FORMER FAO AND OTHER UN STAFF ASSOCIATION FFOA … · General Assembly under resolutions...
Transcript of FORMER FAO AND OTHER UN STAFF ASSOCIATION FFOA … · General Assembly under resolutions...
FORMER FAO AND OTHER UN STAFF ASSOCIATION
FFOA
FFOA/GA/2014/03
PROVISIONAL REPORT
Forty-third Session of the General Assembly
Wednesday 29th
May 2013
Auditorium, WFP Headquarters
1. Opening of the Forty-third Session of the General Assembly
The President of FFOA, Mr Alan Prien, opened the session at 09:50 hours with the following
remarks:
Dear members of FFOA, and guests, I would like to extend a warm welcome on behalf of the
Executive Committee to our annual General Assembly. This is your opportunity to provide your advice and
input into what your Association and its newly-elected Executive should be doing for the next 3 years.
Also it is your opportunity (1) to meet with the new Executive Director of our host Organization,
whom we expect to be with us at 10:30 hours; (2) to hear from the new Director of Human Resources of
FAO who has recently taken up her post; we are particularly waiting to hear what she will say about our
medical premiums for 2013; as you know, due to our stringent cost control measures, we have been able to
retain the same static rates for 2011 and 2012. In this regard, I would like to inform you that your new
Executive Committee has designated Ed Seidler as our representative, and Giorgio Eberle as his alternate on
the JAC/MC (the Joint Advisory Committee on Medical Coverage); Ed had previously served on that
Committee for about 20 years as a representative of staff, and Giorgio (our General Secretary as most of you
may know) was previously the Head of Social Security, so I hardly think we pensioners and beneficiaries
could have better representatives on the JAC/MC; they will be particularly busy over the next year as the
insurance contracts will now be up for tender, and that involves a lot of detailed work to ensure we get good
coverage at continuing reasonable rates; (3) to meet the Human Resources Advisor of IFAD and hear a
message from him on behalf of the recently re-elected President of IFAD; (4) to hear from a representative of
our sister staff Associations, who will speak on behalf of all the Rome-base agencies staff members; and (5)
last, but not least, with regard to our lifelines, called our pensions, to have an update from, and exchange
information and ideas and questions with the representatives of our Pension Fund, who have kindly come
down from Geneva to be with us today. More on all of this later.
So, on your behalf, I welcome those who have come to assist us with our deliberations.
The languages of this meeting will be English and Italian. When you speak, please identify yourself
for reporting purposes. Please could we all switch off our mobile phones: I just spent a month in China
without using one, and it was fun to be without.
With these few remarks, it is my pleasure to declare open the 43rd
annual General Assembly of the
third largest Association of pensioners and beneficiaries in the UN common system.
2. Establishment of a quorum and announcements
a) Mr Prien announced that a quorum was present in accordance with the Association's Statutes. About
113 members were present, and 11 proxies had been received.
b) Messrs Maurice Purnell, Edward Seidler and Jamie Wickens were nominated rapporteurs. Ms
Marta Bochicchio and Ms Rosa Maria Buri provided simultaneous English-Italian interpretation. Mr Rein
Skullerud, WFP photographer, Ms Cristiana Pace, and Mr Alex Van Arkadie made photographic records
of the meeting.
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3. Election of the Presiding Officer
Mr Prien proposed that Ms Dianne Spearman, well-known to many former WFP staff members,
should chair this Assembly, and she was elected by acclamation. Ms Spearman thanked the participants for
the confidence shown by proposing and electing her as Presiding Officer of the Assembly; it is an honor, and
she looked forward to a fruitful meeting.
4. Nomination of the Honorary President
Mr Anton Doeve was nominated an Honorary President of FFOA and was presented with a silver
plaque recording his 12 years as President of FFOA. Mr Doeve said that he was honored by this
acknowledgement of his work for the Association. He gave a speech outlining his early career in the field
and later in Headquarters, and subsequently in FFOA, where he had enjoyed meeting so many interesting
people. He thanked the Assembly and Association and members of the Executive Committee.
5. Adoption of the Provisional Agenda
As no proposals for changes to the Provisional Agenda had been received, it was adopted.
6. The Draft Report of the 42nd Session of the General Assembly (30th
May 2012)
The Draft Report had been circulated with Newsbrief 85.
Ms Spearman asked if there were any questions, and the report was adopted without comment by the
General Assembly under resolutions FFOA/GA/2013/06.
7. Address by the Executive Director of the World Food Programme
Ms Ertharin Cousin, WFP Executive Director, made the following remarks.
Good morning, everyone. I am honoured to address this Forty-third Session of the General Assembly
of the Former FAO and Other UN Staff Association (FFOA).
At the UN World Food Programme (WFP), we are giving renewed emphasis to a more people-
centred approach, one that applies to the hungry poor – the people WFP is here to serve – as well as to the
employees past and present who served or continue to serve WFP.
Because no organization – especially an organization like WFP that is dedicated to completing the
mission to end hunger – can fulfil our mandate if we don’t walk the talk by also putting our people in our
own house first.
For the first time in the history of WFP, one year ago we began ensuring a voice for Staff
Association representatives at WFP Executive Board meetings in order to provide these essential advocates
with a direct and open channel to the member state representatives who oversee WFP governance. Now we
meet twice a year, and if there are issues of concern, I make sure we find additional time for them. The
Deputy Executive Director also meets with the Staff Associations on a regular basis. Staff Associations are
involved in the reassignment exercise. And for the first time, they provided input in selection of the Director
of HR. This involvement makes a big difference for the Staff Associations; they feel part of the leadership
and governance.
The world is changing. If we do not ensure that our staff are with us as we move from food aid to
food assistance, we fail.
The last years have been both exciting and challenging times here at WFP. In the countries and
communities we serve, we are learning and innovating, working with FAO, IFAD, and other UN agencies,
partnering with governments and non-governmental organizations, private businesses and grassroots
organizations as never before.
To attain a sustainable impact on the communities we serve, we recognize that we must work better
with our partners to deliver not only outputs but also outcomes. We’re reinventing ourselves as the agency
that not only delivers, but also the agency that listens; because listening is essential to improving the quality
of service we provide to WFP beneficiaries around the world.
The UN Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) are knitted up as never before. WFP works hand-in-hand
with FAO and IFAD to boost smallholder agricultural production and rural incomes, drawing closer to the
time when families and communities will feed themselves.
We’re not only filling stomachs, we’re also working to meet the special nutritional needs of pregnant
and lactating women and their young children; we’re joining with others through the Scaling Up the
Nutrition movement, with the private sector, governments and other UN agencies with the goal of building a
smarter, more resilient next generation.
After more than five decades, food assistance is growing up. It is no longer only about moving bags
of food from Point A to Point B as efficiently and effectively as possible; it is actually beginning to look at
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developing the programmes and projects that will change people’s lives for the long-term. In all of this, we
continue to recognize that people are the greatest asset.
As I have said to WFP staff repeatedly since the day I took up this job – and as I know all of you will
agree – the United Nations is not just a place where people come to pick up a pay check; to perform work
and leave at the end of the day. You decided to work with the UN because you wanted to see change in the
world.
And that does not end when your career ends, when you leave the institutions. That is why
organizations like FFOA are so important, because it keeps each of you invested in the work we are
committed to performing together. For everyone who has joined this cause, a career with the UN is a passion.
And passion is one of this world’s most precious resources. We should never waste it.
That’s why we launched the WFP Alumni Network three months ago, not as a competition to staff
associations, but as a complement. This network is an on- and off-line community supported by a web site
designed to help keep our WFP alumni connected to one another and to the WFP global community.
This network now counts over 100 members, and we’re expecting many more. Bronek Szynalski and
Francesco Strippoli, known to many of you, were among the founding members, and in the last months
Georgia Shaver and Trevor Page have also contributed substantially to the success of this people-driven,
fully interactive resource.
Alumni members from WFP are organizing house swaps for holidays and reconnecting with former
colleagues. Recently, one group of alumni that reconnected through the site met in Vancouver, Canada, to
share a meal and exchange stories.
But we want it to be more than that. We see it as a tool to not waste this resource of passion. We
want to continue drawing on it for mentoring of staff and support to ongoing projects. We want to draw on
your insights, because there are lessons learned that you already know.
We need you.
Eligibility extends to any former WFP staff member who receives or has been entitled to receive,
upon retirement, a benefit from the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). We hope there is
interaction between the two web sites. Just as we should all work together on a day-to-day basis, we should
continue even after retirement with that same commitment.
So, please spread news of this network to everyone that can make good use of it. Ask them to point
their web browsers to wfpalumni.wfp.org to sign-up and learn more about it.
Among our biggest challenges in recent years is keeping up with the ever increasing demand for
humanitarian services. Today, we are feeding 2.5 million people inside Syria and 800,000 outside Syria in
addition to what we are doing elsewhere around the world. In these economically stressed times,
governments, our traditional donors, must make tough choices to sustain funding for humanitarian and
development assistance. To help fill the gaps, we’re also tapping non-traditional sources of funding,
including donations from private companies and trilateral/South-South type exchanges.
But it all still comes back to people, because without strong engagement from the public, donors,
both traditional and non-traditional, will choose other investments for their scarce resources.
Here it is absolutely necessary that we tap every available source of support and that includes all of
you.
We need you out there talking to your friends and neighbors about ending hunger. We want you
telling your families and communities about the urgency of today’s relief operations in the Sahel and the
Middle East, and the hope that comes from giving the hungry poor a hand up, not a hand out.
We need you telling people about how WFP, FAO, IFAD and others are working together to ensure
the right nutrition for every child and grandchild throughout the critical 1,000 days between conception and
age two; and continuing that essential support through early childhood and beyond by powering on the
education electromagnet we call school feeding.
With these thoughts, I extend my best wishes for a productive and successful forty-third session, and
I thank you again for your service, both past and future, to the people we serve.
8. Ms Spearman expressed the thanks of the Association for this impassioned speech welcoming the
FFOA, which was clearly shown by the applause. The many facts and the description of future intentions are
of great interest for pensioners. In asking for the support of the pensioners for influencing public opinion
about the needs that WFP must supply, you are pushing on an open door. Special thanks are also due to WFP
for all the assistance they have provided during the year, particularly the printing of the Newsbriefs and other
documents.
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9. Address by the Representative of the Director General of FAO
Ms Monika Altmaier, Director, Office of Human Resources, spoke on behalf of the Director
General of FAO.
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank the organizers, Alan Prien and his team
for inviting me to this event and thank our colleagues from IFAD, WFP and FAO for being here. It is a real
pleasure to join you today for the 43rd Session of the General Assembly of FFOA.
The Director-General, Mr Graziano da Silva, has asked me to convey to you his greetings and best
wishes for a very successful meeting. He would have loved to attend but he is in Japan right now.
As you know, I have recently joined FAO as head of HR and I am pleased to say how proud I am
and how much I am enjoying my new job and working for such a dynamic organization where I have
received an unprecedented warm welcome from staff, the most important asset of the organization.
Knowledge grows as it is shared, and I am appreciative of the support I have received from FFOA. APin
FAO and UGSS. Human resources is a service provider and enabler to the technical staff of the Organization
and, as such, HR needs to be efficient and effective and needs to review policies and procedures to achieve
its goals.
I am very honoured to make the opening remarks at this Assembly but as I am relatively new, I may
not be fully aware of WFP and IFAD issues, and my remarks will mainly refer to FAO activities. However,
the information on social security issues will be of interest to all.
As you know, since Mr. Graziano took over last year, it is very encouraging to see that a strategic
thinking process has been finalized to identify the development trends and emerging challenges in food
security and agriculture, following the five strategic objectives, and they form the basis of the work which
the Organization is and will be doing over the coming years. We are convinced that ending hunger is a
possible goal in one generation. It’s extremely important not to lose this opportunity. Losing the battle
against hunger means losing one generation. We cannot let that happen. We therefore need to adapt the way
we work and make changes happen. This is not always an easy process. Our human resource strategy will be
adapted accordingly to reflect our changing environment.
In addition, FAO will be working closely with both public and private sector, and the Council in
April recently approved the Partnerships Strategies for Civil Society and the Private Sector.
FAO has also appointed the new Deputy Director-General, Knowledge, Ms. Helena Semedo,
formerly the ADG/Regional Representative in Africa, and she will direct and head up the Knowledge arm.
The Organization is continuing its decentralization programme and has made concrete proposals for
improving delivery of results at country level as well as to reinforcing FAO’s regional and global work. For
example, one element of decentralization is the integration of development and emergency activities to
ensure better results. In addition, four Human Resources Officer positions have been opened in the regions
and 3 out of 4 have been filled. These officers will play a key role in ensuring best HR practices are available
to the staff in the regions and that opportunities for career development and training are given priority.
In addition, the administrative functions in FAO have been under continuous review and
streamlining of processes and improved efficiencies in the areas of administration. Several HR initiatives
such as generic job profiles, competency framework and a review of the performance management system
are priority projects. Furthermore, I am now the focal point for staff/management relations and am actively
engaged in creating a constructive dialogue with the staff associations on all issues affecting the welfare of
the staff.
Regarding the Immediate Plan of Action, the Council expressed its appreciation for the Final
Management Report on the IPA Implementation and the FAO Reform Process. Seven key actions will be
completed by the time of the Conference in June and by the end of 2013, the IPA budget will have been fully
utilized.
Let me now turn to some of the social security issues that might be of interest to you.
a) UN Pensions
Regarding the Pension Fund, I’m pleased to inform you that as of 31st March 2013, the preliminary
market value of the Fund’s assets was US$ 43,081 million. This represents an increase of US$ 3,335 million
or approximately 8.4%, from 31 December 2011 when the Fund’s asset value stood at US$ 39,746 million.
It might be of interest to you that there was no adjustment of the US$ pensions, based on the
movement of the US Consumer Price Index over the one-year period December 2011 to December 2012. For
those of you who are on the local currency track and reside in Italy, there has been an increase of 2.3% in
your pension effective 1st April 2013. This increase will be reflected in the July pension payment (as from 1
st
April). The upcoming Pension Board will be held in July 2013 in New York. The agenda is quite heavy since
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2013 is a budget year, and the Board meeting is only five working days. The items on which the Board will
be reporting to the UNGA relate to the revised budget estimates for the biennium 2012-2013 and the
proposed budget for the biennium 2014-2015. Other items on the Board’s agenda include the financial
statements of the Fund for the year ended 31st December 2012, actuarial valuation methodology and
assumptions for the thirty-second actuarial valuation of the Fund as of 31st December 2013, membership of
the Committee of Actuaries and Investments Committee and the report on the fund’s investment
performance. The Board will also review the increase of the normal retirement age and status report on
increase in mandatory age of separation within member organizations and will give an update on the
pensionable remuneration.
The Director General is supportive of extending the retirement age to 65 but this is not envisaged to
be elective by staff but would be decided on by the Director General; budget levels will have to be
considered and each case for extension will be assessed on budget availability and merit.
b) Medical Insurance
Despite being affected by fluctuations in US$/EUR exchange rates that characterized the last years,
the Medical Insurance Plan has performed better than expected thanks, predominantly due to the various cost
containment measures put in place in recent years which are consistently reviewed and improved. In 2012
the Plan was able to retain the same level of premiums payable to insurers for both the US Dollar and the
Euro Scheme. I am pleased to announce that, thanks to the Organization’s efforts and the close monitoring
by the Joint Advisory Committee on Medical Coverage (JAC/MC), there will be no increase in 2013 and the
premiums remain unchanged.
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen,
FFOA acts as FAO’s “partner” in providing valuable information and assistance to you. Over the
years, the collaboration between FFOA and the Organization has been excellent, and we would like to assure
the Association that FAO will continue to cooperate with FFOA for the benefit of the retiree community.
Your Association unites former civil servants from FAO, IFAD, WFP and a number of other UN
Organizations represented in Rome. The occasion of the FFOA General Assembly provides once a year the
opportunity for former UN staff to meet and discuss issues of common interest. For us in FAO, it provides
the chance to see again many of our former colleagues with whom we worked successfully in the past.
In conclusion, let me thank you all for your invaluable contributions, the support you have given to
me in the first months, your dedication and hard work but also the commitment you have shown during your
years of service with the Organization is very much appreciated. Thanks a lot for your continued interest. I
wish you a very successful Assembly. Thank you.
Questions and Answers regarding Social Security. A question was posed to Ms Altmaier from the floor on
the issue of the increase of the retirement age to 65 and how this might apply to serving staff of the other
Rome based agencies (IFAD and WFP). In reply, Ms Altmaier intimated that this would be at the discretion
of the Agency heads namely the Director General, President or Executive Director. A joint working group of
the Rome based agencies is envisaged which would make proposals to the governing body meetings
scheduled for October to agree to increase the retirement age to 65. She reiterated that the issue would be
pending budget approval and would be at the discretion of the Agency heads who would each decide on
whether to extend the retirement age of serving staff who might request an extension of the mandatory age of
separation but there will be no automatic right for serving staff to extend to 65.
10. Ms Spearman thanked Ms Altmaier for her address which contained very interesting and important
information for the FFOA membership and for the information on change management and the new
directions in FAO. FFOA was looking forward to reinforcing the close relationship that FFOA has with
FAO. She also thanked FAO for providing various services to FFOA which will be pleased to work closely
with her office.
11. Address by the Representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development
Mr Peter Frobel, Human Resource Management Advisor, Coprorate Services Department spoke on
behalf of IFAD President Kanayo F. Nwanze.
Good morning to all of you. Thank you Ms Spearman for the introduction.
It is an honor to speak to you today on the occasion of the general assembly meeting of FFOA on
behalf of IFAD’s President Kanayo F. Nwanze, who cannot be here with you.
It is for me a pleasure to introduce myself and interact with colleagues from across the UN system. I
am Peter Frobel, the HR Management Advisor for the Corporate Services Department and have been with
the Fund since the beginning of the year.
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In such a short time, I have already become aware of the service, assistance and advice FFOA
provides to our former staff members relating to their retirement.
Since 1971, even before IFAD was created, your association has fostered continued collaboration
between members and their organizations, and equally important, among association members themselves.
Your commitment to the purposes and activities of the United Nations is as imperative as ever.
Indeed, the world in which we operate has changed dramatically. It has been many years now since
agriculture was a sleepy backwater. And the concept of smallholder farming as a business is now so widely
accepted that it is a common phrase in the development arena.
Today, with world attention focused on the post-2015 development agenda, the necessity of ensuring
that smallholder-centered agricultural development is central to these discussions - and that it is prioritized
by governments, development partners and the private sector - is all the more crucial.
Today, the threats to the lives and livelihoods of the poor rural people we work with are considerable
but the opportunities have never been greater. The threats are real, but so, too, are the opportunities. Simply
stated, agriculture is a growth industry. With the world population expected to pass 9 billion by 2050,
demand for food is guaranteed to rise in the coming years. Our goal of helping to move 80 million people
out of poverty is ambitious. Success will depend on our ability to scale-up operations in partnership with
other stakeholders including the Rome-based agencies, governments, NGOs and donors.
Of course, IFAD’s involvement in policy dialogue must also continue so that we can ensure that
inclusive, sustainable rural development remains part of the national and global development discourse.
All of us at IFAD believe that investing in rural economies is critically important to creating a
sustainable future. And we have made great strides in making the development and the international
community at large takes notice that smallholders are part of the solution to the global food security
challenge.
As former staff members, you know the challenges that lie ahead. You also know the rewards all of
our assistance can yield. We ask for your continued support and commitment to ensure we achieve these
noble aims.
On behalf of President Nwanze, I would like to thank you again for giving me the opportunity to
address you here today and to share with you IFAD’s focus and future directions. Please feel free to let us
know how best we can support you.
I wish you a fruitful meeting and continued success in providing such valuable services to our
retirees. Thank you.
12. Ms Spearman thanked Mr Frobel for this informative and concise address. FFOA is very grateful
for the help provided by IFAD during the year, particularly by the dispatch of the General Assembly
documents, together with the Newsbrief.
13. Statement by the Representative of the Staff Representative Bodies
Mr George Aelion, President of the WFP Professional Staff Association (WFP-PSA), spoke on
behalf of the Staff Representative Bodies.
Mr President, members of the Executive Committee, distinguished members of the FFOA, Ladies
and Gentlemen.
The WFP-PSA on behalf of the Rome based Staff Associations, welcomes you to WFP. It is a great
pleasure to host our retired colleagues and their families at the General Assembly of the FFOA. We all look
forward to joining the FFOA at some point; some of us sooner than others.
There are many challenges facing us both as staff member, but also those who are presently in
retirement. The most pressing are how the Mandatory Age of Separation (MAS) will be implemented for
presently employed staff members. The Rome based agencies have polled their members and the common
thread is that staff members should have the right to decide on whether they continue working past the
present MAS. With the increasing policy of hiring short-term staff, less staff are paying into the pension
fund. Thankfully, retirees are living longer but this is not sustainable for the pension fund. Allowing
presently employed staff to continue working to 65 would lessen the strain on the fund.
Another important challenge for both staff members and retirees is to ensure that the health
insurance scheme stays healthy (no pun intended) and affordable. The JAC/MC is an important part of that
process. It has not had regular meetings for a while and as of today the health insurance rates have not been
set for 2013. We look forward to a re-invigorated JAC/MC to carry forward this important work.
Finally, as more space opens up at WFP, we would like to see the possibility of opening up a
pharmacy. This would have major advantages for both WFP staff and retirees.
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There are many challenges that we shall continue to face collaboratively. Staff associations are
particularly pleased with the recent initiatives for the expansion and promotion of FFOA among all
prospective retirees. This has improved the links between current staff members and those in active
retirement and led to collaborative efforts to strengthen the medical insurance and social security schemes.
In conclusion, the staff associations look forward to continued close collaboration with the FFOA.
13.1 In summing up, Ms Spearman highlighted the practice of hiring short-term staff and emphasized the
divergent positions of PSA and FAO on the issue of extending the MAS from 62 to 65 for all current
professional staff. The effect is different for young and older staff.
14. Reports of the Executive Committee
a) Statement of Work achieved during 2012
Mr Prien updated the report on work accomplished which had already been circulated with the
General Assembly documents, as follows: (1) the most important item of interest to all receiving the pension
in Italy on the euro track is that the COLA increase has been approved. This means 2.3% more on the
pension from April 2013; (2) the second relates to the retirement age (see Chapter 4 of the 2012 report).
More will be reported by the Representatives of the Geneva Pension Fund Office (Alan Blythe and Aliamane
Bacar Said) later this morning. However, it is the President’s understanding that the Pension Board has the
authority, when the decision is approved by the General Assembly to increase the normal retirement age to
65 with effect from 1st January 2014. The change of the MAS may help all, given that active staff may
contribute for 3 years more and then derive benefits from 3 years later; (3) FFOA’s Executive Committee is
urging each organization to be flexible in making extensions if serving staff are interested; this will keep our
Fund in a good financial position.
The President also commended the Social Activities sub-committee on their good work and the help
they are giving to our members. A new initiative has recently been started what will become a regular series
of coffee mornings, or get-togethers.
Finally, with regard to electronic transmissions, 92% of our 111 new members joining last year have
an email address, this allows to fire out messages much more quickly than we ever did before. Hopefully,
they don’t go to your spam boxes!
Madame Chair, that, I think brings us about up-to-date, but we shall cover most substantive issues
under various agenda items, so, if necessary, we can revert later, and certainly answer questions as
appropriate. Now perhaps I could pass to Giorgio Eberle to cover the report he prepared on the last 3 years of
the former EC.
The draft resolution to adopt the report on work achieved (FFOA/GA/2012/06/B) was adopted by
acclamation.
b) Statement of Work achieved during 2010-2012
Mr Eberle had prepared the statement of work achieved during 2010-2012 and emphasized the key
issues that were dealt with, and the challenges and activities which are to come. The core includes the
monitoring of the UNJSPF, work for the pensioners’ benefit on the Staff Pension Committee, and on the
JAC/MC).
c) FFOA Programme of Work for 2013-2015
Mr Pace described the structure of the FFOA Programme of Work for 2013-2015. The programme
distinguishes core or standard activities from those that are special projects (for example, the best means of
communicating among the members). Each subject is managed be a thematic sub-committee. The
implementation of the programme depends on the scarce resources available to the Association. Therefore,
anyone who would like to participate in its realisation, is asked to send an email expressing his/her
availablity to contribute with assistance of financially.
15. Report of the Association’s Financial Transactions (Statements A – E)
Mr Gianni Monciotti, Treasurer of the Association, presented the Financial Report for 2012. He
confirmed that the financial situation can be considered reasonably satisfactory; the number of annual
members has increased, as well as the voluntary contributions demonstrating the esteem and respect of our
members towards our Association. Nevertheless, the number of members in arrears with their annuity
payments is still relatively high. With regard to expenditures, they showed a slight increase in view of late
receipt of some invoices from previous years.
In line with the suggestion made by the Reviewers and in order to have more realistic assets figures,
it was agreed to write-off the emergency fund credits (which had not been reimbursed for a long time) and to
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suspend the debtors from our membership. This has prompted some member to start repaying their credits.
It is cheering to note the growth of the market value of our investments.
As indicated in the documents distributed at the entrance, the “Reviewers” have certified all financial
documents for 2012.
The proposed budget for 2014 is similar to the figures of 2013, with no notable differences.
The Treasurer recommended the confirmation of Mr John McGhie and Mr Bernd Käss as
“Reviewers” for the 2013 accounts.
Mr Abdou Ciss asked about an even more strict and accurate control of the annual fees payments.
Mr Monciotti replied that the updated system was working well.
Mr Carlo Varrone suggested that in view of FFOA’s contribution to FAO, an even more
substantive support from the Organizations should be worked on. Mr Monciotti replied that there are no
charges for rooms used, and the mailing charges had been discussed.
There were no other questions, and the financial report for 2012, the financial status on 31st
December 2012, the proposed budget for 2014, and the reappointment of the above-mentioned two
Reviewers were approved by acclamation under resolutions FFOA/GA/2013/ 06.
16. Ms Spearman then gave the floor to Mrs Ondina Turra, representative of UN pensioners from the
ICTP (International Centre for Thematic Physics) in Trieste who have formed a group, and who would like
to develop more active co-operation with FFOA.
17. Presentation by Mr Alan Blythe, Chief of the UNJSPF Geneva Office
Mr Alan Blythe was accompanied by Mr Aliamane Bacar Said, Chief of Finance and Client
Servicing and Records Management, in the Geneva Office.
Mr Blythe thanked FFOA for the opportunity to address this Assembly. He gave a concise speech
describing the present state of the Fund. The small actuarial deficit was disappointing but only the longer
term perspective is important. The proposal by the ICSC to extend the normal age of retirement to 65 will
effect a 1 per cent improvement. The fund still receives more premiums than it pays out in benefits and this
seems likely to continue even to 2027. There is no danger that the beneficiaries money will somehow run
out.
Mr Aliamane Bacar Said gave a detailed PowerPoint description of the functioning of the Fund for
staff and for retirees. This is available in full on the FFOA web site.
Ms Spearman thanked the Pension Fund speakers for their informative presentations. They are not
fully complete and will be continued with a chance to ask questions at 14:30 hours after lunch.
18. Questions and answer on subjects concerning Pensions and Medical Insurance
As an innovation at this General Assembly, a session after lunch was arranged to permit more time
for questions and answers, and for discussion (see page 9).
19. Other Business
No proposals had been received, so Ms Spearman handed the meeting over to the President of
FFOA, Mr Prien, to deal with any other business and the closure of the meeting.
He drew attention to the presence of Ms Susan Murray, UGSS and Mr Wolfgang Prante,
President of AP-in-FAO, as a symbol of our close co-operation. Mr Mauro Pace, President of FICSA, made
a short speech stating that FICSA represented associations with 40,000 staff members, and also benefited
from a number of consultative members including FFOA, ensuring cooperation in various ways.
Mr Prien asked everyone to check and update their email addresses. He also asked everyone to give
generously to the traditional collection for the old and poor at the Old People’s Home neighboring FAO. The
collection would be made by Mrs Gyongyi Prien, Mr John McGhie and helpers at the end of the meeting.
We can feel proud that last year the pensioners contributed 23% of the total collected from the three
agencies. (In fact, this year some €750 euros were collected at the door.)
Mr Prien asked the meeting to observe a minute of silence to commemorate all the staff-members,
pensioners, consultants, workers and all those who contributed to the UN activities and had passed away
since the last General Assembly.
In his closing remarks, Mr Prien reassured the participants that they could count on FFOA
continuing to defend their interests.
Page 9 of 12 pages
He then thanked the guest speakers who have provided a wealth of information which made this
General Assembly so worthwhile and the technical staff who had contributed to its success, particularly the
interpreters, the Webcast technicians, and the photographers, and notably Ms Annemarie Waeschle who, by
her meticulous work, had assured this meeting of success. Mr Prien also thanked Ms Spearman for
chairing the General Assembly so well, and everyone present for coming and for contributing to the meeting.
20. Closure of the Forty-second Session of the General Assembly
Mr Prien, President of FFOA, closed the Assembly at 12:55 hours.
********************************************************************************
The Forty-fourth Session of the General Assembly
is tentatively expected to take place on
Wednesday, 28 May 2014 at 09:30 hours
at IFAD Headquarters.
So plan ahead, mark it in your calendars, and
please come along and bring this report with you.
*****************************************************
AFTERNOON SESSION (14:00 – 15:45 hours)
(As an innovation at this General Assembly, a session after lunch was arranged to permit more time for
questions and answers, and for discussion.)
Mr Aliamane Bacar Said completed his PowerPoint presentation, as mentioned above, including advice on
change of payment, choice of currency, required documents and other administrative procedures. General
questions were then invited.
Mr Marco Breschi commented that he appreciated the new approach to the pension’s presentation which
provides a more detailed account of the operations of the Pension Fund.
Ms Irene Ursic-Ruisi asked about people who found the password and log-in too difficult. The reply was
that if they had no email everything could be done by post; mail should be addressed to where the pension is
processed in New York or Geneva. However the pension fund is moving to a new system. She also enquired
about the General Assembly on the website and Internet. The Internet broadcast was closed with the meeting.
Information about the pensions is available on the FFOA web site, and also on the Pension Fund web site.
Mr Bronek Szynalski asked about how people without access to electronic communication managed and
how long a spouse could expect to wait before receiving the survivor’s pension. The answer was that letters
and forms are sent by post. The spouse should receive notification within 2-15 days. In addition it was urged
that the pension file should be updated (form PENS E/2), and a bank account and marriage certificate can be
sent now so that there are no delays.
Mr Ed Seidler asked about changing to the double track as the US dollar is very low now. It was pointed out
that the calculation of the double track pension is always based on the 3 year average exchange rate at the
time of separation plus the indexation since then.
In response to an enquiry about orphan benefit it was explained that this could be one third more than
the regular small child benefit.A member asked under what conditions one could return to the dollar track.
This is complicated and depends on individual assessment of the loss caused by moving to a different
country; some 10-20 countries have only the dollar track.
The Pension Fund staff were thanked for their detailed explanations and the prompt answers to a series
of questions. Members present were pleased with this innovation of an afternoon session and the opportunity
it provided for discussing specific questions. The session then closed at 15:45 hours.
Page 10 of 12 pages
Selected photos of the 43rd
Session of the FFOA General Assembly (Photographers: Cristiana Pace, Alex Van Arkadie, Rein Skullerud (WFP))
The Executive Committee at the Assembly (lacking only Marco Breschi and Giorgia Shaver)
Ms Ertharin Cousin, Ms Dianne Spearman, and Mr Alan Prien
Page 11 of 12 pages
Some of the audience in the WFP Auditorium
Mr Anton and Mrs Clelia Doeve with the plaque of honour presented
Page 12 of 12 pages
Mr Alan Blythe and Mr Aliamane Bacar Said (Pension Fund, Geneva) with EC members
Mr Alex Van Arkadie and Mr Marius De Gaay Fortman (from left to right)
The WFP Auditorium with some EC members and principal speakers: Ms Monika Altmaier, FAO
(fourth from left) and Mr Peter Frobel, IFAD (second row, left)