Mr. Chair,

1. I have the honor to submit this written statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China under agenda item 138: Proposed programme budget for 2022, in relation to the Enterprise Resource Planning project (UMOJA).

2. At the outset, the Group would like to thank Mr. Chandramouli Ramanathan, Assistant Secretary-General, Controller; Ms. Valentina Monasterio Gálvez, Director of External Audit of the Republic of Chile, Chairwoman of the Audit Operations Committee; and Mr. Abdallah Bachar Bong, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, for introducing their respective reports.

3. The Group wishes to commend the role of UMOJA as being among the key elements of the administrative reform and modernization. It promotes the streamlining of processes, data-driven management, and interoperability across different support systems including the management of projects, human resources, supply chains, and strategic planning. The role of UMOJA was even more highlighted during the global COVID-19 pandemic in keeping the organization operational and accessible from remote locations.

Mr. Chair,

4. Following the recent establishment of the Enterprise Resource Planning Solutions Division (ERPSD) and the successful implementation of UMOJA Extension 2 (UE2), which transited the platform onto the post-project phase, the Group is deeply concerned about the accumulated pending recommendations of the BOA, only 60 out of 138 have been fully implemented. In this regard, the Group strongly encourages the Secretary-General to exert all efforts to fully implement the BOA’s recommendations.

5. Cybersecurity is also of grave importance. With the circulation of personal and organizational data, it is only right that UMOJA is equipped with a strong capability to counter threats to its infrastructure, especially after the compromise of the system’s security earlier this year. Thus, we trust that the Secretary-General and his designated officials will continue to exercise vigilance and due care to pursue this objective by ensuring the full implementation of the Secretariat’s 2019 cybersecurity action plan, as well as making sure that Intellectual Property Rights to the platform and the solutions it provides remain with the organization. In the same vein, our group looks forward to clarifications from the Secretariat on the delineation of responsibilities and accountabilities of the Department of Safety and Security, the Office of Information and Communications Technology, and the UMOJA Project team on matters pertaining to safety, security, and integrity of the UN’s ERP infrastructure.

Mr. Chair,

6. Despite the progress made so far, the Group remains dismayed over the lack of transparency in the management of UMOJA and overexpenditures in certain areas. Therefore, we look forward to receiving accurate information on the total cost of ownership of UMOJA in the long run and the full extent of benefits realization, in line with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee. We are also concerned over the high vacancy rates in ERPSD.

7. Since 2008, the amount of $565.3 million has already been allocated through various sources to support UMOJA, including the regular and peacekeeping operations budget, as well as extrabudgetary sources. In this regard, the Group will seek further information during the informal consultations on the revised funding model to be effective in 2023, in order to ensure that the project remains cost-effective and transparent, especially as it reaches its steady state.

8. In conclusion, the Group of 77 and China stands ready to continue to engage constructively during the informal deliberations of this agenda item.

I thank you.