CHAPTER 4

Budget, finance
and administration

• T he General Council approved

the 2024 and 2025 budgets upon
recommendations of the Committee
on Budget, Finance and Administration.
After a period of 12 years of zero
nominal growth, the budget was
increased by 3.9 per cent for 2024.

• T he General Council approved the use

of the 2021 accumulated budgetary
surplus for certain non-recurring
expenses and for it to be applied against
members’ contributions for 2024 on the
recommendation of the Committee.

T
he General Council approved the 2024
and 2025 budgets for the WTO and
the International Trade Centre and
the 2024 scale of assessed contributions
to the WTO budget upon recommendations
of the Committee on Budget, Finance and
Administration. After a period of 12 years
of zero nominal growth, the budget was
increased by 3.9 per cent for 2024.

The General Council approved the use of

the 2021 accumulated budgetary surplus for
certain non-recurring expenses and for it to
be applied against members’ contributions for
2024 upon recommendation of the Committee.

The Committee also reviewed and

Background recommended the 2024-25 biennial technical
assistance and training plan, which was
The Committee on Budget, Finance subsequently approved by the General Council.
and Administration monitors the
WTO’s budgetary and financial The Committee endorsed transfers between
matters. It considers issues concerning budgetary sections during 2022 and the 2022
human resources management, hears
WTO audited financial statements, which were
progress reports on the WTO pension
subsequently approved by the General Council.
plan and deals with financial and
administrative matters concerning
the WTO Secretariat. The Committee The Committee also took note of the 2022
reports to the General Council. WTO pension plan audited financial statements
and the external auditors’ reports for the WTO’s
and WTO pension plan’s financial statements.

196 A N N UA L R E P O R T wto.org/budget
 CHAPTER 4

The Committee reviewed the status of the

WTO medical insurance plan and after service
health insurance, the status of implementation
of external audit recommendations, the annual
strategic facilities plan, and an update on the
replacement of Documents Online.

The Office of Internal Oversight presented its

report on internal audit activities for 2022-23,
the audit and evaluation plan for 2023-24 and
the launch of the internal control framework
setting out the principles, policies and
procedures that help the WTO to achieve
its strategic and operational objectives.

Regular updates on the WTO Secretariat

transformation exercise (see page 192)
were provided at each Committee meeting
by DDG Angela Ellard.

WTO budget 2024

The WTO derives its income from annual

contributions from its 164 members
It noted outstanding contributions to the (see Table 3) and miscellaneous income.
WTO budget from WTO members and
observers and invited the General Council The WTO’s budget for 2024 is
to urge those under administrative measures CHF 204,928,900 (see Table 2).
to liquidate their arrears.

The Committee approved a request to draw

funds from the Building Renovation Fund Table 2: Consolidated budget for 2024
to update the audio-visual equipment in the (in CHF thousands)
WTO conference rooms. Section Total

Staff expenditure (including staff remuneration, pension and

Quarterly financial reports were considered post employment benefits, health and invalidity insurance, family 135,965
by the Committee and taken note of, as were and international benefits)
updates from the chair of the WTO pension Temporary assistance (including short-term staff, consultants,
19,025
plan management board. The Committee panellists and Appellate Body member fees)
also took note of the actuarial valuations General services (including telecommunications and post,
of the WTO pension plan as at the end of contractual services and maintenance, energy and supplies, 17,276
2022 and considered a proposal from the documentation and publication)

WTO pension plan management board to Travel and hospitality 7,607

address an actuarial imbalance. A decision Implementing partners (includes any activity or event partly/jointly/fully
on this proposal was deferred to 2024 for 213
funded by the WTO but executed by a third-party organization)
further consideration. Capital expenditure (including procurement of fixed assets and rental
3,095
and leasing of equipment)
Reports on human resources matters were
Financial expenditure (including bank and interest charges and building
presented to the Committee, such as the 1,580
loan reimbursement)
2023 WTO salary survey and dependency
Contributions to International Trade Centre and special reserves
allowances, the annual report on diversity, (including the Building Renovation Fund and the Ministerial Conference 20,168
the annual report on grading structure and Operating Fund)
the learning and development programme
Total 204,929
for 2022.

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