(Archived document, may contain errors)
323 January 20, 1984 HOW THE U.N. SPENDS ITS 1 BILLION FROM U.S.
TAXPAYERS The United Nation s now spends more than $4 billion a
year on all its far-flung agencies and operations. Exactly how much
the U.N. spends no one seems to know, for there is no consolidated
U.N. budget. Indeed, the U.N. budget resembles the budget of no
government, for ther e is no link between the burden of payment and
influence on policies. the budget, while the ruling majority, the
more than 100 nations in the so-called Group of 77, contribute
under 9 percent. There is no limit to the spending capability of
the U.N.--when a majority approves a program, it is'incorporated
into the budget-and the U.S. must pay 25 percent of it. By
contrast, the Soviet Union contributes but 10.34 percent.
Last year, U.S. contributions to the U.N. system totalled about
$1 billion. Since the U.N .Is founding in 1945, it has received at
least $14 billion from American taxpayers. this enormous outlay,
surprisingly little attention has been paid to how the money is
spent. How much of the U.S. contribution to the U.N for example,
reaches the villages and urban slums of the Third World where
American generosity is most needed? How much pays for the U.N.
administration and bureaucracy? And how much goes for the high
living at deluxe hotels during conferences in world capitals
definitively. spends Americ a n taxpayers' money by looking aT:
randomly chosen slices of the U.N. operational pie. Even this
limited survey reveals a curious set of priorities at the U.N. At
UNESCO, for example, the controversial body from which the U.S. is
resigning at the end of 19 8 4, $2,220,775 of U.S. tax money was
spent on helping Ifnational liberation movement" terrorist groups,
but only 110,250 on teaching the importance of human rights.
education for handicapped children in Africa received $12,400 in
Six nations contribute ove r 65 percent of Despite It would take an
army of auditors to answer these questions Yet it is possible to
sense hc I the United Nations UNESCO's 2 U.S. funds; curriculum
development in Pakistan received $1,800 and teacher training in
Honduras received $250 was dwarfed by the $439,887 of American
taxpayer contributions spent on travel and lodging costs of the
UNESCO President and Executive Board But all of that U.N. political
programs seem to do better at garnering funds than do delivery of
services. Take, f o r example, the Southwest Africa People's
Organization SWAPO the mainly terrorist organi zation that wants to
impose its rule on Southwest Africa (also known as Namibia U.S.
taxes funded $149,550 worth of operations for SWAPO's New York City
office, part o f the $514,450 the U.S provided for the U.N. Council
for Namibia (which includes substan- tial outlays to SWAPO By
contrast, the World Health Organization spent only 7,850 U.S.
contributed funds on the Committee on International Surveillance of
Communicabl e Diseases 9,250 on road traffic accident prevention
150,000 on training traditional birth attendants; and 265,200 on
maternal and child health.
The priorities at the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) are among the most puzzling in the U.N. system. It spends
9,070,675 in U.S. contributions on.maintaining its perma- nent
offices, plus $1,046,675 for conferences, and $314,050 for
consultants, but by comparison a modest $284,500 on programs to
expand and promote world trade and $875,375 for en c ouraging
economic cooperation among developing countries. Department of
Public Information 1,627,550 of U.S. taxes go for I public
information contacts 407,175 for publicity supplies information
assistants. The U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF meanwhile, seem s to
tilt dramatically toward Africa. It spends 723,905 of U.S. tax
money on child nutrition in Africa 2,443,127 for formal education
in Africa; and $952,577 for social welfare services in Africa. By
contrast, only $24,233 of U.S. taxes are spent by UNICEF on social
welfare services for children in all of East Asia and Pakistan
22,470 on child nutrition in the Americas 110,150 on 'abandoned
street children in Latin America and the Caribbean; and $119,182 on
formal education in the Americas At the U.N 1,014, 9 25 for DPI's
office in Geneva, but a puny $9,100 to train I These and other
examples of how the U.N.-spends American taxpayers' money are found
on the following pages 3 United States Contributions to the United
Nations in 1982 Assessed contributions Agenc y U.S. Amount United
Nations International Labor Organization Food and Agriculture
Organization United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization World Health Organization International Civil Aviation
Organization Universal Postal Union Inter n ational
Telecommunication Union World Meteorological Organization
International Maritime Organization World Intellectual Property
International Atomic Energy Agency United Nations Emergency Force
United Nations Interim Force in Organization Lebanon 201,14 4 ,200
29,755,800 47,815,100 69,173,300 76,640,700 5,887,600 410,800
2,666,500 4,980,600 489,900 632,800 16,268,100 9,612,700 54,496,800
TOTAL Voluntary Contributions Agency United Nations Force in Cyprus
United Nations Children's Fund United Nations Develo p ment Program
United Nations Educational and Training Program for Southern Africa
United Nations Environment Program United Nations Institute for
Namibia United' Nations Institute for United Nations Capital
Development Fund World Food Program Fund for Drug Abuse Control
United Nations Fund for Population United Nations High Commissioner
United Nations Relief and Works Agency Special Programs United
Nations Trust Fund for United Nations Volunteers WHO Special
Programs Training and Research Activities for Ref u gees South
Africa 519,974,900 U.S. Amount 9,000,000 54,675,547 127,300,000
1,000,000 490,000 7,839,010 422,000 79,976,600 2,000,000 2,000,000
33,760,000 120,435,254 67,000,000 16,500.,000 343,000 8,000,000
200,000 Percent 25 .OO 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 29 . 47 4.72 7.00
24.57 4.35 7.97 25.81 27.20 27.20 Percent 30.51 22.03 19.14 27.59
26.13 21.56 27.46 7.45 26.26 29.77 26.12 33.34 37.57 49.98 16.27
13.14 8.08 4 Agency WMO Program United Nations Administered United
Nations Trust Fund Trust Fund International L abor Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organization World Health Organization
World Meteorological Organization International Atomic Energy
Agency U.S. Amount 2,241,482 6,661,300 13,848,300 2 , 800 8,408,800
1,252,700 3,222,500 578,600 9,888 100 TOTAL $577,045 993 Total
Assessed Contributions 519,974,9001 Total Voluntary Contributions
577,045 9932 TOTAL 1982 U.S. Contributions to the United Nations
$1,097,020,893 I Percent 26.14 i 25.00 25.00 Vo l untary 'cont r
ibut io to assessed agency If lFigures from United Nations 1982
report 2Figures from Department of State 1982 report 5 The
following are samples from recent U.N. budgets, with U.S.
contributions based on State Department figures. Included a r e
expenditures from U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO p. 8 U.N.
Environment Program (UNEP p. 9 International Labor Organization
(ILO p. 10 UNESCO p. 6 U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UN
IDO p. 11 World Health Organization WHO p. 12;.
U.N. peacekeeping group in Lebanon (UNIFIL p.14 International
Ci.vil Aviation Organization (ICAO p. 15 U.N. Center for'Human
Settlements (HABITAT p. 15 U.N..Fund and Council for Namibia, p. 16
U.N. Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD p. 16 U.N High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR p 17 U.N. Department of Public'
Information (UNDPI p. 18 U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF p.19 U.N.
spending on human rights, p. 20 6 United Nations Educational,
Scientific and C ultural Organization UNESCO 1981-1983 PROGRAM
Education Respect for Human Rights.
Aid to Refugees and such "national liberation movementsgt as the
Palestine Liberation Organization, Southwest Africa People's
Organization and African National Council.
Regi onal conference on educational policy and cooperation in
Arab states to discuss overhauling primary and adult education U.S.
SHARE 110 250 2,220,775 76,850 Meeting on the less'developed
countries (LDC) needs and priorities in regard to education to
discus s needs and priorities in repect to educational development
14,375 Pros ects, quarterly review of education a- inc u ing new
editions in Arabic and Russian.
International Education Reporting Service on Educational
Innovation 68 775 159 275 Modernization of educational methods in
China 84,175 Beijing (Peking) Foreign Languages Institute 33,100
Curriculum development and production of teaching aids and
equipment in Pakistan 1,800 Technical education in Lebanon.
Special educational advisor in Haiti. I 258,775 25 950 Teacher
training in Honduras 250 Contribution to strategies for the
implemen tation of national. literacy and post-literacy programs
588,125 Conference on Status of Women and Participa tion of Women
in Development 1,144,000 Family life education i n Malaysia 2 750 7
Regional Office for Education. in Africa New trends in science and
technology education 38,743 Education for handicapped children 12
400 Stationery and office supplies 19 550 Regional Office in Latin
America and Caribbean Teaching human r ights 7 400 New trends in
science and technology education 38,743 Stationery and office
supplies 10 225 UNESCO General Conference, Executive Board, and
Directorate Interpretation services (Arabic, Chinese, English,
French, Russian, and Spanish) from the 2 2 nd ordinary conference
in addition to language and document services provided by regular
staff 208 400 Chauffeur and maintenance of motor vehicles for
President of General Conference 4 550 Travel and per diem for
Executive Board and President 439 a87 Inte r pretation services for
Executive Board 383 , 587 Medals conferred by Directorate Salaries
of headquarters staff 7 700 3,967,350 Salaries of field staff 283
275 8 Food and Agriculture Orqanization FA0 1984-1985 PROGRAM
Technical and Economic Programs Genet ic resources To provide
secretariat services for the International Board for Plant Genetic
Resources and to. support the development of a global network on
crop gene'tic resources. The program includes activities in Africa,
East Asia, and Latin America.
Crop Improvement and Management Program.
Animal health.
Meat development. Particular emphasis on promoting small-scale
village industries based on slaughterhouse products and
by-products.
Rural Institutions and Employment. Periodic reviews of rural
development policies and programs to alleviate rural poverty, to
assess the causes and incidence of landlessness among the rural
poor and to aid manpower planning.
World Food Security. New approaches to achieve
greater,collective self-reliance in basic food- stuffs.
Tree Improvement and Plantation, to increase production of
industrial wood, fuelwood, fodder and food, and for soil and water
conser- vation.
Fuelwood Program.
Support Services Library.
Publications, including technical studies and periodicals on
nutrition, food, and agriculture.
Computer service.
Rent and maintenance of premises.
Cleaning and utilities U.S. SHARE 181,000 $939 250 932 I 250 271
000 859 250 936 I 250 121 250 267,000 1 228 500 929,250 $303 250
754,250 1,075,000 Furniture, equip ment, and vehicles 539,000 9
United'Nations Environment Program mp 1982-1983 PROGRAM Overall
Comprehensive Costs Permanent posts and offices.
Consultants.
Temporary assistance at meetings.
Travel of representatives.
Rental/maintenance of premises.
Rental/maintenance of equipment.
Hospitality.
Supplies and materials U.S SHARE 1 580 525 82 I 753 I I 273 920
I I 47 948 14 841 72 144 3 213 96 158 Policymaking Organs
Conference servicing costs 28 743 Supplies and materials 23 830
Travel of representati ves and staff 14 162 Hospitality at official
functions 3 213 Temporary Assistance 31 interpreters for 14 days
285 per day/ interpreter of which U.S. pays $75 79 601 5 revisers
for four months to work on documentation before, during, and after
the meetings 271 per day/reviser of which U.S. pays 70 28 377 5
typists for four months 180 per day/typist of which U.S. pays $47
18 813 Travel 33,054 15 interpreters for 5 days ($350 per
day/inter- preter which U.S. $91 6 846 Secretariat of the U.N.
Scientific Commit t ee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation Permanent
offices 92 I 369 10 Travel; 11 members are entitled to first-class
travel 9 to economy 38 959 Furniture and equipment 600
Environmental Programs Environmental Assessment 3,649,li06 Human
Settlements and Huma n Health including report on guidelines on
hazardous chemicals 446 I 352 Environment and Development. Includes
reports on progress in devising and implementing approaches for
incorporation of the environmental objectives into development
planning and proce ss in Papua New Guinea 1982) and Cuba (1983 921
108 International Labor Organization ILO 1984-1985 PROGRAM Chinese
language services.
Printing of Report on Apartheid.
Conference of American States Members of the ILO.
Two Country Studies on the Trade Union Situation in Europe.
Research and technical services for wider awareness and fuller
observance of ILO standards on forced labor.
Program on Equality of Rights.
Promoting Awareness of Women Workers' Problems and adoption of
appropriate policies.
National and international aspects of employ- ment and
development policy as they relate to disarmament.
Rural women's development and employment program.
Policies for the improvement of working conditions and workers'
welfare U.S. SHARE 505,000 98 I 000 53 227 46,987 $237 150 85 488
30 692 76 385 185,062 11 Work-related welfare facilities and
services To promote access of workers and their families to such
work-related facilities and services, such as canteens, workers'
housing, transport, and child-care facilities 106 158 Internal
services. Includes drivers, messen- gers, meeting room staff,
cleaning and removal services 806,460 Security services. Includes
Security Officer night watchman, door-keeper, car park attendant,
and receptionist, 13 people in all 311 475 Editing, translation,
and revision. For 2 publications resulting from sessions of ILO
conference and for other ILO publications.
General workers' education To provide workers' educational
manual on occupational safety and health a guide for services pro-
vided to youth by trade unions; and a Labour 1,447,627 Education
Bulletin published 4 times yearly 342 115 United Nations
1ndustrial.Development O rganization UNIDO 1h82-1983 PROGRAM Gener
a1 Overall language training.
Travel of participants to meetings and official travel of
staff.
Programs Consultations on Industrial Development including
fertilizers, iron and steel, leather and leather products,
vegetable oils and fats petrochemicals, agricultl-zral machinery,
pharmaceuticals, food processing, capital goods, industrial
financing, and industrial manpower Follow-up meetings to the
consultation on fertilizer, petrochemical, pharinaceutical, and
food processing industries U.S. SHARE 49 725 768,500 1,046,475 12
500 Consulting services. To prepare background tation Meetings
papers on issues to be considered at Consul- These activities will
require 12 53 consultants for an average of 1.9 man- months each ,
or $1,29O/month per consultant UNIDO representation at General
Assembly, and other forums.
Local travel within U.S. to establish liaison with government
representatives.
Development and Transfer of Technology. Publications on
development of technology policies geared to developing countries;
implementation and monitoring of recommendations on transfer of
technology.
Consulting services. To undertake global studies.of long-term
development issues.
Consulting services of a report on appropriate technolog ies and
their transfer to developing countries. TO assist in preparation
PROGM 135 000 17 , 500 8 I 750 544,725 20 000 1 250 World Health
Organization WHO 1964-1985 U.S. SHARE Committee on international
surveillance of communicable diseases.
Strengthening of national health development
centers/networks.
Study on women as providers of health care.
Involvement and training of traditional birth attendants.
World Health Magazine.
Maternal and child health, including family planning.
Human reproduction res rch.
Health of the -elderly.
Prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases.
Prevention and control of acute respiratory infections 7 850 77
, 000 90,625 150 000 235,750 $265,200 8,011,750 93 250 12 , 500 13
Road traffic accident prevention 9,250 Development of accident
safety technology 38 500 Alternative approaches to day-care of
children 28,750 Programs on alcohol problems in the employ- ment
setting 21 200 Prevention and management of alcohol problems in the
family se t ting 14,125 Global promotion and cooperation in water
supply and sanitation 32 725 Assessment of health hazards
associated with technological development lo 250 Epidemiological
study of skin cancer induced by ultraviolet radiation 175,000
Immunization pro g ram 76 050 Informal consultation on disinsecting
of vessels and aircraft 6 325 Tropical disease research and
development examples; Malaria 2,848,750 Schistosomiasis (river
blindness 1,076,750 African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness
1,141,500 Advisory g r oup on the prevention of blindness 11,800
Medium Term Program (1984.1989) on cancer 6,502,350 Research,
development, and'training on smoking control 8 250 14 United
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL January 19 July 19, 1983
PROGRAM Daily allowance t o troops 1.28 per day of which U.S. pays
356 per man per day, payable in local currency).
Rations to troops estimated at 4.84 of which U.S. pays $1.32 per
man Average daily ration cost Rental of four helicopters from
Italy.
Tents 25.00 per square meter of which U.S pays $6.80 Furnishings
and mess equipment, stoves, ovens freezers meat slicers, potato
peelers, food mixers tables lamps chairs sofas beds wardrobes, and
other accomodations and dining equipment.
Spare parts and maintenance for motor vehicles.
Clothing and uniforms.
Sandbags 150,000 at approximately 44C each Barbed wire, 750
rolls.
Flypaper.
Flags and decals Toilet paper.
Paper towels.
Haircutting for military personnel U.N. medal sets U.S. SHARE
422 144 1,515,040 353 328 40 800 57 936 1,751,680 204,272 18,,224 6
800 544 1 224 7 480 5 576 4,651 3 808 Maps 1 632 Pay for troops.
Standard rate of $950 per man-month for all ranks, plus a su
pplement of 280 per man per month for a limited number of
specialists 10,813,088 I1 15 International Civil Aviation
Organization ICAO 1983 PROGRAM Air Navigation Meetings Books and
periodicals.
Salaries and wages of professional and general service
posts.
Travel of headquarters staff and dependents.
Travel on home leave.
Hospitality.
Stationery.
Public information mailing U.S. SHARE 68 125 9 500 4,082,500 22
500 53 000 800 11 250 99,000 United Nations Center for Human
S.ettlements HABITAT 1982-1983 PRO GRAM U.S. SHARE Travel of
representatives of policymaking organs 9,150 Travel of executive
staff.
Executive staff furniture and equipment.
Travel of staff to attend meetings related to human settlements
activities 15,425 850 11,650 Settlement planning. tion and
environmental policies.
Travel of programs staff In relation to popula 361 975 23 275 16
I United Nations Council for Namibia 1982-1983 PROGRAM U.N. Fund
for Namibia U.N. Council for Namibia. Includes office for SWAPO,
the Namibian guerrilla and terrorist group.
Consultants.
Travel of representatives.
Other official travel for staff SWAPO Office in New York.
Section 14 of P.L. 98-164 restricts U.S contributions to the
U.N. for activities benefitting the PLO and SWAPO, these monies
were not withheld this year Even though U.S. SHARE 4,025,000
514,450 30,625 229,200 $186 150 149,550 U.N. Conference on Trade
and Development UNCTAD) 1982-1983 PROGRAM U.S. SHARE Comprehensive
Costs Executive officers and management.
Program for the transfer of technology.
Program for economic cooperation among developing countries.
Program support for conferences.
Permanent posts Consultants official travel of staff.
Hospi tality.
External financing and international monetary issues 1,126,350
1,000,975 875 375 1,046,675 $9,070,675 314,050 378,725 8,025 737
050 Interrelationships among trade, development money and finance,
and co ntribution to the 17 International Development Strategy.
Including reports on interdependence and global development issues
357,225 Liberalization of government barriers to trade.
Includes helping developing countries parti- cipate in trade
negotiations 3 69,900 Export development and structural adjustment.
Includes an evaluation of world economy changes relevant to
developing countries and technical publications on the role of
intra-industry trade in bringing about positive structural
adjustment in the wo rld economy 523 125 Trade expansion and
promotion 284,500 Administrative and Common Services Hospitality 5
275 Supplies and materials 299 225 Permanent posts 679,425 U.N.
Hiqh Commissioner for Refugees u-"CR 1982-1983 PROGRAM Nearly 1,000
posts.
Travel of staff U.S. SHARE 4,722,400 376,125 Hospitality 21 450
Furniture and equipment 5'5 I 475 Directing and coordinating the
protection of refugees 390,450 Regional coordination at
headquarters 1,118,975 Regular field operations. 74 field officers
arid 8 corres p ondents promoting liberal asylum policies and an
adequate legal status for refu- gees. They also examine and advise
headquarters concerning U"CR requests for assistance 4,003,675
Contractual services. To finance special events, field projects,
news agency services, photo- graphic production costs and
television/film production, promotion and distribution costs 18 450
18 U.N. Department of Public Information mpI 1 1982-1983 PROGRAM
Permanent posts.
Travel.
Editors -roundtables.
Training ,of information assistants.
Public information contractsI Pouch service U.S. SHARE 8,020,425
266,400 17,675 9 100 1,627,550 202,650 Hospitality 27,075 Public
information supplies 407,175 Public information equipment 306,550
Radio and Visual Services Division. Includes tele vision news
summaries of U.N. events, 7,OOO'radio news programs on U.N. events,
photo coverage of meetings, in-depth media infomation 6,200 radio
programs in 18 languages covering the entire range of U.N
activities with a daily quarter-hour program dealin g with U.N.
efforts against apartheid and dissemination of information.
Press and Publications Division. Includes publi shing booklets,
pamphlets, and leaflets on the U.N. and its activities, disarmament
and international security, racial discrimi- nation, apartheid,
decolonization, Namibia, and the New International Economic
Order.
Information Service, Geneva.
Information Centers 4,948,050 $2,160,125 $1,014,925 4,901,000 19
U.N. Children's Fund UNICEF 1984-1985 PROGRAM Abandoned and street
children in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Promotion and development of women in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Child health in Africa.
Child nutrition in Africa.
Child nutrition in the Americas.
Social welfare services for children in Africa.
Social welfare services for children in East Asia and
Pakistan.
Formal education in Africa.
Formal education in the Americas.
Administration Travel by the Office of the Executive
Director.
Fund raising.
Editorial and publications services. Includes publication of:
UNICEF News (quarterly State of the World's Children and press kit
annual I UNICEF Report (annual Child Reference Bulletin (quarterly
and Facts about UNICEF (annual).
Photo and exhibit services based in New York.
Information services based in Geneva.
Personnel services, New York Recruitment and pliisement U.S.
SHARE 110 150 209 285 3,2w,agi 723 90 5 22 470 952 I 577 24,233
2,443,127 119 182 129 536 355 674 840 ai9 203 975 245 083 1 023 ,
734 448,222 I 20 Division on Human Rights PROGRAM U.S. SHARE
Overall Established posts.
Travel of representatives and other official travel of staff
There are 81 posts.
Hospitality.
Policymaking organs Human rights committee honoraria the 18
members of the Committee 3,000 per year for 17 members and $5,000
per year for the Chairman).
Travel of representatives and staff to Human Rights Cbmmission
Payable to 1,711, 750 210,600 375 28,000 105,475 Human Rights
Activities Standard-setting, research, studies, and preven tion of
discrimination. Work on drafting a declaration on the elimination
of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or
belief; on drafting a convention against torture and other cruel,
inhuman, or degrading treatment or punis,hment; on drafting a
conven tion on the riqhts of the child; and on draft ing a
declaration on the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic,
religious, and linguistic minorities 577 250 Implementation of the
Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination.
Organization of seminars and studies on the subject, including
Report to the Sub-Commission on ways and means of ensuring the
implementation of U.N. resolutions on apartheid, racism, and racial
discrimination 432,925 Melanie Merkle Research Assistant }{ \f1
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