The Chairman of the Audit Operations Committee of the Board of Auditors introduced the report of the Board (A 60 5 (Vol. V)).

In paragraph 313, the Board recommended that UNICEF review its internal audit procedures and work with the Audit Committee to ensure it significantly improves its report issuance lead time.

3. Notes that the Standing Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board will consider, in 2005, the desirability of and possible terms of reference for an audit committee of the Board

The Director of External Audit of the Philippines and Chairman of the Audit Operations Committee of the Board of Auditors, Mr. Sabiniano Cabatuan, introduced the reports of the Board of Auditors (A 60 5 Add.5 and A 60 113).

In paragraph 150 of its report, the Board recommended that UNRWA consider including external members on its Audit and Inspection Committee.

Independent Audit Advisory Committee

UNDP accepts all 115 audit recommendations identified by the Board.

Furthermore, the Board notes that responsibility for proper financial statements ultimately rests with the Commissioner General, to whom the Audit Inspection Committee reports.

The Board will review the compensating measures during its next audit.

The Board plans to review this application in its next audit.

In paragraph 212 of its report, the Board recommended that UNDP address the shortcomings identified between the Management Review and Oversight Committee and best practices for an audit committee function.

In paragraph 300, the Board recommended that UNICEF review the terms of reference of its audit committee in line with the United Nations governance review.

UNHCR's internal audit plan is developed in close consultation with management, the Oversight Committee, the Inspector General's Office and the United Nations Board of Auditors.

This evaluation will also prepare the UNHCR Audit Service for the external audit envisaged by the United Nations Board of Auditors.

IAMB also received a briefing from the Iraq Board of Supreme Audit.

(Signed) Guillermo N. Carague Chairman of the Board Chairman, Philippine Commission on Audit

1.22 The secretariat of the Board provides substantive, technical and administrative support to the Board, its Audit Operations Committee and the Panel of External Auditors and its Technical Group, including research and analysis of documentation relevant to their activities.

The Board is planning to widen its audit coverage at the State Oil Marketing organization.

(Signed) Guillermo Carague Chairman, Philippine Commission on Audit and Chairman, United Nations Board of Auditors

The Board notes that, by May 2005, such an audit had yet to be undertaken.

(Signed) Guillermo Carague Chairman, Philippine Commission on Audit and Chairman, United Nations Board of Auditors

The United States delegation wondered whether the lower estimated cost of external audits by the Board of Auditors reflected reduced audit coverage or better audit efficiency.

(Signed) Guillermo N. Carague Chairman, Philippine Commission on Audit and Chairman, United Nations Board of Auditors

The Committee was further informed that an audit of the Institute's operations, including programme management, financial management, use of consultants and follow up actions on previous audit recommendations, had been conducted by the Board of Auditors during the period from 29 August to 9 September 2005 and the findings of that audit had not yet been received.

(b) Travel expenses related to the newly established Audit Committee

Provisional terms of reference for the independent audit advisory committee

In paragraph 58, the Board recommended that UNODC increase its project audit coverage of nationally executed expenditures with a view to ensuring the timely receipt of audit certificates.

The audit was based on the following broad audit objectives, mentioned by the Board in its progress report on the capital master plan (see A 58 321, para.

(a) Revised terms of reference for the Independent Audit Advisory Committee

(b) Keep under review the scope and results of the audit of the United Nations Board of Auditors and OIOS, their cost effectiveness and report periodically to the General Assembly on Committee findings

The UNHCR Audit Service works in close cooperation with UNHCR's Inspector General's Office and liaises with the United Nations Board of Auditors to ensure coordination between external and internal audit.

The Board will review the above mentioned policy document at its next planned audit visit to UNOPS headquarters.

(Signed) Guillermo N. Carague Chairman, Commission on Audit, Republic of the Philippines Chairman, United Nations Board of Auditors

The Executive Board had before it the report on internal audit activities in 2004 (E ICEF 2005 AB L.2), which was introduced by the Director, Office of Internal Audit (OIA).

UNFPA also addressed audit issues in the annual report on internal audit and oversight activities in 2004 (DP FPA 2005 9), submitted to the annual session 2005 of the Executive Board.

UNHCR planned to invite a representative of the Board of Auditors to attend the review of external audit reports.

Note The members of the Board of Auditors have signed only the original English version of the audit opinion.

Note The members of the Board of Auditors have signed only the original English version of the audit opinion.

Note The members of the Board of Auditors have signed only the original English version of the audit opinion.

The reduction in the estimated costs of external audit reflects a reduced provision by the Board of Auditors ( 27,000).

In paragraph 389, the Board recommended that UNICEF issue an instruction on the follow up of external audit recommendations.

The Board recommended also that UNFPA evaluate the possibility of using the Comprehensive Audit Recommendation Database System to monitor the status of implementation of audit recommendations in respect of nationally executed projects.

It therefore did not constitute an audit committee in line with best practices, although it was a commendable internal forum for audit follow up.

The Oversight Committee discussed for the first time in May 2005 the audit reports with an audit rating of below average or seriously deficient.

The Oversight Committee discussed for the first time in May 2005 the audit reports with an audit rating of below average or seriously deficient.