Regular Budget Supplementary Account

The Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA) was established in January 2008 for voluntary contributions to increase the ILO's capacity to deliver on the priorities set out in the ILO Programme and Budget, in particular the implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs). It is based on the belief that the universal support expressed by Member States for the relevance and the essential role of the ILO should be mobilized in a manner that is acceptable to all. A major innovation, the RBSA –

• is based on voluntary contributions from Member States over and above assessed contributions;
• addresses priorities that flow from the Strategic Policy Framework and Programme and Budget;
• enhances the capacity to deliver on decent work outcomes;
• is fully integrated with extra-budgetary resources and explicitly reflected in the Programme and Budget for 2010-11.

RBSA resources are allocated to ODA-eligible countries. OECD/DAC has confirmed to donors that RBSA contributions are ODA-eligible. The RBSA is covered by all the means of oversight and governance of the regular budget in terms of implementation and reporting.

Advantages

RBSA is used to address the highest priorities of the ILO: when the financial and economic crisis hit, ongoing technical cooperation projects had not been designed to respond to the needs it created. RBSA was accordingly used for high-priority action to address the impact of the crisis, making it just as visible and eye-catching as traditional technical cooperation.

RBSA in particular –

• makes possible quick and effective responses to urgent and emerging needs and priorities
• provides a real incentive for effective results-based management, especially at country level, supporting the policy goals of the Organization and contributing to major changes in the ways in which the Office has been working
• builds on the learning experience and expands the ILO's knowledge base and knowledge sharing, thereby contributing to the development of capacity, especially for evidence-based policy work
• develops the capacity of the social partners and enables them to participate more effectively in the various stages of RBM to achieve decent work outcomes
• enhances collaboration and team work within the ILO
• builds and extends external partnerships, especially with other UN agencies, within the context of UN reform
• supports regional and subregional integration initiatives
• enables the Office to leverage additional funding from other sources.

2010-2011

In the course of 2010, the ILO entered into RBSA agreements with eight government donors for a total value of some US$53 million (compared to US$42 million in 2008-09). These generous and strategic contributions will allow the ILO the flexibility required to pursue its new 19 Outcome-Based Workplans and promote decent work for more women and men.

As a reflection of a strong commitment to the principles of aid effectiveness, some 87 per cent of the RBSA pledges took the form of completely unearmarked contributions.