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The Director-General has proposed to establish a regular budget supplementary account (RBSA) for voluntary
contributions to expand and deepen the capacity to deliver on the priorities set by the ILO Programme and
Budget for 2008–09, in particular the implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs).
The proposal follows an initial discussion by the Governing Body at its 297th Session in November
2006. Many member States highlighted real difficulties and constraints in augmenting their assessed
contributions to the ILO, but recognized the importance of strengthening services in countries. The
Director-General encouraged innovative reflection on the regular budget in order for the ILO to fulfil its
mandate corresponding to the increasing needs of constituents.
A three-pronged budget strategy was subsequently elaborated and discussed with constituents. This
approach encompasses the two existing sources of funding, namely the regular budget based on assessed
contributions and the extra-budgetary voluntary contributions of donors for specific technical cooperation
programmes, plus a new strand proposed as an RBSA. It recognizes the financial constraints on member
States and the lack of consensus in favour of either real budgetary growth or continued stagnation. It does
not preclude agreement on a real increase in the regular budget in subsequent biennia.
The opening of an RBSA on an experimental basis and at a prudent, conservative level, would help
overcome the gap in the real growth needed in the 2008–09 regular budget, while countries resolve their
difficulties and constraints. In addition to the regular budget and extra-budgetary resources, the RBSA
would constitute a third source of funding to expand and deepen decent work priorities and outcomes
in dialogue with tripartite constituents in member States in the framework of United Nations reform and
inter-agency cooperation. It could also become a permanent mechanism for countries that wish
to contribute to the regular budget above the level approved for all member States by the International
Labour Conference.
Consultations have been held on an RBSA as a possible way forward. Reactions to the idea have been
sufficiently positive that the Director-General’s programme and budget proposals are based on the
assumption that there would be enough time to reach tripartite agreement and to receive voluntary funding
for such an account for 2008–09. The RBSA is essentially based on the belief that the universal support
expressed by member States for the relevance and essential role of our Organization can be mobilized to
find a solution acceptable to all.
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