United Nations Office at Vienna: Audit of UNOV/UNODC Administration of Entitlements (AE2004-365-01), 4 May 2005
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United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (UN OIOS) 4 May 2005 report titled "Audit of UNOV/UNODC Administration of Entitlements [AE2004-365-01]" relating to the Office at Vienna. The report runs to 12 printed pages.
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UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM MEMORANDUM INTERIEUR
AUD II-7-4:6(AE 103/05) 4 May 2005
TO: Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna
FROM: Egbert C. Kaltenbach, Director
Internal Audit Division II
Office of Internal Oversight Services
SUBJECT: Audit of UNOV/UNODC Administration of Entitlements
(AE2004/365/01)
1. I am pleased to submit the final Audit Report on the audit of UNOV/UNODC
Administration of Entitlements, which was conducted from 22 November to 7 December
2004 in Vienna by Mr. Berner Matthee and Mr. Girma Gina.
2. A draft of the report was shared with the Director, Division for Management, and
UNODC on 19 January 2005, whose comments, which we received on 25 February 2005,
are reflected in the final report.
3. I am pleased to note that most of the audit recommendations contained in the final
Audit Report have been accepted and that UNOV has initiated their implementation. The
table in paragraph 33 of the report identifies those recommendations, which require further
action to be closed. I wish to draw your attention to recommendations 03 and 05, which
OIOS considers to be of critical importance.
4. I would appreciate if you could provide me with an update on the status of
implementation of the audit recommendations not later than 31 May 2005. This will
facilitate the preparation of the twice-yearly report to the Secretary-General on the
implementation of recommendations, required by General Assembly Resolution 48/218B.
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5. Please note that OIOS is assessing the overall quality of its audit process. I therefore
kindly request that you consult with your managers who dealt directly with the auditors,
complete the attached client satisfaction survey and return it to me.
6. Thank you for your cooperation.
Attachment: Client Satisfaction Survey
cc: Mr. A. Toh, Officer-in-Charge, Department of Management
Mr. K. Eriksson, Audit Focal Point, UNODC (by e-mail)
Mr. S. Goolsarran, Executive Secretary, UN Board of Auditors
Ms. A. Couzian, Deputy Director of External Audit (aecouzian@ccomptes.fr)
Mr. M. Tapio, Programme Officer, OUSG, OIOS (by e-mail)
Ms. C. Ch�vez, Chief, Geneva Audit Section (by e-mail)
Mr. B. Matthee, Auditor-in-Charge (by e-mail)
Mr. D. Ti�ana, Auditing Assistant (by e-mail)
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United Nations
Office of Internal Oversight Services
Internal Audit Division II
Audit Report
Audit of UNOV/UNODC Administration of
Entitlements
(AE2004/365/01)
Report No. E05/R03
Report date: 4 May 2005
Auditors: Berner Matthee
Girma Gina
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UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES
Office of Internal Oversight Services
Internal Audit Division II
AUDIT OF UNOV/UNODC ADMINISTRATION OF ENTITLEMENTS
(AE2004/365/01)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In November and December 2004, OIOS conducted an audit of the UNOV/UNODC
Administration of Entitlements. The audit covered activities with a total expenditure of $10.5
million in 2003 and 2004. UNOV has accepted most of the recommendations made and is in
the process of implementing them.
Administration of entitlements
� The Staff Administration Unit of HRMS generally discharged its responsibilities
effectively.
Dependency allowance
� The IMIS database included 94 children between the ages 18 to 21, who must be "full-
time students" to qualify for dependency. For 61 of these children, the student status was
not reflected. Furthermore, in several cases it was doubtful that the children were "full-time
students". Considering the financial implications, all 94 cases need to be followed up. The
Staff Administration Unit of HRMS is following up.
Education grant
� Education grant claims in respect of school children were complete and accurate, and
schools duly completed the form "Certificate of Attendance and Costs and Receipt for
Payments" (P.41). However, some universities did not complete the required P.41 forms,
and the accuracy and completeness of information in the P.41s that were submitted
without supporting documents could not be verified. The P.41 reduces administrative
work and there was only one case in the audit sample where the P.41 had contradictory
information. But considering the financial risks presented by inaccurate or incomplete
information on the P.41, staff members should be asked to submit proof of payments
made to universities.
� Two cases were noted where staff members had adopted blood relatives. In the one case,
the children remained in the custody of the natural parent after the adoption and in the
other case the child was adopted at the age of 15. The UN Regulations and Rules
regarding adoption and dependency are quite vague and ambiguous, but an implicit pre-
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requisite for adoption is that the child resides with the staff member. OIOS is concerned
about adoptions, where ties between the staff member and the adopted child appear to be
limited to mere financial support at the expense of the organization.
Other entitlements
� No exceptions were found during the audit of mobility, hardship and non-removal
allowances, assignment and repatriation grants, home leave and family visit as well as
language allowance.
May 2005
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER Paragraphs
I. INTRODUCTION 1-5
II. AUDIT OBJECTIVES 6
III. AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY 7-8
IV. AUDIT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 9 � 32
A. Education grant 9-28
(a) Claims submitted by staff members 10-15
(b) Non-compliance 16-23
(c) Adoption of children 24-28
B. Dependency allowance
(a) Discrepancies in the dependency status as per IMIS 29-31
C. Other entitlements 32
V. FURTHER ACTIONS REQUIRED ON RECOMMENDATIONS 33
VI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 34
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I. INTRODUCTION
1. From 22 November to 7 December 2004, OIOS conducted an audit of UNOV/UNODC
Administration of Entitlements. The audit was conducted in accordance with the International
Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.
2. The Staff Administration Unit, that is part of the Human Resources Management
Service (HRMS) under the Division for Management of UNODC, handles the administration
of entitlements. The Staff Administration Unit is staffed with two professional staff
comprising Chief of Unit, P-4 and one Human Resources Officer, P-3. There are 12 General
Service staff members of whom five administer the entitlements of 1,380 staff members. The
remaining seven positions perform other administrative functions.
3. An overall summary of the entitlements paid in 2003 and 2004 (until 30 September
2004) is presented below:
ENTITLEMENT EXPENDITURE ($000) No. of staff in receipt
2003 and 2004 of entitlement
Dependency allowance 3,400 490
Education grant (including 3,020 122
education grant travel)
Repatriation grant 852 36
Rental subsidy 801 175
Hardship allowance 582 54
Non-removal allowance 510 172
Mobility 472 55
Language allowance 392 137
Assignment grant 259 18
Home leave and Family visit 231 28
TOTAL 10,519 1,287
4. At UNOV and UNODC, the main entitlements, in cost terms, are education grant and
the dependency allowance that, together, accounted for more than 60 per cent of the total
expenditure of entitlements.
5. The findings and recommendations contained in this report were discussed during the
Exit Conference held on 7 December 2004 with the Director, Division for Management, the
Chief, Human Resources Management Service, the Chief, Financial Resources Management
Service and the Head of the Staff Administration Unit. A draft of this report was shared with
the Director, Division for Management, on 19 January 2005, whose comments have been
reflected in the report in italics. UNODC has accepted most of the recommendations made
and is in the process of implementing them.
II. AUDIT OBJECTIVES
6. The overall objective of the audit was to evaluate the adequacy of arrangements for
handling staff entitlements. It involved:
(a) Assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of UNOV/UNODC arrangements for
handling staff entitlements;
(b) Reviewing compliance with UN Regulations, Rules and Administrative
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2
Instructions; and
(c) Assessing the integrity of IMIS data.
III. AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
7. The audit covered entitlements paid in 2003 and 2004 (until 30 September 2004)
amounting to $10.5 million. Through a review of the payments and risks associated with the
entitlement, a sample was selected per entitlement. The main criterion was compliance with
UN Staff Regulations and Rules as well as Administrative Instructions. The second set of
criteria pertains to processing and payments in terms of:
� Timeliness of processing of staff members' entitlements.
� Accuracy and completeness of payments of entitlements.
8. The audit activities included a review of IMIS data, discussions with staff in the Staff
Administration Unit and a review of personnel files.
IV. AUDIT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Education grant
9. Education grant is payable to cover part of the educational expenses of an expatriate's
dependent children.
(a) Claims submitted by staff members
10. Except for three cases audited, staff members duly completed the form "Request for
payment of education grant and/or advance against education grant" and submitted the
required "Certificate of Attendance and Costs and Receipt for Payments" (P.41). The latter
certificate is completed and certified by the educational institution and provides evidence to
support three important requirements, i.e. the period of full time attendance at the educational
institution (eligibility), a breakdown of the costs incurred (admissible expenses) and amounts
paid (evidence of payment).
11. In two cases, the P.41s were not submitted and although HRMS relied on other
supporting documentation that OIOS found adequate to support the claims, it is not in
compliance to the rules. Although only two cases, the cases demonstrate the difficulties that
the requirements, in ST/IC/2002/5 that are rather strict. It provides that where the P.41
certificate cannot be obtained from the educational institution, the staff member must submit
a "Certificate of School Attendance" form (P.41/B), together with receipted school bills.
Interaction with the institution is still obligatory, because a responsible official of the
educational institution should certify the documents. In fact, as in the P.41, the same level of
assurance is obtained from the certificate on P.41/B and the required school bills. Therefore,
a claim cannot be accepted without certification from the educational institution.
12. HRMS informed us that Austrian Universities do not complete P.41s, because actual
attendance is not mandatory in Austria. In these particular cases, the fees were also nominal
and HRMS questioned the need for the required forms. HRMS felt that, where only nominal
expenses are involved, the financial returns that would be gained would not warrant the
administrative overheads incurred in efforts to obtain these forms. OIOS wishes to point out
that, while tuition fees may be only nominal, the claim consists of more than the mere amount
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3
of tuition paid to the educational institution: there are lump sum amounts, such as cost of
board and books. Therefore, a staff member should make every effort to obtain the required
certificates or proof of attendance (e.g. through submission of examination certificates). If
impossible, HRMS should record the circumstances in a note for the file that should be
submitted to FRMS for review during the settlement of the claim.
Recommendation:
The HRMS, UNODC should, ensure that the required P.41 or P.41/B
certifications are submitted with education grant claims. In cases where
it is not possible to obtain the afore-mentioned forms from an
educational institution, a note for the file to that effect should accompany
the claim to FRMS for its review and settlement of the claim (Rec. 01).
13. OIOS will consider the recommendation implemented when it receives a copy of the
revised procedure to ensure submission of the required forms and requirements.
14. Except for confirmation that a student was "in full time attendance", the other
requirements, i.e. evidence of payment and admissible expenses can be obtained from
vouchers of payment, bills etc. The P.41 certification certainly reduces the intervention of the
administration substantially, i.e. the checking of vouchers, calculations and review of claims.
The problem is that the P.41 certification could be incorrect or invalid and there is no
supporting evidence required to substantiate the information therein. Even if there is
suspicion that the information could be incorrect, there is no procedure in place to follow up
the issue with the educational institution. This is a risk that the administration should
manage. For example, the international schools in Vienna prepare numerous P.41s and it was
evident that they duly complete the forms. However, two cases reviewed and where the
students studied at universities, the P.41s either included inaccurate or contradictory
information. In one case, additional bills were submitted and the administration corrected the
claim. In the other claim (Index Number 115836), the submitted P.41s included contradictory
information. The staff member left the Organization and therefore, further follow-up would
not serve any purpose. At UNOG, staff members have to submit, in addition to the required
P.41, proof of payment to the educational institution. Although this increases the reviews and
verifications, it may be worthwhile for HRMS to consider the same requirement in the case of
universities.
Recommendation:
The HRMS, UNODC should, considering the risks attached to an
incomplete or inaccurate P.41, request staff members to submit proof of
payments made to universities (Rec. 02).
15. OIOS will consider the recommendation implemented when it receives a copy of the
instruction requiring proof of payments to universities.
(b) Non-compliance
Child's dependent status is questionable
16. Education grants and dependency allowances were paid to a staff member (Index
Number 12198) for a child who was not a dependent child as defined in the rules pertaining to
education grant (Staff Rule 103.20) or that of dependency (Staff Rule 103.24).
17. A child is defined as "a child of a staff member who is dependent on the staff member
for main and continuing support" (Staff Rule 103.20 (a)(i)) as far as the education grant is
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4
concerned. According to Staff Rule 103.24, the "dependent child" is defined as either a
natural or legally adopted child.
18. A legal opinion was obtained in July 1997, following a request from the staff member to
recognise the child as a dependent child, in the context of Staff Rule 103.24. In August 1997,
HRMS recognized that guardianship would normally not be sufficient to recognize a child as
a dependant under Staff Rule 103.24, but considering the unusual circumstances, it was
approved that the child should be recognized as a dependant.
19. OIOS does not question the relationship, legally (the staff member exercises parental
authority given to him by a court of law and according to correspondence, the authority is
indefinite) or otherwise, between the staff member and the child, but OIOS does not find the
child to be a child of the staff member as defined in the Staff Rules. The child is neither a
natural or adopted child. OIOS is of the opinion that this case was an exception to Staff Rule
103.24 and should have been referred to the Secretary-General for approval pursuant to Staff
Rule 112.2 and ST/AI/234 Rev. 1 of 22 March 1989.
Recommendation:
The Division for Management, UNODC should seek the approval of the
Secretary-General, pursuant to Staff Rule 112.2, to exceptionally grant
dependency status to the staff member (Index Number 12198) in respect
of a child who is not a child of the staff member as defined in Staff Rule
103.24 (Rec. 03).
20. HRMS stated that this was indeed a very exceptional case and will seek OHRM's
guidance on the best course of action, taking into consideration the interest of the
Organization and that of the child.
21. OIOS will consider the recommendation as implemented when it receives a copy of
decision on the case by the Secretary-General.
Education grant paid to pre-primary student
22. According to Section 2 (a) of Administrative Instruction ST/AI/999/4 (replaced by
ST/AI/2004/2), education is deemed "primary" when the child is five years or older at the
beginning of the school year, or when the child reaches five within three months of the
beginning of the school year. In one case, an education grant of $6,470 was paid to a staff
member (Index Number 382808) for a child who attended a school at the pre-primary level
and did not reach the age of 5 within three months of the beginning of the school year. OIOS
determined that the payment was not in compliance to the rules and FRMS should recover the
amount.
Recommendation:
The FRMS, UNODC should recover the amount of $6,470 from the staff
member (Index Number 382808) who was incorrectly paid an education
grant per PYEG 1141in respect of a child that had not reached five years
of age within three months of the beginning of the school year and
therefore did not meet the criteria of "primary" education as per Section
2 (a) of Administrative Instruction ST/AI/1999/4, now ST/AI/2004/2.
(Rec. 04).
23. HRMS will seek advice from OHRM as to whether recovery is necessary. OIOS will
consider the recommendation as implemented when it receives a copy of the proof of recovery
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5
of the incorrectly paid education grant.
(c) Adoption of children
24. The term "adopted child" is not defined in the Rules or in any Administrative
Instruction, but it is generally accepted that adoption is an action sanctioned by a court of law.
Naturally, the reasons for adoption vary and the legal requirements for adoption may also
differ from country to country.
25. The audit noted a case where the staff member adopted two of his one brother's children
and another child from another brother, but the children remained in the custody of the
brothers. OIOS suggested that UNODC and UNOV should consider extending the
requirement of continuous support to more than mere financial support in cases where
children are adopted after the staff member's appointment, and especially where children of
family members are adopted and continue to live with their natural parents.
26. UNODC stated that the rules were followed. According to UNODC, it was not possible
for HRMS to determine whether children have been adopted merely for financial reasons.
HRMS recognizes the adoption if all conditions laid down in the policy are met and cannot be
expected to make subjective assessments.
27. Also, from the replies received on matters raised in the draft report, a further adoption
case was noted where a child, age 15, was adopted from "collateral relative by blood in three
generations".
28. OIOS recognizes that it is difficult for HRMS to adequately follow up on the cases
and/or to establish extended requirements. Nevertheless, OIOS is concerned about cases
where the ties between the staff member and the adopted child appear to be limited to mere
financial support at the expense of the organization.
B. Dependency allowance
(a) Discrepancies in the dependency status as per IMIS
29. IMIS listed 94 children who were 18 to 21 years of age. The children must be "full-
time students" for staff members to qualify for the dependency allowance. However, the
student statuses of 64 of the children were not indicated and up-to-date in IMIS, but it was
indicated that they were students. There were cases in which no education grant claims were
submitted in 2003 or 2004, i.e. Index Numbers 177353 and 177400 and where there was no
evidence that the child was in "full-time attendance".
30. The list of 94 dependants needs to be reviewed and where children are not students in
"full-time attendance", recovery may be necessary. HRMS was in the process of following up
on three of the cases. The 64 cases in which the student statuses were not up-to-date should
be revised.
Recommendations:
The Staff Administration Unit of HRMS, UNODC should review the
complete list of the children between the ages of 18 to 21 shown by IMIS
as dependants to ensure that they are "full-time students" (Rec. 05).
31. OIOS will consider the recommendations implemented when it receives information on
the result of the review of these data.
C. Other entitlements
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6
32. No exceptions were found during the audit of mobility, hardship and non-removal
allowance, assignment and repatriation grants, home leave and family visit as well as
language allowance and most cases included in the draft report were satisfactorily followed
up. Overall, OIOS found the Staff Administration Unit's arrangements for handling staff
entitlements to be effective.
V. FURTHER ACTIONS REQUIRED ON RECOMMENDATIONS
33. OIOS monitors the implementation of its audit recommendations for reporting to the
Secretary-General and to the General Assembly. The responses received on the audit
recommendations contained in the draft report have been recorded in our recommendations
database. In order to record full implementation, the actions described in the following table
are required:
Rec. no. Action/document required to close the recommendation
1 A copy of the revised procedure to ensure submission of the required P.41 or
P.41/B certifications with education grant claims.
2 A copy of the instruction requiring proof of payments made to universities.
3* A copy of the decision of the Secretary-General, pursuant to Staff Rule
112.2, to exceptionally grant dependency status to staff member (Index
Number 12198) in respect of a child who is not a child of the staff member
as defined in Staff Rule 103.24.
4 A copy of proof of recovery for $6,470 for the incorrect payment of
education grant (PYEG 1141, Index number 382808).
5* Information on the result of the review of the IMIS data on the 94 children
who were 18 to 21 years of age, and the corrective action taken where the
students were not "full-time students."
* Critical recommendations
V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
34. I wish to express my appreciation for the assistance and cooperation extended to the
auditors by the staff of the Staff Administration Unit of HRMS and the Enterprise
Applications Unit of the Information Technology Service, Division for Management/
UNODC.
Egbert C. Kaltenbach, Director
Internal Audit Division II
Office of Internal Oversight Services
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