After six years of successful audit work within the United Nations Board of Auditors (UNBoA), Kay Scheller’s mandate came to an end in July of this year. Now, he draws a personal conclusion from his work.
I very much welcome that audit findings made by the UNBoA substantially shaped the reform agenda of the UN Secretary-General.
According to Scheller, significant progress has been made as to the UN administration, especially in terms of a clearer assignment of responsibilities and competences as well as a strengthened accountability. Under the leadership of the Bundesrechnungshof, the UNBoA, for the first time, also examined the performance of defence tasks linked to the UN peacekeeping missions.
Kay Scheller attending the UNBoA meeting. Image source: Bundesrechnungshof Source: Bundesrechnungshof.
Meanwhile, Kay Scheller – at his last Board meeting – passed on the German audit portfolio to the French supreme audit institution – the Cour des comptes. To ensure a smooth transition, the audit teams of both the Bundesrechnungshof and the Cour des comptes met in New York to share insights and knowledge on the UN bodies within the audit portfolio.
The pioneering role of the Bundesrechnungshof
In an acceptance speech, Assistant Secretary-General Catherine Pollard expressed her sincere admiration to the Bundesrechnungshof for its engagement: The constructive approach and the wide spectrum of audit topics laid the groundwork for the UN administration to make well-founded and swift decisions. Pollard stressed the Bundesrechnungshof’s pioneering role throughout the entire term of the mandate.
Since July, Kay Scheller has a new mandate of global significance: The Bundesrechnungshof audits the World Food Programme.