17 hours ago
The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The United Nations is proposing an additional $3.2 million for the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan in its 2027 programme budget to expand the body’s operations following its initial setup phase in 2026.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres outlined the proposed funding in remarks to the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee, which handles administrative and budgetary matters, in New York on Wednesday.
“These additional post and non-post resources are needed to build up the Mechanism’s operations,” Guterres said, referring to the proposed allocation.
The funding proposal comes as the United Nations plans broader staffing adjustments under its 2027 budget. The proposed changes include 116 post reductions, mostly in special political missions, partially offset by the establishment of 84 posts and the conversion of 25 others, resulting in a net reduction of seven posts.
The reductions include 60 posts at the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and 44 at the U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti.
Guterres also congratulated Jimoh Ibrahim of Nigeria on his election as chair of the Fifth Committee, pledging the Secretariat’s full support as he guides the committee’s work during the 81st session of the General Assembly.
The proposed additional funding would provide further resources for the Afghanistan investigative mechanism as it moves beyond its initial setup phase. The remarks did not provide a detailed breakdown of how the $3.2 million would be allocated.
