General Matters
Secretariat of the Board
The United Nations provides the Board with a full-time secretariat headed by an Executive Secretary who provides technical, administrative, and secretarial support to the Board and its Audit Operations Committee. The Executive Secretary advises the members of the Board and the Audit Operations Committee on administrative and financial practices and procedures of the United Nations organizations.
Sources of Funding
The resources (travel, subsistence and salaries of national supporting staff) required for carrying out the external audit function at United Nations organizations, are determined by the Board with reference to the particular audits to be performed during each year of the biennium. These costs are borne by the various organizations of the United Nations.
Previous and Current Members to the Board
Auditors-General (or equivalent titles) of the following countries were members of the Board, as indicated:
- Ukrainian SSR (1947-1948)
- Sweden (1947-1949)
- Canada (1947-1956) and (1968-1980)
- Colombia (1948-1978)
- Denmark (1949-1955)
- Norway (1955-1961)
- Netherlands (1956-1965)
- Pakistan (1961-1976)
- Belgium (1965-1968) and (1980-1986)
- Ghana (1976-2000)
- Bangladesh (1978-1984)
- Philippines (1984-1993) and (1999-2008)
- France (1986-1989) and (2001-2010)
- Germany (1989-1992)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (1992-2001) and (2010-2016)
- India (1993-1999)
- Republic of South Africa (2000-2003) and (2003-2012)
- People’s Republic of China (2008-2014)
Meetings of the Board
The Board of Auditors meets twice a year. The 65th Regular Session was held at United Nations Headquarters, New York on 12-13 July, 2011, while the Special Session was held in New Delhi, India on 6 December 2011.
The 66th (2012) Regular Session and the 2012 Special Session will be held at United Nations Headquarters, New York on 24-26 July 2012 and 11 December 2012 respectively.
Media Releases