Page 35 - Bulletin, Vol.80 No.2, September 2021

The Board approved updated terms of reference for the Chair, responsibilities for Board
members, as well as terms of reference for some of its committees to more clearly
delineate their roles and accountabilities.

The Board also approved changes to regulations and rules related to the pension
plan. This included measures to streamline the administration of disability cases, a
framework for addressing cases where a beneficiary of a disability benefit is engaged in
paid activities while remaining incapacitated, and in respect of its Pension Adjustment
System.

The Board requested a study to be undertaken by the Chief Executive, with the support
of member organizations, on pension cases that did not meet the benchmark[1] and
those for which not all three required documents have been received, and the reasons
for the delay. Once this study is received, a decision will be made as to whether to
request the Pension Administration to examine implications of making provisional
payments. The Board also decided to grant additional discretionary authority to the
Chief Executive to make advance payments in exceptional circumstances.

The outcome of the Board session will be communicated to the UN General Assembly
(UNGA), which will review the Board’s report, taking into account the views of the
Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. The UNGA will then
make final decisions on pension matters in a resolution to be expected in December
2021.

Representing the 25 Member Organizations of the UNJSPF, including the United
Nations, the Pension Board is a subsidiary organ of the UNGA. It is responsible for the
administration of the Fund, setting strategic goals and policies, providing general
oversight and monitoring of the Fund’s operations in the best interests of its
stakeholders.

[1] The benchmark refers to the target of Pension Administration to process initial
pension cases within 15 business days.

Source unjspf.org

34 AAFI-AFICS BULLETIN, Vol. 80 No. 2, 2021-09