./.  
 WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/BFA/74  
7 December 2004 
 (04-5403) 
  
 
   
ANNUAL REPORT (2004) OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET, 
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 
 
 
1. In accordance with the procedures for an a nnual overview of WTO activities and for reporting 
under the WTO, adopted by the General Council on 15 November 1995 (WT/GC/M/8, item 11), a 
report on the activities of the WTO Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration in 2004 is 
hereby submitted. 
 2. It will be recalled that the Committee met fo rmally and informally on a number of occasions 
and has presented reports to the General Council on a regular basis
1,  
 I. ON-GOING RESPONSIBILITIES 
3. The Committee monitored on a regular basis the financial and budgetary situation of the 
Organization, the receipt of contributions includi ng the implementation of the related schemes and 
measures pertaining to receipt of contributions.  It formulated recommendations to the General Council 
on assessments to the budget and advance to the Working Capital Fund subsequent to the accession of 
two new Members.  It considered elements related to human resources manage ment and heard progress 
reports on the WTO Pension Plan.  It also examined : (i) the Director-General’s Budgetary and Financial 
Report for 2003 and Report of the External Auditors Thereon; (ii) the Divisional Reporting on Objectives and Expenditures for 2003; (iii) the Report on Extra-Budgetary Funds for 2003 and (iv) the Director-General’s mid-term review 2204/2005 Bie nnium, revised budget proposals for 2005.  At the 
time of finalizing this report, the Committee is in the final stages of its ex amination of the Director-
General’s revised budget proposals for 2005. 
 II. MAJOR AREAS OF ACTIVITIES 
A. 
ADJUSTMENT TO WTO DEPENDENCY ALLOWANCES  
4. During the course of 2004, the Committee exam ined the re-calculation of the dependency 
allowances using the salary methodology adopted by the General Council on 15 May 2003 
(WT/GC/M/80).  To this effect, it made a recommendation to the General Council which adopted it on 
17 May 2004 (WT/GC/M/86).  Discussion on the matter continues with a view to presenting a further recommendation on the matter to the General Council.  
                                                     
 
1 Reports: WT/BFA/72 covering the meeting held on 1 April 2004; WT/BFA/73 covering the meeting 
held on 28  June 2004 . WT/BFA/74 
Page 2  
 
B. 
REVIEW OF GUIDELINES ON VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM NON -GOVERNMENTAL 
DONORS  
5. The Committee reviewed the guidelines on voluntary contributions from Non-Governmental 
donors as stipulated and made a recommendation to this effect (WT/BFA/73) to the General Council, 
which adopted it on 27 August 2004 (WT/GC/M/87). 
 
C. MONITORING TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE  
6. The Committee recalled the need expressed by th e Members in 2003 to monitor and control the 
use of temporary assistance in the WTO.  The Committee examined the issue in the course of 2004 and 
will continue the discussion on the matter.  
 
D. SECURITY MATTERS  
7. A Working Group on security matters was established within the framework of the Committee 
and convened on a number of occasions to discuss security matters. 
 E. 
APPELLATE BODY OPERATING FUND  
8. The Committee examined the expenditures of the Appellate Body Operating Fund (ABOF) 
and agreed on the funding of its deficit in 2003. 
 
F. OTHER ITEMS  
9. The Committee also discussed and/or was informed about the following points in the various 
meetings: (i) the 2005 revised budget estimates of  the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, (ii) 
the situation of contributions for the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF), and (iii) a letter from the Chairman of the Appellate Body. 
__________