hadbeenthebasisforaconsensus attheninthsession oftheWorking party. One delegation expressed itsconcern thattheresources requested forconsultants were notintended forspecific outputs; ratheritseemedthatintergovernmental organs wererequested toapprove aglobal sumforconsultants andthat,withinthatsum, thesecretariat hadalargedegreeofflexibility. Asimilar situation seemedto prevail regarding meetings ofexpertgroups, several ofwhichwerenotspecifically mandated. Thesamedelegation opposed subsequent reformulation bythesecretariat ofactivities forwhichsuchresources hadbeenallocated intheprogramme budget. Another delegation inquired aboutthesubprogramme, Programme planning and management, whichrecurred underprogrammes 1to8.Itarguedthatsucha subprogramme shouldnotappearintheprogramme budgetbecauseitwasnotincluded intheprogramme structure ofthemedium-term plan.Another delegation inquired aboutseveral itemsof"technical assistance" notably inprogrammes 1,3and6of section 15,arguing thatonlybackstopping activities shouldbeprovided forinthe regular budget. Therepresentative oftheSecretary-General confirmed thatregular bUdgetary resources wouldberestricted tosuchactivities. 297.Inreply,theDirector oftheProgramme Planning andEvaluation Branchofthe OfficeforProgramme Planning andCO-ordination assured theCOmmittee thatthe Secretary-General's instructions forthepreparation oftheproposed programme budgethaddirected thesubmitting unitstouse"maximum restraint" intheir proposals andhadneverrequested themtofollow"zerogrowth". Healso differentiated between thegeneral mandates contained inthemedium-term planand thespecific mandates givenbyadhoclegislation. Hearguedthattheproposed programme budgetshouldnotbeconsidered astrait-jacket, sinceitcouldonly reflect theSecretary-General's bestestimate ofrequirements forap~riodoftwo yearsinthefuture. Rule105.2(b)oftheRegulations andRulesGoverning Programme Planning andProgramme Aspects oftheBudgetenvisaged that"headof departments oroffices shallhavethediscretion tomodifytheapproved programme -56';' .., i/_:TADin1987, Efsetby s.other adprogramme stsinthe tent;some east :>rtof :)fulfiltheir ideration of heWorking ndatesdidnot ogramme for :)urcesshould sedprogramme htheviews n,some neral's consider it. dnormalto programmed and 9party. One sultants were entalorgans inthatsum, onseemedto ,tspecifically esecretariat rammebudget. .gand lucha notincluded oninquired , 3and6of dedforinthe dthatregular Branchofthe ~thatthe programme .ntheir 11so :ermplanand leproposed :ouldonly ;"dadoftwo rerning :"headof redprogrammer fbudget byreformulating programme elements andfinaloutput". TheFinancial Regulations gavetheSecretary-General similar flexibility sUbject toappropriate reporting. Thesecretariat wouldeliminate thesubprogramme, Programme planning andmanagement, whichappeared underprogrammes 1to8,sinceitsinclusion wasnot inconformity withrule103.6(c)oftheprogramme planning regulations. 298.Therepresentative oftheUNCTADsecretariat confirmed thatthe Secretary-General's instructions haddirected submitting unitstousemaximum restraint intheirbudgetproposals. HeaddedthatUNCTADactivities werebasedon alargenumberofintergovernmental meetings eachoneofwhichreviewed andrevised previous mandates. Theprocess wasacontinuing oneandinitsAgreedConclusions theWorking Partyhadrecommended thatthemaincommittees ofUNCTADshould be invited togiveincreased attention tothereviewoftheirworkprogrammes andthe implementation oftheirdecisions. Somemandates, including thoseforthe convening ofexpertgroups, werereceived inthecourseofthebiennium and flexibility wastherefore necessary. Resources leftunused becau[;'~ oflackof mandates were,infact,usedbyUNCTADasawholetomeetunantici.pated mandates. Asregards theseventh session ofUNCTAD, its~tructure andagend~ ~ere stillnot known;theproposed programme budget wasbasedontherequirements forthesixth session, adjusted forinflation. Therepresentative ofUNCTADsaidthatthe
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the preparation of a budget for a United Nations conference or organization, specifically the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The text mentions various programmatic activities, such as consultant services, expert groups, and meetings, as well as the need for flexibility in the budget to accommodate changing mandates and priorities. The tone is formal and technical, suggesting that the text is a report or summary of a meeting.

**Category**
International trade, Economic development