The Administrative Management Branch (AMB) provides financial, legal, human resource, information technology, knowledge management and operational services to support implementation of the programmes of work for the three conventions.
The Branch leads the preparation of Programmes of Work and budgets for the three conventions. The branch also supports all aspects of operationalizing the Programmes of Work and budget, including the receipt of funds, ensuring funds are utilized in accordance with the decisions of Parties and preparing financial information and reports on the utilization of funds.
The Branch also provides legal services of a corporate nature including reviewing and interpreting administrative issuances and related documents as well as reviewing agreements with donors and partners. It is also responsible for corporate administrative functions such as risk management, business continuity plans etc.
The Branch supports the Secretariat with the management of human resources and manages staff-related issues. It is also responsible for the administrative operations of the Secretariat, including the review and processing of a wide range of administrative transactions including the hiring of consultants and individual contractors, the review and processing of agreements with implementing partners, the processing of travel for staff and meeting participants, procurement and other administrative services relating to the management of the Secretariat’s premises.
The Branch also provides overall information technology services to the Secretariat and to all its meetings, including standard office IT equipment and software, e-mail, Internet connectivity, cybersecurity and the design and provision of a system of paper-less services during meetings.
Ensuring access to information and facilitating information exchange amongst stakeholders is also the responsibility of the Branch. This is accomplished by collecting, processing and repackaging information and producing information products for dissemination to different target audiences. As a cross-cutting activity, it is done jointly with other branches and includes the development and maintenance of the Joint Clearing House Mechanism, the conventions’ websites and associated information systems and databases as well as establishing information exchange partnerships and collaboration programmes with Parties, regional centres, other multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), and other UN bodies and relevant institutions. Information exchange services include functions such as record keeping, mail-outs and production of meetings lists of participants and associated participation statistics.