The Conference of the Parties (COP), by its decision 13/CP.13, approved the programme budget for the biennium 2008–2009 and requested the Executive Secretary to report to the COP at its fourteenth session on income and budget performance, and to propose any adjustments that might be needed in the programme budget for the biennium 2008–2009.
Following the weakening of the United States dollar against the euro, the value of the core budget for 2008–2009 has been greatly reduced. If the secretariat is to fully implement the mandated work programme, the Executive Secretary will require authorization for a higher expenditure in USD terms, equivalent to the approved budget in euros (EUR 41.2 million) at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the 2008–2009 biennium. In the meantime, resource requirements under the supplementary fund to support the agreement reached in Bali and other activities have been updated. A progress report on the secretariat’s efforts to achieve equitable geographical distribution and gender balance is also provided