Treaty
Recalling decision XXXI/17 on financial reports and budgets for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,
Taking note of the financial report for the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer for the fiscal year 2019,1
Recognizing the voluntary contributions of parties as an essential complement for the effective implementation of the Montreal Protocol,
Welcoming the continued efficient management by the Secretariat of the finances of the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol,
Recognizing that the exceptional circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a lower utilization of the budget in 2020 and taking this into account with respect to the level of contributions for 2021,
1.To approve the revised budget including the additional activities of $3,166,945 for 2020, and the budget of $5,348,855 for 2021, and to take note of the indicative budget for 2022, as set out in table A of the annex to the present decision, to be considered further by the Thirty-Third Meeting of the Parties;
2.To authorize the Executive Secretary, on an exceptional basis, to draw upon the available cash balance for 2021 in an amount of up to $1,126,941 for:
(b)The second part of the forty-second meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, on replenishment;
3.To approve the contributions to be paid by the parties in the amount of $3,743,099 for 2021, and to take note of the contributions for 2022, as set out in table B of the annex to the present decision;
4.To authorize the Secretariat to draw down from the cash balance the funds required to cover the shortfall between the level of contributions agreed upon in paragraph 3 above and the approved budget 2021 as set out in paragraph 1 above;
5.To reaffirm that a working capital reserve shall be maintained at a level of 15 per cent of the annual budget, to be used to meet the final expenditures under the Trust Fund, noting that the working capital reserve shall be set aside from the existing cash balance;
6.To encourage parties and other stakeholders to contribute financially and by other means to assist the members of the three assessment panels and their subsidiary bodies with a view to ensuring their continued participation in assessment activities under the Montreal Protocol;
7.To express its appreciation that a number of parties have paid their contributions for 2020 and prior years, and to urge those parties that have not done so to pay both their outstanding contributions and their future contributions promptly and in full;
8.To request the Executive Secretary to enter into discussions with any party whose contributions are outstanding for two or more years with a view to finding a way forward, and also to report to the Meeting of the Parties to be held in 2021 on the outcome of those discussions to enable further consideration by the parties of how to address the matter;
9.Also to request the Executive Secretary to continue to provide regular information on earmarked contributions and include that information, where relevant, in the budget proposals of the Trust Fund to enhance transparency with regard to the actual income and expenses of the Trust Fund;
10.Further to request the Executive Secretary to continue to prepare fact sheets for the presentation of future budgets;
11.To request the Secretariat to ensure the full utilization of programme support costs available to it in 2021 and later years, and where possible to offset those costs against the administrative components of the approved budget;
12.Also to request the Secretariat to indicate in future financial reports of the Trust Fund the amounts of cash on hand and the status of contributions to the Trust Fund;
13.To request the Executive Secretary to prepare budgets and work programmes for the years 2022 and 2023, presenting two budget scenarios and work programmes based on the projected needs:
(b)A scenario based on further recommended adjustments to the above-mentioned scenario and the added costs or savings related thereto;
14.To stress the need to continue to ensure that the budget proposals are realistic and represent the agreed priorities of all parties, to help ensure a sustainable and stable fund and cash balance, including contributions.