it was noted with appreciation that this agency would make efforts to contribute $25,000 for 1998-1999. On behalf of the SCN, the Chair wished to record his appreciation to all contributors, both bilateral and UN agencies, for their continued financial support, often made by them under difficult financial constraints. Several organizations and individuals had made in-kind contributions and it was decided to reflect these contributions appropriately in future budget and financial reports. Bilateral donors saw their contributions as a reflection of their partnership in nutrition with the UN agencies.

B.  Name of the Sub-Committee on Nutrition

  1. The question of the name of the SCN was raised in the context of the need for greater recognition being given to nutrition as a fundamental factor in human development. The SCN, a Sub-Committee of the ACC, reporting through CCPOQ, is the most senior UN body dealing with nutrition. Yet,  in the perception of individuals and institutions, in particular those outside the UN system, its name tends to  reflect a subordinate status for  nutrition, being dealt with by a small sub-committee.
  2. The functions of the SCN and its place in the UN/ACC system are well established and no change in these aspects were considered either desirable or necessary.  However, greater understanding and recognition of nutrition in the UN system is needed. For these reasons the Chairman suggested, with the broad support of the SCN, that the name "United Nations Nutrition Council" be used with the subheading "ACC/Sub-Committee on Nutrition". Continued use of the subheading would build upon the tradition of the SCN, and ensure that its position as a UN body was identified. The Chairman, with the support of the SCN, undertook to discuss this proposal in UN/New York, where it could form part of the reform process.

C.  Potential Conflict of Interest Policy

  1. A potential conflict of interest policy statement (Annex IV) had been developed by the AGN, together with a disclosure statement to be filled out by participants at SCN meetings. AGN members had decided over one year ago to begin filling out the disclosure statement.  Further use of these statements by all participants in all SCN meetings, including working groups and symposia, was agreed. Inasmuch as staff members of UN organizations, as well as civil servants representing bilateral organizations, were already bound by declarations of loyalty, the policy would not apply to these categories of participants.

D.  Contract of the Technical Secretary

  1. The Technical Secretary, Dr S. Rabeneck, had been given a two-year appointment by WHO, effective 10 February 1997; thus her current contract expires on 10 February 1999, before the next Session of the SCN.
  2. The SCN expressed its appreciation for Dr Rabeneck's performance in carrying out a full programme of SCN tasks, as well as contributing significantly to the efficient and harmonious working of the SCN. The SCN decided unanimously to request the extension of Dr Rabeneck's contract until June 2001, i.e., two years plus four months, for reasons of completing the work of the annual meeting which usually takes place in March or April each year.

E.  Date and Place of the Next Meeting

  1. The representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) invited the SCN to hold its next Session at the office of the UNHCHR in Geneva. Much progress has been made in the UN system in recognising the human right to adequate food and nutrition. The invitation by the UNHCHR was complemented by the selection of the subject for the Symposium, proposed by the SCN's Working Group on Nutrition, Ethics and Human Rights, i.e. "The substance and politics of a human rights approach to food and nutrition policies and programming".
  2. All UN agencies are now committed to the human right to food and nutrition and the choice of this subject and its venue would further advance the cause of nutrition, in particular if senior agency representatives, as well as the High Commissioner for Human Rights, could directly participate in the Symposium.
  3. The Chairman expressed appreciation to the High Commissioner for Human Rights for her invitation and hoped she would play a leading role in the Symposium. There would be some financial implications for UNHCHR in bringing developing-country participants to Geneva.  Several  UN organizations and bilaterals expressed their intent to provide support, as well as to submit relevant case studies. The dates proposed for the 26th Session (Geneva) are 12-15 April 1999.

F.  Other Matters

F.1  Asian Development Bank

  1. A request had been received from the Asian Development Bank to become an SCN member and participate fully in its work and meetings. Regional development banks can be very effective in integrating nutrition in development work, and accordingly the Asian Development Bank's request was approved unanimously. The Chairman undertook to approach other regional development banks seeking their participation in the SCN.

F.2 Increased Collaboration

  1. Several participating UN agencies (e.g. IFAD and UNESCO; ILO was only represented in working group meetings) had not sent representatives to the 25th Session. The Chairman undertook to write and encourage them to attend the 26th Session in 1999, as well as to participate in other SCN meetings and activities, especially in view of UN reform which calls for increased collaboration.