Topics  How the Fund operates  Requests for assistance  Present financial situation of the Fund  The Staff Union policy

How the Fund operates - SUAF is a statutory Staff Union body which exists for the benefit of all ILO officials (including retirees). - The Board of the Fund is composed of five members who are appointed by the Staff Union Committee. - - The Fund depends to a very great extent on regular voluntary contributions from serving officials.

Requests for assistance - The essential criterion for judging whether assistance should be granted is NEED. - Every case is examined carefully by the Board. - The majority of requests for assistance come from officials serving in field offices or on projects. - Assistance to serving officials is normally in the form of a loan reimbursable over a maximum of 3 years whilst - assistance to retired officials is invariably in the form of a one-off gift.

In order for the Fund to extend or even maintain its effectiveness more contributors are needed, as requests for assistance are increasing each year – this upward tendency has been particularly noticeable over the past two years. Present financial situation of the Fund

The Accounting Side - Too few contributors (117 only – to be compared with SU members) Income 2003: CHF 84,000 – contributions 39,000; gifts ; interests 4,000 - Loans: CHF 371,000 on-going including 37 new loans in 2003 (plus 13 donations over the period).

The Staff Union policy  To mobilize membership at regular intervals to attract more voluntary contributors  To earmark apportion of own income out of contributions for more stability in SUAF budget  target 3 % of membership contributions  To promote creation of local Assistance funds,  seek alternative possibilities of accessing credit under favourable conditions for local staff,  raise funds through ad hoc campaigns for specific solidarity actions (pensions ex-USSR; Abidjan …)

Employer should be present !  To press upon Administration to ensure significant contribution of ILO to assistance to colleagues and former colleagues under difficult circumstances (including through innovative use of existing mechanisms: SHIF, Thrift Fund, Special Payments Fund).