Advisory Body on Administrative and Financial Matters

The members of the ABAF are appointed by the Executive Council. They participate in the work of the Advisory Body in their individual capacity (not as representatives of their respective governments) and at no cost to the OPCW. Since its inception the ABAF has had 16 members.The mandate of the ABAF is set forth in Article 15 of the OPCW's Financial Regulations as follows:

(a) examine and report on the draft programme and budget [...];
(b) examine and report on the preliminary estimates for the following year's budget [...];
(c) examine and report on any supplementary budgetary proposals [...];
(d) when feasible, consider and comment on any budgetary transfers, that is on the shifting of funds from one part of the budget to another [...];
(e) if appropriate examine and comment on the status of the OPCW's investments [...];
(f) where appropriate, examine and comment on the internal oversight/audit reports;
(g) examine and report on the OPCW's audited financial statements, including the External Auditor's report and opinion thereon;
(h) examine and report on the financial regulations, rules and amendments thereto, as submitted by the Director-General; and
(i) advise and comment on any other administrative and financial matters when appropriate.

The ABAF has exercised these functions since its founding in 1997, and has been particularly active with respect to budgetary matters.