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assigned responsibility for the new internal communications unit with a mandate to transform the

communications unit with a mandate to transform the Intranet into a powerful information tool that would at the

Intranet into a powerful information tool that would at the same time increase transparency and accountability.

same time increase transparency and accountability. Regrettably, there were some serious technical

Regrettably, there were some serious technical shortcomings in the field. Not all the information centres

shortcomings in the field. Not all the information centres could be connected to the Intranet, owing to the costs

could be connected to the Intranet, owing to the costs involved, and the Department was addressing that

involved, and the Department was addressing that problem on a priority basis. In the meantime, a password-protected Internet-based civilian communication network,

problem on a priority basis. In the meantime, a password-protected Internet-based civilian communication network, developed since the latest session of the Committee on

developed since the latest session of the Committee on Information, linked field offices with Headquarters and

Information, linked field offices with Headquarters and served as an internal communications forum and

served as an internal communications forum and reference tool. Nearly three quarters of the respondents in

reference tool. Nearly three quarters of the respondents in a rough internal Department survey had indicated that, in

a rough internal Department survey had indicated that, in the two months since it had been launched, they had used

the two months since it had been launched, they had used the network daily to access information on the Summit.

the network daily to access information on the Summit. Increasingly, there were signs of a better team spirit

Increasingly, there were signs of a better team spirit throughout the Department and greater cohesiveness of its

throughout the Department and greater cohesiveness of its messages at all levels.

messages at all levels. 47. The Department was also attempting to improve

47. The Department was also attempting to improve regional cooperation among the information centres.

regional cooperation among the information centres. For example, with a generous grant from the United

For example, with a generous grant from the United Nations Foundation, it had organized a workshop in

Nations Foundation, it had organized a workshop in Nairobi in June for information staff from 16 centres in

Nairobi in June for information staff from 16 centres in sub-Saharan Africa. Many of the conclusions reached

sub-Saharan Africa. Many of the conclusions reached at that workshop had had a significant impact on the

at that workshop had had a significant impact on the work of other centres in Africa and elsewhere.

work of other centres in Africa and elsewhere. Information centre websites were being created as an

Information centre websites were being created as an alternative to regional hubs, especially in locations

alternative to regional hubs, especially in locations where connectivity was a problem, and information

where connectivity was a problem, and information centres were encouraged to coordinate their outreach

centres were encouraged to coordinate their outreach activities at the regional level. For example, the third

activities at the regional level. For example, the third issue of a new bimonthly regional newsletter, with

issue of a new bimonthly regional newsletter, with readership in West and Central Africa, had just been

readership in West and Central Africa, had just been issued by the Dakar information centre. The

issued by the Dakar information centre. The Department’s regional approach to promoting the

Department’s regional approach to promoting the Summit had increased its effectiveness.

Summit had increased its effectiveness. 48. In sum, the Department’s activities had been

48. In sum, the Department’s activities had been marked by greater regional cooperation, greater

marked by greater regional cooperation, greater effectiveness in the use of information technology and

effectiveness in the use of information technology and better management of limited resources. The

better management of limited resources. The Department lacked the resources to replace obsolete

Department lacked the resources to replace obsolete technology in some of the information centres

technology in some of the information centres equipped with 10-year-old computers; its resources had

equipped with 10-year-old computers; its resources had been cut in the previous two budget cycles.

been cut in the previous two budget cycles. 49. Ms. Miller (Jamaica) enquired about the impact

49. Ms. Miller (Jamaica) enquired about the impact of the new strategic approach on the staffing and

of the new strategic approach on the staffing and resources of the information centres, and about

resources of the information centres, and about webcasts on the World Summit on the Information

webcasts on the World Summit on the Information Society and about plans to modernize the Department’s

Society and about plans to modernize the Department’s equipment at Headquarters. She asked how interested

equipment at Headquarters. She asked how interested countries could access UNIFEED.

countries could access UNIFEED. 50. Mr. Tharoor (Under-Secretary-General for

50. Mr. Tharoor (Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information) said that

Communications and Public Information) said that scarce resources, particularly in the previous two

scarce resources, particularly in the previous two budget cycles, were a common thread running through

budget cycles, were a common thread running through all the issues that had been raised. It was true that some

all the issues that had been raised. It was true that some of the equipment at Headquarters was outdated and that

of the equipment at Headquarters was outdated and that even successful ventures, such as the United Nations

even successful ventures, such as the United Nations Library programmes, could not be further developed

Library programmes, could not be further developed for lack of capacity. Indeed, the McKinsey consultants

for lack of capacity. Indeed, the McKinsey consultants who had carried out an assessment at the beginning of

who had carried out an assessment at the beginning of the reform exercise had been astonished at the

the reform exercise had been astonished at the Department’s productivity on such a restricted budget.

Department’s productivity on such a restricted budget. Still, its critics continued to claim that it was

Still, its critics continued to claim that it was overstaffed and overfunded. In the end, the Member

overstaffed and overfunded. In the end, the Member States would have to resign themselves to getting what

States would have to resign themselves to getting what they paid for.

they paid for. 51. Under the reallocation of resources exercise in

51. Under the reallocation of resources exercise in 2002, he had reassigned a number of D-1 posts that had

2002, he had reassigned a number of D-1 posts that had hitherto been disproportionately concentrated in

hitherto been disproportionately concentrated in Europe to information centres in South Africa, Cairo,

Europe to information centres in South Africa, Cairo, Tokyo and Delhi. The United Nations Environment

Tokyo and Delhi. The United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi had also upgraded its

Programme in Nairobi had also upgraded its communications director to the D-1 level. There were

communications director to the D-1 level. There were too few General Service posts, however, to be moved

too few General Service posts, however, to be moved around. The Department and Jamaica had hoped to

around. The Department and Jamaica had hoped to extend outreach in the Caribbean region by assigning a

extend outreach in the Caribbean region by assigning a national, or even an international, information officer

national, or even an international, information officer to the regional office in Port-of-Spain; the Department

to the regional office in Port-of-Spain; the Department had requested assistance from the host Government of

had requested assistance from the host Government of Trinidad and Tobago in reducing the very high rent it

Trinidad and Tobago in reducing the very high rent it paid for its regional office premises and it would re-evaluate the fate of its activities in that region

paid for its regional office premises and it would re-evaluate the fate of its activities in that region depending on the reply.

depending on the reply. 52. Turning to the question about UNIFEED, he said

52. Turning to the question about UNIFEED, he said that, in the next few months, world news downloaded

that, in the next few months, world news downloaded from the Associated Press Television News network

from the Associated Press Television News network would be available on the Department’s website for the

would be available on the Department’s website for the benefit of countries that could not afford to subscribe

benefit of countries that could not afford to subscribe to the service directly.

to the service directly. 53. New equipment would not be installed at

53. New equipment would not be installed at Headquarters until it was determinedwhether the final

Headquarters until it was determinedwhether the final version of the Capital Master Plan would involve a

version of the Capital Master Plan would involve a relocation of staff.

relocation of staff. 54. Mr. Coelho Ferreira (Portugal) said that the

54. Mr. Coelho Ferreira (Portugal) said that the Regional United Nations Information Centre in

Regional United Nations Information Centre in Brussels had been largely responsible for the rousing

Brussels had been largely responsible for the rousing reception given to the Secretary-General on his three-day visit to Portugal and that, in the space of one year,

reception given to the Secretary-General on his three-day visit to Portugal and that, in the space of one year, it had accomplished all its goals with respect to the

it had accomplished all its goals with respect to the Portuguese-speaking community. He enquired about

Portuguese-speaking community. He enquired about the prospects of establishing a regional hub in Luanda