FORMER FAO AND OTHER UN STAFF ASSOCIATION

FFOA

FFOA/GA/2014/03

PROVISIONAL REPORT

Forty-third Session of the General Assembly

Wednesday 29th

May 2013

Auditorium, WFP Headquarters

1. Opening of the Forty-third Session of the General Assembly

The President of FFOA, Mr Alan Prien, opened the session at 09:50 hours with the following

remarks:

Dear members of FFOA, and guests, I would like to extend a warm welcome on behalf of the

Executive Committee to our annual General Assembly. This is your opportunity to provide your advice and

input into what your Association and its newly-elected Executive should be doing for the next 3 years.

Also it is your opportunity (1) to meet with the new Executive Director of our host Organization,

whom we expect to be with us at 10:30 hours; (2) to hear from the new Director of Human Resources of

FAO who has recently taken up her post; we are particularly waiting to hear what she will say about our

medical premiums for 2013; as you know, due to our stringent cost control measures, we have been able to

retain the same static rates for 2011 and 2012. In this regard, I would like to inform you that your new

Executive Committee has designated Ed Seidler as our representative, and Giorgio Eberle as his alternate on

the JAC/MC (the Joint Advisory Committee on Medical Coverage); Ed had previously served on that

Committee for about 20 years as a representative of staff, and Giorgio (our General Secretary as most of you

may know) was previously the Head of Social Security, so I hardly think we pensioners and beneficiaries

could have better representatives on the JAC/MC; they will be particularly busy over the next year as the

insurance contracts will now be up for tender, and that involves a lot of detailed work to ensure we get good

coverage at continuing reasonable rates; (3) to meet the Human Resources Advisor of IFAD and hear a

message from him on behalf of the recently re-elected President of IFAD; (4) to hear from a representative of

our sister staff Associations, who will speak on behalf of all the Rome-base agencies staff members; and (5)

last, but not least, with regard to our lifelines, called our pensions, to have an update from, and exchange

information and ideas and questions with the representatives of our Pension Fund, who have kindly come

down from Geneva to be with us today. More on all of this later.

So, on your behalf, I welcome those who have come to assist us with our deliberations.

The languages of this meeting will be English and Italian. When you speak, please identify yourself

for reporting purposes. Please could we all switch off our mobile phones: I just spent a month in China

without using one, and it was fun to be without.

With these few remarks, it is my pleasure to declare open the 43rd

annual General Assembly of the

third largest Association of pensioners and beneficiaries in the UN common system.

2. Establishment of a quorum and announcements

a) Mr Prien announced that a quorum was present in accordance with the Association's Statutes. About

113 members were present, and 11 proxies had been received.

b) Messrs Maurice Purnell, Edward Seidler and Jamie Wickens were nominated rapporteurs. Ms

Marta Bochicchio and Ms Rosa Maria Buri provided simultaneous English-Italian interpretation. Mr Rein

Skullerud, WFP photographer, Ms Cristiana Pace, and Mr Alex Van Arkadie made photographic records

of the meeting.

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3. Election of the Presiding Officer

Mr Prien proposed that Ms Dianne Spearman, well-known to many former WFP staff members,

should chair this Assembly, and she was elected by acclamation. Ms Spearman thanked the participants for

the confidence shown by proposing and electing her as Presiding Officer of the Assembly; it is an honor, and

she looked forward to a fruitful meeting.

4. Nomination of the Honorary President

Mr Anton Doeve was nominated an Honorary President of FFOA and was presented with a silver

plaque recording his 12 years as President of FFOA. Mr Doeve said that he was honored by this

acknowledgement of his work for the Association. He gave a speech outlining his early career in the field

and later in Headquarters, and subsequently in FFOA, where he had enjoyed meeting so many interesting

people. He thanked the Assembly and Association and members of the Executive Committee.

5. Adoption of the Provisional Agenda

As no proposals for changes to the Provisional Agenda had been received, it was adopted.

6. The Draft Report of the 42nd Session of the General Assembly (30th

May 2012)

The Draft Report had been circulated with Newsbrief 85.

Ms Spearman asked if there were any questions, and the report was adopted without comment by the

General Assembly under resolutions FFOA/GA/2013/06.

7. Address by the Executive Director of the World Food Programme

Ms Ertharin Cousin, WFP Executive Director, made the following remarks.

Good morning, everyone. I am honoured to address this Forty-third Session of the General Assembly

of the Former FAO and Other UN Staff Association (FFOA).

At the UN World Food Programme (WFP), we are giving renewed emphasis to a more people-

centred approach, one that applies to the hungry poor – the people WFP is here to serve – as well as to the

employees past and present who served or continue to serve WFP.

Because no organization – especially an organization like WFP that is dedicated to completing the

mission to end hunger – can fulfil our mandate if we don’t walk the talk by also putting our people in our

own house first.

For the first time in the history of WFP, one year ago we began ensuring a voice for Staff

Association representatives at WFP Executive Board meetings in order to provide these essential advocates

with a direct and open channel to the member state representatives who oversee WFP governance. Now we

meet twice a year, and if there are issues of concern, I make sure we find additional time for them. The

Deputy Executive Director also meets with the Staff Associations on a regular basis. Staff Associations are

involved in the reassignment exercise. And for the first time, they provided input in selection of the Director

of HR. This involvement makes a big difference for the Staff Associations; they feel part of the leadership

and governance.

The world is changing. If we do not ensure that our staff are with us as we move from food aid to

food assistance, we fail.

The last years have been both exciting and challenging times here at WFP. In the countries and

communities we serve, we are learning and innovating, working with FAO, IFAD, and other UN agencies,

partnering with governments and non-governmental organizations, private businesses and grassroots

organizations as never before.

To attain a sustainable impact on the communities we serve, we recognize that we must work better

with our partners to deliver not only outputs but also outcomes. We’re reinventing ourselves as the agency

that not only delivers, but also the agency that listens; because listening is essential to improving the quality

of service we provide to WFP beneficiaries around the world.

The UN Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) are knitted up as never before. WFP works hand-in-hand

with FAO and IFAD to boost smallholder agricultural production and rural incomes, drawing closer to the

time when families and communities will feed themselves.

We’re not only filling stomachs, we’re also working to meet the special nutritional needs of pregnant

and lactating women and their young children; we’re joining with others through the Scaling Up the

Nutrition movement, with the private sector, governments and other UN agencies with the goal of building a

smarter, more resilient next generation.

After more than five decades, food assistance is growing up. It is no longer only about moving bags

of food from Point A to Point B as efficiently and effectively as possible; it is actually beginning to look at

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developing the programmes and projects that will change people’s lives for the long-term. In all of this, we

continue to recognize that people are the greatest asset.

As I have said to WFP staff repeatedly since the day I took up this job – and as I know all of you will

agree – the United Nations is not just a place where people come to pick up a pay check; to perform work

and leave at the end of the day. You decided to work with the UN because you wanted to see change in the

world.

And that does not end when your career ends, when you leave the institutions. That is why

organizations like FFOA are so important, because it keeps each of you invested in the work we are

committed to performing together. For everyone who has joined this cause, a career with the UN is a passion.

And passion is one of this world’s most precious resources. We should never waste it.

That’s why we launched the WFP Alumni Network three months ago, not as a competition to staff

associations, but as a complement. This network is an on- and off-line community supported by a web site

designed to help keep our WFP alumni connected to one another and to the WFP global community.

This network now counts over 100 members, and we’re expecting many more. Bronek Szynalski and

Francesco Strippoli, known to many of you, were among the founding members, and in the last months

Georgia Shaver and Trevor Page have also contributed substantially to the success of this people-driven,

fully interactive resource.

Alumni members from WFP are organizing house swaps for holidays and reconnecting with former

colleagues. Recently, one group of alumni that reconnected through the site met in Vancouver, Canada, to

share a meal and exchange stories.

But we want it to be more than that. We see it as a tool to not waste this resource of passion. We

want to continue drawing on it for mentoring of staff and support to ongoing projects. We want to draw on

your insights, because there are lessons learned that you already know.

We need you.

Eligibility extends to any former WFP staff member who receives or has been entitled to receive,

upon retirement, a benefit from the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). We hope there is

interaction between the two web sites. Just as we should all work together on a day-to-day basis, we should

continue even after retirement with that same commitment.

So, please spread news of this network to everyone that can make good use of it. Ask them to point

their web browsers to wfpalumni.wfp.org to sign-up and learn more about it.

Among our biggest challenges in recent years is keeping up with the ever increasing demand for

humanitarian services. Today, we are feeding 2.5 million people inside Syria and 800,000 outside Syria in

addition to what we are doing elsewhere around the world. In these economically stressed times,

governments, our traditional donors, must make tough choices to sustain funding for humanitarian and

development assistance. To help fill the gaps, we’re also tapping non-traditional sources of funding,

including donations from private companies and trilateral/South-South type exchanges.

But it all still comes back to people, because without strong engagement from the public, donors,

both traditional and non-traditional, will choose other investments for their scarce resources.

Here it is absolutely necessary that we tap every available source of support and that includes all of

you.

We need you out there talking to your friends and neighbors about ending hunger. We want you

telling your families and communities about the urgency of today’s relief operations in the Sahel and the

Middle East, and the hope that comes from giving the hungry poor a hand up, not a hand out.

We need you telling people about how WFP, FAO, IFAD and others are working together to ensure

the right nutrition for every child and grandchild throughout the critical 1,000 days between conception and

age two; and continuing that essential support through early childhood and beyond by powering on the

education electromagnet we call school feeding.

With these thoughts, I extend my best wishes for a productive and successful forty-third session, and

I thank you again for your service, both past and future, to the people we serve.

8. Ms Spearman expressed the thanks of the Association for this impassioned speech welcoming the

FFOA, which was clearly shown by the applause. The many facts and the description of future intentions are

of great interest for pensioners. In asking for the support of the pensioners for influencing public opinion

about the needs that WFP must supply, you are pushing on an open door. Special thanks are also due to WFP

for all the assistance they have provided during the year, particularly the printing of the Newsbriefs and other

documents.

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9. Address by the Representative of the Director General of FAO

Ms Monika Altmaier, Director, Office of Human Resources, spoke on behalf of the Director

General of FAO.

Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank the organizers, Alan Prien and his team

for inviting me to this event and thank our colleagues from IFAD, WFP and FAO for being here. It is a real

pleasure to join you today for the 43rd Session of the General Assembly of FFOA.

The Director-General, Mr Graziano da Silva, has asked me to convey to you his greetings and best

wishes for a very successful meeting. He would have loved to attend but he is in Japan right now.

As you know, I have recently joined FAO as head of HR and I am pleased to say how proud I am

and how much I am enjoying my new job and working for such a dynamic organization where I have

received an unprecedented warm welcome from staff, the most important asset of the organization.

Knowledge grows as it is shared, and I am appreciative of the support I have received from FFOA. APin

FAO and UGSS. Human resources is a service provider and enabler to the technical staff of the Organization

and, as such, HR needs to be efficient and effective and needs to review policies and procedures to achieve

its goals.

I am very honoured to make the opening remarks at this Assembly but as I am relatively new, I may

not be fully aware of WFP and IFAD issues, and my remarks will mainly refer to FAO activities. However,

the information on social security issues will be of interest to all.

As you know, since Mr. Graziano took over last year, it is very encouraging to see that a strategic

thinking process has been finalized to identify the development trends and emerging challenges in food

security and agriculture, following the five strategic objectives, and they form the basis of the work which

the Organization is and will be doing over the coming years. We are convinced that ending hunger is a

possible goal in one generation. It’s extremely important not to lose this opportunity. Losing the battle

against hunger means losing one generation. We cannot let that happen. We therefore need to adapt the way

we work and make changes happen. This is not always an easy process. Our human resource strategy will be

adapted accordingly to reflect our changing environment.

In addition, FAO will be working closely with both public and private sector, and the Council in

April recently approved the Partnerships Strategies for Civil Society and the Private Sector.

FAO has also appointed the new Deputy Director-General, Knowledge, Ms. Helena Semedo,

formerly the ADG/Regional Representative in Africa, and she will direct and head up the Knowledge arm.

The Organization is continuing its decentralization programme and has made concrete proposals for

improving delivery of results at country level as well as to reinforcing FAO’s regional and global work. For

example, one element of decentralization is the integration of development and emergency activities to

ensure better results. In addition, four Human Resources Officer positions have been opened in the regions

and 3 out of 4 have been filled. These officers will play a key role in ensuring best HR practices are available

to the staff in the regions and that opportunities for career development and training are given priority.

In addition, the administrative functions in FAO have been under continuous review and

streamlining of processes and improved efficiencies in the areas of administration. Several HR initiatives

such as generic job profiles, competency framework and a review of the performance management system

are priority projects. Furthermore, I am now the focal point for staff/management relations and am actively

engaged in creating a constructive dialogue with the staff associations on all issues affecting the welfare of

the staff.

Regarding the Immediate Plan of Action, the Council expressed its appreciation for the Final

Management Report on the IPA Implementation and the FAO Reform Process. Seven key actions will be

completed by the time of the Conference in June and by the end of 2013, the IPA budget will have been fully

utilized.

Let me now turn to some of the social security issues that might be of interest to you.

a) UN Pensions

Regarding the Pension Fund, I’m pleased to inform you that as of 31st March 2013, the preliminary

market value of the Fund’s assets was US$ 43,081 million. This represents an increase of US$ 3,335 million

or approximately 8.4%, from 31 December 2011 when the Fund’s asset value stood at US$ 39,746 million.

It might be of interest to you that there was no adjustment of the US$ pensions, based on the

movement of the US Consumer Price Index over the one-year period December 2011 to December 2012. For

those of you who are on the local currency track and reside in Italy, there has been an increase of 2.3% in

your pension effective 1st April 2013. This increase will be reflected in the July pension payment (as from 1

st

April). The upcoming Pension Board will be held in July 2013 in New York. The agenda is quite heavy since

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2013 is a budget year, and the Board meeting is only five working days. The items on which the Board will

be reporting to the UNGA relate to the revised budget estimates for the biennium 2012-2013 and the

proposed budget for the biennium 2014-2015. Other items on the Board’s agenda include the financial

statements of the Fund for the year ended 31st December 2012, actuarial valuation methodology and

assumptions for the thirty-second actuarial valuation of the Fund as of 31st December 2013, membership of

the Committee of Actuaries and Investments Committee and the report on the fund’s investment

performance. The Board will also review the increase of the normal retirement age and status report on

increase in mandatory age of separation within member organizations and will give an update on the

pensionable remuneration.

The Director General is supportive of extending the retirement age to 65 but this is not envisaged to

be elective by staff but would be decided on by the Director General; budget levels will have to be

considered and each case for extension will be assessed on budget availability and merit.

b) Medical Insurance

Despite being affected by fluctuations in US$/EUR exchange rates that characterized the last years,

the Medical Insurance Plan has performed better than expected thanks, predominantly due to the various cost

containment measures put in place in recent years which are consistently reviewed and improved. In 2012

the Plan was able to retain the same level of premiums payable to insurers for both the US Dollar and the

Euro Scheme. I am pleased to announce that, thanks to the Organization’s efforts and the close monitoring

by the Joint Advisory Committee on Medical Coverage (JAC/MC), there will be no increase in 2013 and the

premiums remain unchanged.

Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen,

FFOA acts as FAO’s “partner” in providing valuable information and assistance to you. Over the

years, the collaboration between FFOA and the Organization has been excellent, and we would like to assure

the Association that FAO will continue to cooperate with FFOA for the benefit of the retiree community.

Your Association unites former civil servants from FAO, IFAD, WFP and a number of other UN

Organizations represented in Rome. The occasion of the FFOA General Assembly provides once a year the

opportunity for former UN staff to meet and discuss issues of common interest. For us in FAO, it provides

the chance to see again many of our former colleagues with whom we worked successfully in the past.

In conclusion, let me thank you all for your invaluable contributions, the support you have given to

me in the first months, your dedication and hard work but also the commitment you have shown during your

years of service with the Organization is very much appreciated. Thanks a lot for your continued interest. I

wish you a very successful Assembly. Thank you.

Questions and Answers regarding Social Security. A question was posed to Ms Altmaier from the floor on

the issue of the increase of the retirement age to 65 and how this might apply to serving staff of the other

Rome based agencies (IFAD and WFP). In reply, Ms Altmaier intimated that this would be at the discretion

of the Agency heads namely the Director General, President or Executive Director. A joint working group of

the Rome based agencies is envisaged which would make proposals to the governing body meetings

scheduled for October to agree to increase the retirement age to 65. She reiterated that the issue would be

pending budget approval and would be at the discretion of the Agency heads who would each decide on

whether to extend the retirement age of serving staff who might request an extension of the mandatory age of

separation but there will be no automatic right for serving staff to extend to 65.

10. Ms Spearman thanked Ms Altmaier for her address which contained very interesting and important

information for the FFOA membership and for the information on change management and the new

directions in FAO. FFOA was looking forward to reinforcing the close relationship that FFOA has with

FAO. She also thanked FAO for providing various services to FFOA which will be pleased to work closely

with her office.

11. Address by the Representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development

Mr Peter Frobel, Human Resource Management Advisor, Coprorate Services Department spoke on

behalf of IFAD President Kanayo F. Nwanze.

Good morning to all of you. Thank you Ms Spearman for the introduction.

It is an honor to speak to you today on the occasion of the general assembly meeting of FFOA on

behalf of IFAD’s President Kanayo F. Nwanze, who cannot be here with you.

It is for me a pleasure to introduce myself and interact with colleagues from across the UN system. I

am Peter Frobel, the HR Management Advisor for the Corporate Services Department and have been with

the Fund since the beginning of the year.

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In such a short time, I have already become aware of the service, assistance and advice FFOA

provides to our former staff members relating to their retirement.

Since 1971, even before IFAD was created, your association has fostered continued collaboration

between members and their organizations, and equally important, among association members themselves.

Your commitment to the purposes and activities of the United Nations is as imperative as ever.

Indeed, the world in which we operate has changed dramatically. It has been many years now since

agriculture was a sleepy backwater. And the concept of smallholder farming as a business is now so widely

accepted that it is a common phrase in the development arena.

Today, with world attention focused on the post-2015 development agenda, the necessity of ensuring

that smallholder-centered agricultural development is central to these discussions - and that it is prioritized

by governments, development partners and the private sector - is all the more crucial.

Today, the threats to the lives and livelihoods of the poor rural people we work with are considerable

but the opportunities have never been greater. The threats are real, but so, too, are the opportunities. Simply

stated, agriculture is a growth industry. With the world population expected to pass 9 billion by 2050,

demand for food is guaranteed to rise in the coming years. Our goal of helping to move 80 million people

out of poverty is ambitious. Success will depend on our ability to scale-up operations in partnership with

other stakeholders including the Rome-based agencies, governments, NGOs and donors.

Of course, IFAD’s involvement in policy dialogue must also continue so that we can ensure that

inclusive, sustainable rural development remains part of the national and global development discourse.

All of us at IFAD believe that investing in rural economies is critically important to creating a

sustainable future. And we have made great strides in making the development and the international

community at large takes notice that smallholders are part of the solution to the global food security

challenge.

As former staff members, you know the challenges that lie ahead. You also know the rewards all of

our assistance can yield. We ask for your continued support and commitment to ensure we achieve these

noble aims.

On behalf of President Nwanze, I would like to thank you again for giving me the opportunity to

address you here today and to share with you IFAD’s focus and future directions. Please feel free to let us

know how best we can support you.

I wish you a fruitful meeting and continued success in providing such valuable services to our

retirees. Thank you.

12. Ms Spearman thanked Mr Frobel for this informative and concise address. FFOA is very grateful

for the help provided by IFAD during the year, particularly by the dispatch of the General Assembly

documents, together with the Newsbrief.

13. Statement by the Representative of the Staff Representative Bodies

Mr George Aelion, President of the WFP Professional Staff Association (WFP-PSA), spoke on

behalf of the Staff Representative Bodies.

Mr President, members of the Executive Committee, distinguished members of the FFOA, Ladies

and Gentlemen.

The WFP-PSA on behalf of the Rome based Staff Associations, welcomes you to WFP. It is a great

pleasure to host our retired colleagues and their families at the General Assembly of the FFOA. We all look

forward to joining the FFOA at some point; some of us sooner than others.

There are many challenges facing us both as staff member, but also those who are presently in

retirement. The most pressing are how the Mandatory Age of Separation (MAS) will be implemented for

presently employed staff members. The Rome based agencies have polled their members and the common

thread is that staff members should have the right to decide on whether they continue working past the

present MAS. With the increasing policy of hiring short-term staff, less staff are paying into the pension

fund. Thankfully, retirees are living longer but this is not sustainable for the pension fund. Allowing

presently employed staff to continue working to 65 would lessen the strain on the fund.

Another important challenge for both staff members and retirees is to ensure that the health

insurance scheme stays healthy (no pun intended) and affordable. The JAC/MC is an important part of that

process. It has not had regular meetings for a while and as of today the health insurance rates have not been

set for 2013. We look forward to a re-invigorated JAC/MC to carry forward this important work.

Finally, as more space opens up at WFP, we would like to see the possibility of opening up a

pharmacy. This would have major advantages for both WFP staff and retirees.

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There are many challenges that we shall continue to face collaboratively. Staff associations are

particularly pleased with the recent initiatives for the expansion and promotion of FFOA among all

prospective retirees. This has improved the links between current staff members and those in active

retirement and led to collaborative efforts to strengthen the medical insurance and social security schemes.

In conclusion, the staff associations look forward to continued close collaboration with the FFOA.

13.1 In summing up, Ms Spearman highlighted the practice of hiring short-term staff and emphasized the

divergent positions of PSA and FAO on the issue of extending the MAS from 62 to 65 for all current

professional staff. The effect is different for young and older staff.

14. Reports of the Executive Committee

a) Statement of Work achieved during 2012

Mr Prien updated the report on work accomplished which had already been circulated with the

General Assembly documents, as follows: (1) the most important item of interest to all receiving the pension

in Italy on the euro track is that the COLA increase has been approved. This means 2.3% more on the

pension from April 2013; (2) the second relates to the retirement age (see Chapter 4 of the 2012 report).

More will be reported by the Representatives of the Geneva Pension Fund Office (Alan Blythe and Aliamane

Bacar Said) later this morning. However, it is the President’s understanding that the Pension Board has the

authority, when the decision is approved by the General Assembly to increase the normal retirement age to

65 with effect from 1st January 2014. The change of the MAS may help all, given that active staff may

contribute for 3 years more and then derive benefits from 3 years later; (3) FFOA’s Executive Committee is

urging each organization to be flexible in making extensions if serving staff are interested; this will keep our

Fund in a good financial position.

The President also commended the Social Activities sub-committee on their good work and the help

they are giving to our members. A new initiative has recently been started what will become a regular series

of coffee mornings, or get-togethers.

Finally, with regard to electronic transmissions, 92% of our 111 new members joining last year have

an email address, this allows to fire out messages much more quickly than we ever did before. Hopefully,

they don’t go to your spam boxes!

Madame Chair, that, I think brings us about up-to-date, but we shall cover most substantive issues

under various agenda items, so, if necessary, we can revert later, and certainly answer questions as

appropriate. Now perhaps I could pass to Giorgio Eberle to cover the report he prepared on the last 3 years of

the former EC.

The draft resolution to adopt the report on work achieved (FFOA/GA/2012/06/B) was adopted by

acclamation.

b) Statement of Work achieved during 2010-2012

Mr Eberle had prepared the statement of work achieved during 2010-2012 and emphasized the key

issues that were dealt with, and the challenges and activities which are to come. The core includes the

monitoring of the UNJSPF, work for the pensioners’ benefit on the Staff Pension Committee, and on the

JAC/MC).

c) FFOA Programme of Work for 2013-2015

Mr Pace described the structure of the FFOA Programme of Work for 2013-2015. The programme

distinguishes core or standard activities from those that are special projects (for example, the best means of

communicating among the members). Each subject is managed be a thematic sub-committee. The

implementation of the programme depends on the scarce resources available to the Association. Therefore,

anyone who would like to participate in its realisation, is asked to send an email expressing his/her

availablity to contribute with assistance of financially.

15. Report of the Association’s Financial Transactions (Statements A – E)

Mr Gianni Monciotti, Treasurer of the Association, presented the Financial Report for 2012. He

confirmed that the financial situation can be considered reasonably satisfactory; the number of annual

members has increased, as well as the voluntary contributions demonstrating the esteem and respect of our

members towards our Association. Nevertheless, the number of members in arrears with their annuity

payments is still relatively high. With regard to expenditures, they showed a slight increase in view of late

receipt of some invoices from previous years.

In line with the suggestion made by the Reviewers and in order to have more realistic assets figures,

it was agreed to write-off the emergency fund credits (which had not been reimbursed for a long time) and to

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suspend the debtors from our membership. This has prompted some member to start repaying their credits.

It is cheering to note the growth of the market value of our investments.

As indicated in the documents distributed at the entrance, the “Reviewers” have certified all financial

documents for 2012.

The proposed budget for 2014 is similar to the figures of 2013, with no notable differences.

The Treasurer recommended the confirmation of Mr John McGhie and Mr Bernd Käss as

“Reviewers” for the 2013 accounts.

Mr Abdou Ciss asked about an even more strict and accurate control of the annual fees payments.

Mr Monciotti replied that the updated system was working well.

Mr Carlo Varrone suggested that in view of FFOA’s contribution to FAO, an even more

substantive support from the Organizations should be worked on. Mr Monciotti replied that there are no

charges for rooms used, and the mailing charges had been discussed.

There were no other questions, and the financial report for 2012, the financial status on 31st

December 2012, the proposed budget for 2014, and the reappointment of the above-mentioned two

Reviewers were approved by acclamation under resolutions FFOA/GA/2013/ 06.

16. Ms Spearman then gave the floor to Mrs Ondina Turra, representative of UN pensioners from the

ICTP (International Centre for Thematic Physics) in Trieste who have formed a group, and who would like

to develop more active co-operation with FFOA.

17. Presentation by Mr Alan Blythe, Chief of the UNJSPF Geneva Office

Mr Alan Blythe was accompanied by Mr Aliamane Bacar Said, Chief of Finance and Client

Servicing and Records Management, in the Geneva Office.

Mr Blythe thanked FFOA for the opportunity to address this Assembly. He gave a concise speech

describing the present state of the Fund. The small actuarial deficit was disappointing but only the longer

term perspective is important. The proposal by the ICSC to extend the normal age of retirement to 65 will

effect a 1 per cent improvement. The fund still receives more premiums than it pays out in benefits and this

seems likely to continue even to 2027. There is no danger that the beneficiaries money will somehow run

out.

Mr Aliamane Bacar Said gave a detailed PowerPoint description of the functioning of the Fund for

staff and for retirees. This is available in full on the FFOA web site.

Ms Spearman thanked the Pension Fund speakers for their informative presentations. They are not

fully complete and will be continued with a chance to ask questions at 14:30 hours after lunch.

18. Questions and answer on subjects concerning Pensions and Medical Insurance

As an innovation at this General Assembly, a session after lunch was arranged to permit more time

for questions and answers, and for discussion (see page 9).

19. Other Business

No proposals had been received, so Ms Spearman handed the meeting over to the President of

FFOA, Mr Prien, to deal with any other business and the closure of the meeting.

He drew attention to the presence of Ms Susan Murray, UGSS and Mr Wolfgang Prante,

President of AP-in-FAO, as a symbol of our close co-operation. Mr Mauro Pace, President of FICSA, made

a short speech stating that FICSA represented associations with 40,000 staff members, and also benefited

from a number of consultative members including FFOA, ensuring cooperation in various ways.

Mr Prien asked everyone to check and update their email addresses. He also asked everyone to give

generously to the traditional collection for the old and poor at the Old People’s Home neighboring FAO. The

collection would be made by Mrs Gyongyi Prien, Mr John McGhie and helpers at the end of the meeting.

We can feel proud that last year the pensioners contributed 23% of the total collected from the three

agencies. (In fact, this year some €750 euros were collected at the door.)

Mr Prien asked the meeting to observe a minute of silence to commemorate all the staff-members,

pensioners, consultants, workers and all those who contributed to the UN activities and had passed away

since the last General Assembly.

In his closing remarks, Mr Prien reassured the participants that they could count on FFOA

continuing to defend their interests.

Page 9 of 12 pages

He then thanked the guest speakers who have provided a wealth of information which made this

General Assembly so worthwhile and the technical staff who had contributed to its success, particularly the

interpreters, the Webcast technicians, and the photographers, and notably Ms Annemarie Waeschle who, by

her meticulous work, had assured this meeting of success. Mr Prien also thanked Ms Spearman for

chairing the General Assembly so well, and everyone present for coming and for contributing to the meeting.

20. Closure of the Forty-second Session of the General Assembly

Mr Prien, President of FFOA, closed the Assembly at 12:55 hours.

********************************************************************************

The Forty-fourth Session of the General Assembly

is tentatively expected to take place on

Wednesday, 28 May 2014 at 09:30 hours

at IFAD Headquarters.

So plan ahead, mark it in your calendars, and

please come along and bring this report with you.

*****************************************************

AFTERNOON SESSION (14:00 – 15:45 hours)

(As an innovation at this General Assembly, a session after lunch was arranged to permit more time for

questions and answers, and for discussion.)

Mr Aliamane Bacar Said completed his PowerPoint presentation, as mentioned above, including advice on

change of payment, choice of currency, required documents and other administrative procedures. General

questions were then invited.

Mr Marco Breschi commented that he appreciated the new approach to the pension’s presentation which

provides a more detailed account of the operations of the Pension Fund.

Ms Irene Ursic-Ruisi asked about people who found the password and log-in too difficult. The reply was

that if they had no email everything could be done by post; mail should be addressed to where the pension is

processed in New York or Geneva. However the pension fund is moving to a new system. She also enquired

about the General Assembly on the website and Internet. The Internet broadcast was closed with the meeting.

Information about the pensions is available on the FFOA web site, and also on the Pension Fund web site.

Mr Bronek Szynalski asked about how people without access to electronic communication managed and

how long a spouse could expect to wait before receiving the survivor’s pension. The answer was that letters

and forms are sent by post. The spouse should receive notification within 2-15 days. In addition it was urged

that the pension file should be updated (form PENS E/2), and a bank account and marriage certificate can be

sent now so that there are no delays.

Mr Ed Seidler asked about changing to the double track as the US dollar is very low now. It was pointed out

that the calculation of the double track pension is always based on the 3 year average exchange rate at the

time of separation plus the indexation since then.

In response to an enquiry about orphan benefit it was explained that this could be one third more than

the regular small child benefit.A member asked under what conditions one could return to the dollar track.

This is complicated and depends on individual assessment of the loss caused by moving to a different

country; some 10-20 countries have only the dollar track.

The Pension Fund staff were thanked for their detailed explanations and the prompt answers to a series

of questions. Members present were pleased with this innovation of an afternoon session and the opportunity

it provided for discussing specific questions. The session then closed at 15:45 hours.

Page 10 of 12 pages

Selected photos of the 43rd

Session of the FFOA General Assembly (Photographers: Cristiana Pace, Alex Van Arkadie, Rein Skullerud (WFP))

The Executive Committee at the Assembly (lacking only Marco Breschi and Giorgia Shaver)

Ms Ertharin Cousin, Ms Dianne Spearman, and Mr Alan Prien

Page 11 of 12 pages

Some of the audience in the WFP Auditorium

Mr Anton and Mrs Clelia Doeve with the plaque of honour presented

Page 12 of 12 pages

Mr Alan Blythe and Mr Aliamane Bacar Said (Pension Fund, Geneva) with EC members

Mr Alex Van Arkadie and Mr Marius De Gaay Fortman (from left to right)

The WFP Auditorium with some EC members and principal speakers: Ms Monika Altmaier, FAO

(fourth from left) and Mr Peter Frobel, IFAD (second row, left)