June 4, 2003: The General Assembly adopts a $2.17 billion UN Peacekeeping budget for 2003-2004, reflecting a decrease of approximately $430 million compared to the 2002-2003 appropriations.
May 8, 2003: Under Secretary General for Management Catherine Bertini gives her first Press Briefing on the UN's financial position. She reported that the UN's aggregate cash balance at the end of 2002 was the highest ever, the level of unpaid contributions had dramatically decreased and debt to Member States had been reduced. Overall, she said 2002 could be considered a financially good year. Despite this, only 117 Member States paid their regular budget contributions in full, the second year in a row that this figure has dropped.
March 11, 2003: The General Assembly's Fifth Committee welcomes Under-Secretary General Catherine Bertini to the UN Secretariat's top management position. Bertini, the executive director of the World Food Program for the past 10 years, has been credited for efforts to modernize the Programme's administration and assist hundreds of millions of victims of war and natural disasters all over the world.
March 10, 2003: Lack of funds severely hampers UN contingency plans to feed starving Iraqis during the impending Iraqi war. The UN appealed for $120 million but western governments have contributed less than a quarter of this amount.
February 20, 2003: The Netherlands triples its annual contribution to the United Nations Settlement Program (UN-HABITAT), praising the UN agency for its good work. Lack of funds has been a major contraint for the UN organization since its inception so the donation is crucial to the program's success.
January 16, 2003: Senior Policymakers in Tokyo want to reduce Japan's 20% contribution of the total UN budget. The proposal reflects growing disenchantment with Japan's failure to become a permanent member of the Security Council or to eliminate the "enemy nation" clause in the UN Charter.
January 1, 2003: Four "least developed nations" are among 10 countries to pay their 2003 contributions to the UN in full on New Year's Day. Developed nations will need to mirror this commitment from poorer countries to effectively combat the UN financial crisis which has caused cutbacks in many areas.
