The Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) is a United Nations

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

 unit established by resolution

United Nations resolution

A United Nations resolution is a formal text adopted by a United Nations body. Although any UN body can issue resolutions, in practice most resolutions are issued by the Security Council or the General Assembly.-Legal status:...

 31/192 of December 22, 1976 of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Its objective is to enhance the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations system

United Nations System

The United Nations system consists of the United Nations, its subsidiary organs , the specialized agencies, and affiliated organizations...

 and, to this end, it may make on-the-spot inquiries and investigations. The Joint Inspection Unit is the only independent external oversight body of the United Nations system mandated to conduct evaluations, inspections and investigations system-wide. It is based in Geneva

Geneva

Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...

, Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

.