United Nations A/60/899 Distr.: General 21 June 2006 Original: English General Assembly Sixtieth session Agenda item 124 Programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 Additional office accommodation in Geneva for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Revised estimates to the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007 Report of the Secretary-General Summary The present report proposes arrangements and related resource requirements in respect of additional office accommodation for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. It is presented to the General Assembly as a follow-up to the Secretary-General's report on revised estimates in connection with the 2005 World Summit Outcome (A/60/537). The Assembly will recall from paragraph 130 of that report that the requirements then submitted represented initial estimates and might be revised subsequently in the light of the need to identify an additional office building in Geneva to accommodate the additional staff for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights owing to the lack of available space at the Palais Wilson. The total requirements for the additional office accommodation in Geneva for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for the biennium 2006-2007 under the regular budget amount to $4,975,900, net of staff assessment. 06-39955 (E) 230606 *0639955* A/60/899 Contents Paragraphs Page I. II. III. IV. V. VI. Annex Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proposal for additional office accommodation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Estimated resource requirements for the biennium 2006-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proposed financial arrangements for the biennium 2006-2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusions and recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Action to be taken by the General Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1­5 6­10 11­15 16­19 20­21 22 3 3 5 8 10 10 Table of comparison of commercial office premises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 2 06-39955 A/60/899 I. Introduction 1. The present report provides information on and seeks approval of the General Assembly for the proposed arrangements and related additional resource requirements in respect of supplementary office accommodation for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. It follows on the Secretary-General's report on revised estimates in connection with the 2005 World Summit Outcome (A/60/537), which stated in paragraph 130 that the requirements identified in the report represented initial estimates and might be revised subsequently in the light, inter alia, of the need to identify an additional office building in Geneva to accommodate the additional staff for OHCHR owing to the lack of available space at the Palais Wilson. 2. It will be recalled that, in its decision 52/465 of 25 March 1998, the General Assembly approved the proposal of the Secretary-General to accept the offer of the Swiss authorities to place the office accommodation at the Palais Wilson in Geneva at the disposal of the United Nations. OHCHR has since occupied the premises at the Palais Wilson. The certified capacity of that building is to accommodate 280 staff. The expansion of OHCHR activities in recent years has been accompanied by a growth in the number of staff working at the Palais Wilson to 391, resulting in 111 people, or 40 per cent occupancy, above the building's capacity. 3. It will also be recalled that at its sixtieth session, the General Assembly has approved an additional 73 new posts for OHCHR in Geneva for the biennium 20062007, comprising 71 posts authorized by resolution 60/246 and two additional new posts, in support of the work of the Human Rights Council, authorized by resolution 60/251. 4. In the long term, the anticipated strengthening of OHCHR through the doubling of its regular budget resources over the next five years (see General Assembly resolution 60/1, para. 124) would further increase the number of staff that would need to be accommodated. Additionally, as concerns extrabudgetary resources, it is anticipated that an additional 91 staff funded by such resources will be deployed in Geneva by the end of 2007. 5. As indicated in paragraph 2 above, the additional staff to be recruited against the new authorized posts cannot be accommodated at the Palais Wilson. Further increases in the number of staff at the Palais Wilson would not only aggravate the existing working conditions but would breach the local fire safety codes and endanger the safety and health of staff owing to the additional stress placed on the electrical infrastructure of the building. It should be noted that most of the meeting rooms in the Palais Wilson have already been converted into offices. As regards office accommodation at the Palais des Nations, there are currently some 2,780 offices within the compound with an occupancy rate of 100 per cent. The design structure of the Palais des Nations does not allow for reconfiguration of space to accommodate additional staff as normally would be the case in more modern buildings with an open-space layout. II. Proposal for additional office accommodation 6. In order to address this acute shortage of office space in Geneva, an OHCHR project team comprising administrative, technical and substantive personnel was 06-39955 3 A/60/899 constituted to examine potential locations in Geneva and identify a suitable solution. The team reviewed a number of alternatives in consultation with the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Building Foundation for International Organizations, which deals with office accommodation for Geneva-based international organizations on behalf of the host country. The Building Foundation does not currently have available any office accommodation that meets OHCHR requirements and does not foresee such accommodation becoming available in the near future. 7. Consequently, alternative office premises could only be found in the local real estate market. The OHCHR office space team has studied six currently available properties and a further six properties under development for future options. A table comparing the costs and specifications of those options is contained in the annex to the present report. Although some properties were available at a slightly lower rent, the G. Motta 48 site was selected because it offers sufficient space to meet the existing requirements as well as the projected future needs of OHCHR. Further, the building is in close proximity to the Palais Wilson (approximately 2 km) and the Palais des Nations (slightly less than 1 km). Proximity to the Palais des Nations is essential for OHCHR staff to provide substantive support to conferences and meetings of the Human Rights Council and related bodies, while proximity to the Palais Wilson is important for coordinating the work of OHCHR and maintaining it as a single and coherent department. 8. The building at G. Motta 48 is estimated to accommodate 375 staff. A phased occupancy is envisaged with 130 staff occupying the new office space on 1 July 2006, followed by 50 on 1 January 2007 and another 90 by the second half of 2007. Thus, by the end of 2007, the total number of OHCHR staff occupying the new office location would be 270. This would bring the occupancy level of the Palais Wilson into close alignment with its certified capacity. Full utilization of the estimated capacity of the G. Motta building, i.e. 375 staff, may be achieved through subsequent decisions of the General Assembly on the strengthening of OHCHR as envisaged in paragraph 124 of resolution 60/1. 9. The G. Motta building is an eight-floor structure with an open-space layout that can be easily configured to meet OHCHR specifications and would be occupied entirely by OHCHR staff. The first two floors are designed to serve as reception/meeting areas and would be converted into OHCHR meeting and conference rooms. The upper six floors would be fully utilized as office accommodation for OHCHR staff. The total surface area of the building is 9,128 square metres, of which 8,110 square metres would be utilized as offices and meeting rooms and 1,018 square metres, covering the basement and technical areas, for archive and storage space and designated mechanical rooms. 10. It is understood that the lease agreement would be concluded between the Building Foundation for International Organizations and the landlord. However, as the draft agreement contains the option of a sublet to the United Nations Office at Geneva, with the obligation by the latter to take over the clauses and conditions of the contract, the draft agreement was reviewed by the United Nations Legal Liaison Office in Geneva, in consultation with the legal office of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. The salient terms and conditions of the draft lease agreement are presented below: 4 06-39955 A/60/899 (a) Annual lease and utilities costs are SwF 3,625,000 and SwF 270,000 (estimated), respectively, and would be payable in quarterly instalments in advance; (b) The lease would be for an initial period of six years and may be renewed for subsequent periods of five years. Notification of non-renewal is required 12 months prior to the date of expiration; (c) The lease cost would be adjusted annually on the basis of the Swiss consumer price index; (d) Lease payments due for the period 2006-2007 take into consideration the fact that OHCHR would only be able to gradually occupy the new premises. Under the terms of the draft agreement, the amounts payable would be as follows: one third of the annual lease cost would be payable for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2006; two thirds for the period from 1 January to 30 June 2007; and the full annual amount would be payable as of 1 July 2007. Hence, for the 18-month period from 1 July 2006 to 31 December 2007, the total cost of the lease amounts to SwF 3,625,000, equivalent to a 33.33 per cent discount 1 of the annual lease cost; (e) Partitioning and creating offices to OHCHR specifications, as well as other necessary internal modifications, would be imputed in the rent and would be at no additional charge provided that the related landlord's expenditure would not exceed SwF 1,000,000. Although the OHCHR office space plan for the entire building has yet to be finalized, it is envisaged that the total costs for partitioning and modification work would be contained within the maximum amount of SwF 1,000,000. III. Estimated resource requirements for the biennium 2006-2007 11. The total additional requirements for the biennium 2006-2007 are estimated at $10,451,400. The additional requirement from the regular budget would be $4,975,900 (net of staff assessment), after taking into account the host Government contribution ($1,540,300), the related initial appropriation ($1,175,400) approved pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/246 under section 28E, Administration, Geneva (see para. 19 below), as well as the share of OHCHR extrabudgetary resources ($2,759,800). The breakdown of the requirements is presented below. __________________ 1 Discount calculation: [1 - (SwF 3,625,000 / (SwF 3,625,000 per year x 1.5 years))] x 100 per cent = 33.33 per cent. 06-39955 5 A/60/899 Table 1 Requirements by budget section and source of funds (Thousands of United States dollars) (1) Regular budget Proposed changes 2006-2007 initial appropriation Budget section Amount Percentage Total Section 28E, Administration Geneva Section 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenanceb Section 33, Safety and security Subtotal 100 282.2a 18 380.1 190 131.4 308 793.7 2 191.5 1 592.8 1 191.6 4 975.9 2.2 8.7 0.6 1.6 102 473.7 19 972.9 191 323.0 313 769.6 (2) Other sources of funds Proposed changes 2006-2007 estimate Amount Percentage Total Extrabudgetary Host Government contribution Subtotal Total (1) and (2) a 32 200.3 -- 32 200.3 340 994.0 2 759.8 1 540.3 4 300.1 9 276.0 8.6 -- 13.3 2.7 34 960.1 1 540.3 36 500.4 350 270.0 b Inclusive of the related initial appropriation ($1,175,400) for additional OHCHR office accommodations approved pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/246. Amount reflects portion for the United Nations Office at Geneva only. 6 06-39955 A/60/899 Table 2 Resource requirements and source of funds Resources (thousands of United States dollars) 2006-2007 initial appropriation 2006-2007 initial appropriation Posts Category Change Total Change Total Regular budget Post Section 28E, Administration, Geneva Section 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenancea Section 33, Safety and security Subtotal Non-post Section 28E, Administration, Geneva Section 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenancea Section 33, Safety and security Subtotal Total regular budget Extrabudgetary Section 28E, Administration, Geneva Section 33, Safety and security Host Government contribution Total extrabudgetary and host Government Grand total a 61 921.4 -- 61 921.4 301 -- 301 -- 120 779.3 182 700.7 -- 984.0 984.0 -- 121 763.3 183 684.7 -- 928 1 229 -- 8 8 -- 936 1 237 38 360.8 2 191.5 40 552.3 -- -- -- 18 380.1 69 352.1 126 093.0 308 793.7 1 592.8 207.6 3 991.9 4 975.9 19 972.9 69 559.7 130 084.9 313 769.6 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 25 101.8 7 098.5 -- 1 959.1 800.7 1 540.3 27 060.9 7 899.2 1 540.3 94 40 -- -- 7 -- 94 47 -- 32 200.3 340 994.0 4 300.1 9 276.0 36 500.4 350 270.0 134 1 363 7 15 141 1 378 Amount reflects portion for the United Nations Office at Geneva only. 12. The amount of $4,975,900 represents the United Nations costs relating to post ($984,000, net of staff assessment) and non-post ($3,991,900) requirements for the proposed additional office premises for OHCHR. An additional amount of $232,000 would be required under section 35, Staff assessment, to be offset by an equivalent amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment. The amount of $984,000 relates to the establishment of eight Security Service posts, representing the regular budget share of the number of posts under section 33, Safety and security, necessary to ensure the security and safety coverage of the G. Motta 48 building in accordance with the Headquarters Minimum Operating Security Standards. 06-39955 7 A/60/899 13. The non-post estimated requirements of $2,191,500 under section 28E, Administration, Geneva, would provide for (a) general temporary assistance needs ($144,000) for local area and telephone network technical maintenance and for messengers and internal mail service; (b) general operating expenses ($1,986,300) to provide for rental and maintenance of premises, utilities, central communications requirements, shuttle bus service and general insurance, less the contribution of the host Government ($777,300); and (c) central supplies and materials ($22,500). In addition, the amount includes one-time requirements amounting to $816,000 for (a) general temporary assistance ($53,400) of a building management coordinator during the relocation period; (b) contractual services ($163,500) to provide for specialized services in respect of relocation costs and installation of equipment for the local area and telephone networks; and (c) office furniture and equipment ($599,100) to cover the purchase of local area network and telephone equipment and furniture. 14. The non-post estimated requirements of $1,592,800 under section 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance in Geneva, would provide for the one-time costs for compliance with the Headquarters Minimum Operating Security Standards at the new premises. This amount is net of the contribution of the host Government ($763,000) and would provide for (a) first perimeter or external security measures ($972,000) such as fence, vehicle barriers and gates, bollards, pedestrian turnstiles with access card readers, exterior cameras and guard house; (b) secondary and internal building perimeters ($1,123,800) for the purchase and installation of access control and surveillance equipment with necessary cabling, access card readers, central access control server and software licence, interior cameras with recorders and multiplexers; (c) installation of antishatter film on windows ($100,000); (d) public address system ($100,000); and (e) securing the underground garage ($60,000). 15. The non-post estimated requirements of $207,600 under section 33, Safety and security, would provide for (a) the estimated requirements for overtime, weekend premium and night differential ($130,900) arising from round-the-clock coverage of the premises; (b) costs of uniforms and standard basic personal security equipment ($42,000) for the eight proposed new security service posts; and (c) the one-time costs of the purchase of specialized security equipment ($34,700), representing the United Nations regular budget share for metal detectors, X-ray machine, motion detector system and vehicle undercarriage controlling mirror. IV. Proposed financial arrangements for the biennium 2006-2007 16. As summarized in table 3 below, the total additional requirements for the biennium 2006-2007, estimated at $10,451,400, would be financed through the combination of regular budget and extrabudgetary resources, as well as host Government contribution. 8 06-39955 A/60/899 Table 3 Resource requirements and source of funds (Thousands of United States dollars) Offset Initial appropriation resources Host Government contribution Net regular budget requirements Net extrabudgetary requirements Budget section Total requirements Net additional requirements Section 28E, Administration, Geneva Section 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance Section 33, Safety and security Total 6 103.3 (1 175.4) (777.3) 4 150.6 2 191.5 1 959.1 2 355.8 1 992.3 10 451.4 -- -- (1 175.4) (763.0) -- (1 540.3) 1 592.8 1 992.3 7 735.7 1 592.8 1 191.6 4 975.9 -- 800.7 2 759.8 17. It is expected that the host Government will provide financial contributions to facilitate the occupancy of the building by OHCHR in the estimated amount of US$1,540,300 detailed as follows: (a) Support of up to SwF 2,500,000 (approximately $1.9 million) towards meeting rental obligations until full occupancy is achieved. The host Government contribution would be determined by the actual OHCHR occupancy of the new premises as compared to the full occupancy rate. For example, from paragraph 10 (d) above, the amount due for the six-month period from 1 July to 31 December 2006 represents one third of the total annual rent. If OHCHR occupies one third of the building capacity at the time the payment is due, then the host Government contribution would be zero. However, if actual occupancy is less than one third of the building capacity, then OHCHR would be responsible for the corresponding prorated amount of the one third total annual rent due, and the host Government would subsidize the difference. The proposed total of such subsidy is estimated at $777,300 in the biennium 2006-2007, calculated on the assumption that OHCHR actual occupancy would be in line with the plan outlined in paragraph 8 above. Should actual occupancy lag behind the plan, the host Government contribution would be higher, but only up to a maximum of SwF 2,500,000; (b) Contribution of up to SwF 1,000,000 (approximately $763,000) towards the costs of exterior perimeter security protection, a part of the infrastructure work required to comply with the Headquarters Minimum Operating Security Standards. 18. A substantial number of OHCHR staff are funded through extrabudgetary resources. Therefore, it is proposed that the estimated additional requirements be funded from a combination of regular budget and extrabudgetary resources on the basis of the current ratio between regular budget (53%) and extrabudgetary (47%) staff at OHCHR, Geneva. This is in line with the existing practice of apportioning rental and operating costs of the Palais Wilson between regular budget and extrabudgetary funds. On this basis, the estimated additional requirements to be funded through OHCHR extrabudgetary resources would be $2,759,800. 06-39955 9 A/60/899 19. It will be recalled that the General Assembly had previously approved additional resources in the amount of $1,175,400 under section 28E, Administration, Geneva, for the biennium 2006-2007 by its resolution 60/246. That amount is to provide for the funding of what were then preliminary estimates for rental and maintenance of premises, utilities, central communications requirements, central supplies and materials and a one-time provision for office furniture and equipment associated with the 65 authorized additional posts for OHCHR in Geneva, as submitted by the Secretary-General in document A/60/537. This approved amount would therefore be applied to offset the gross additional requirements for the biennium 2006-2007. V. Conclusions and recommendations 20. The expanded office accommodation in Geneva for OHCHR would give rise to a total additional requirement of $10,451,400, which would be financed through a combination of regular budget resources ($4,975,900) and extrabudgetary resources ($2,759,800) on the basis of the current OHCHR staff ratio of 53 per cent regular budget to 47 per cent extrabudgetary, together with a host Government contribution of $1,540,300. 21. The United Nations net additional requirements of $4,975,900 would arise under the budget sections summarized in table 4 below. Table 4 Additional requirements for appropriation, 2006-2007 (United States dollars) Section 28E, Administration, Geneva Section 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance Section 33, Safety and security Section 35, Staff assessment Total expenditure requirements Less income section 1, Income from staff assessment Net additional requirements 2 191 500 1 592 800 1 191 600 232 000 5 207 900 232 000 4 975 900 VI. Action to be taken by the General Assembly 22. The General Assembly may wish: (a) To note with appreciation the intention of the host Government to contribute $1,540,300 towards the total requirements for additional office accommodation in Geneva for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; (b) To decide to appropriate a total additional amount of $4,975,900 under the programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, comprising $2,191,500 under section 28E, Administration, Geneva; $1,592,800 under section 32, Construction, alteration, improvement and major maintenance; $1,191,600 under section 33, Safety and security; and $232,000 under section 35, Staff assessment, to be offset by an equal amount under income section 1, Income from staff assessment. 10 06-39955 06-39955 Annex Table of comparison of commercial office premises Parking Utilities (SwF per square metre) No. Building Location Availability Surface (square metres) No. of workstations Rent (SwF per square metre) Annual rent (SwF) Security No. of Cost/space/ Standard spaces month (SwF) Compliance Comments Immediate availability 1. Vermont-Nations 2. International Computing Centre 13-17 Chemin Dunant Immediately ICC building (airport) Immediately 1 340 4 190 +/- 70 +/- 200 472.50 400.00 20.00 55.00 659 950 1 906 450 25 200 250 No 185 No Former UNHCR premises Former United Nations Compensation Commission premises Extensive renovation required Available for rental "en bloc" WIPO sublet Former Global Fund premises 3. Plantamour 18 rue Plantamour Immediately 1 340 +/- 70 821.00 60.00 1 180 540 Commercial No 4. Giuseppe Motta 5. WIPO Chambesy 6. Casai Future options 7. Montbrillant 48 rue G. Motta Av. De Tournay Av. Casai 53 Immediately Immediately Immediately 8 110 2 025a 1 500 +/- 375 +/- 100 65 432.00 700.00 450.00 33.00 70.00 60.00 3 895 000 93 250 No 2 290 750 60 (included in rent) No 765 000 20 190 No Voie Creuze Early 2007 3 500 150 515.00 70.00 2 047 500 100 200 No Under construction Close to Palais Wilson WTO annex 8. World Trade Organization Rothschild 9. Blandonnet 10. Gateway Rue Rothschild Early 2008 2 000 100 350.00 60.00 820 000 None No Chemin Blandonnet 8 2008 Av. Louis Casai 56 2008 3 000 6 900 130 300 520.00 450.00 55.00 35.00 1 725 000 3 346 500 100 100 150 No 150 No Under construction Under construction A/60/899 11 A/60/899 12 No. Building Location Availability Surface (square metres) No. of workstations Rent (SwF per square metre) Utilities (SwF per square metre) Annual rent (SwF) Parking Security No. of Cost/space/ Standard spaces month (SwF) Compliance Comments 11. Fleur d'Eau Versoix 2008 8 600 375 375.00 50.00 3 655 000 100 150 No Under construction by International Computing Centre managing agent Under construction 12. Patio Plaza a Route de Meyrin 2007 4 000 200 430.00 40.00 1 880 000 85 180 No Plus 965 square metres configured as meeting rooms. 06-39955