About JIU

The Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) was created on an experimental basis under General Assembly resolution 2150 (XXI) of 4 November 1966 and extended thereafter under Assembly resolutions 2735 A (XXV) of 17 December 1970 and 2924 B (XXVII) of 24 November 1972. By its resolution 31/192 of 22 December 1976, the Assembly decided to establish the Joint Inspection Unit as a standing subsidiary organ and approved the statute of the Unit, with effect from 1 January 1978. Under Article 1, paragraph 2 of the statute, the Unit is responsible to the General Assembly of the United Nations and similarly to the competent legislative organs of those specialized agencies and other international organizations within the United Nations system which have accepted its statute (participating organizations).

The Unit is composed of not more than eleven Inspectors appointed by the General Assembly on the basis of their special experience in national or international administrative and financial matters, including management questions, and with due regard to the principle of equitable geographical distribution and of reasonable rotation. Inspectors serve in their personal capacity and are appointed for a term of five years, renewable once.

The Inspectors have the broadest powers of investigation in all matters having a bearing on the efficiency of the services and the proper use of funds and, to these ends, may make on-the-spot inquiries and investigations. They are mandated to provide an independent view through inspection and evaluation aimed at improving management and methods and at achieving greater coordination between organizations. In pursuance of its objective of enhancing the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations system, the Unit is required to satisfy itself that the activities undertaken by the organizations are carried out in the most economical manner and that the optimum use is made of resources available for carrying out these activities. The Unit issues reports, notes and confidential letters. Reports are addressed to the one or more organizations concerned or to all the organizations when the subject is of interest to the System as a whole, for consideration by the competent legislative organs of the organizations concerned. Notes and confidential letters are submitted to executive heads for use by them as they may decide. The Unit submits an annual report to the General Assembly and to the competent organs of the participating organizations.

The Unit is assisted by an Executive Secretary and by such staff as may be authorized in the budget of the Unit. The budget is included in the regular budget of the United Nations and its expenditures are shared by the participating organizations.