Content tagged with Harmonization of Business Practices

The present report provides an overview of major developments in inter-agency cooperation within the framework of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) in 2012.

Informal briefing and exchange of views with ECOSOC on HLCM’s work on Harmonization and Simplification of Business Practices in the UN system.

In 2010, the UNDG and the HLCM carried out joint missions to identify obstacles to collaboration on business practices in the field,  The mission report provided the basis for the UNDG and the HLCM to identify priority actions.  Also, many HBP projects are designed to address these findings.

The Quadriennial Comprehensive Policy Review is a General Assembly resolution from December 2012 that provides the direction for the UN development system for the next four years.  In paragraphs 152-163 business practices are discussed in detail and provides guidance for the HLCM.  Many HBP projects support the outcomes expected in the QCPR.

This proposal requests funding support to design and deliver a knowledge and skills training and planning workshop aimed at building the capacity of the Operations Management Teams (OMTs) and enhancing linkages between Programmes and Operations to be able to support UN Country Teams deliver better programmatic results and achieve greater operational efficiency.

The objective of this effort is to adopt a coordinated approach to both the procurement and administration of banking services and relations for all of the Participating UN Agencies, both on a regional and country-by-country basis.  We recognize that the UN System’s entities have varying needs and requirements depending upon the type of operations and countries involved.  We can broadly categorize the banking requirements into the following categories.

This project led by the Procurement Network aims to simplify the registration process for UN Procurement in order to increase the number of vendors to compete for UN procurement contracts.  The project uses the UN Global Marketplace as its platform.

Issues discussed at the session: UNDG strategic priorities; High-level UNDG-MDG Task Force; MDG acceleration framework; Delivering as One; Harmonization of UN efforts at the country level.

The HBP Plan of Action Trust fund was established after the approval of the HLCM in the fall of 2008. After a first donation by New Zealand in December that year donations were received from Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. A total of US$ 10.25 was received. To date, a total of approximately US$ 7.1 Million has been allocated to different projects. The projects that are finalized, on-going or in the pipeline all fall into one or more of these categories. This report is organized along these objectives with one “flagship” project listed first under each of the objectives.

Conclusions of the Twelfth Session of the High Level Committee on Management’s Procurement Network (HLCM PN), Montreal, 19-21 September 2012. The Session included updates from the Working Groups on Harmonisation, Professional Development, Supplier Access, Sustainable Procurement and Vendor Management as well as status reports on the projects on Vendor Eligibility, Collaborative Procurement, Harmonisation and the UN Global Marketplace Vendor Registration Reform.

Outcome/follow-up to HR Directors’ Strategic Meeting; Payment of fees by organizations with observer status at the HR Network; Statement on cost-sharing principles; Consolidation of the CEB Secretariat; Pay freeze; Dual Career and Staff Mobility Programme; Work-Life Balance; Harmonization of Business Practices; Security Staff Screening and Vetting Policy; UN Stress Counsellors; HR Network Workplan; Update from Field Group; UN Cares; Inter-organization Mobility Agreement; ICSC issues such as: Education grant; UN/US net remuneration margin: review of the methodology; Resolutions and decisions

This report provides an overview of major developments in inter-agency cooperation within the framework of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) covering the period 2011/12.

Together with the UNDG, the HLCM supported the UN System Staff College to assist UN Country Teams with the integration of the Harmonization of Business Practices into the Programming Process. The project was completed in 2011 and a possible second phase is being designed. The donor report from 2011 summarizes the work of the project.

The Procurement Network project on harmonizing procurement in the field came a long way towards defining the changes needed in policies and procedures to support teams carrying out procurement jointly. The project, designed to be completed towards the end of 2012 finalized much of the preparatory work in 2011 and this is reflected in the donor report.

The Human Resource Network finlized a comparative analsyis of staff rules and regulations and provided recommendations for follow up. The project is complete including work on analyzing arragements for non-staff in different organizations.

The Procurement Network project on Collaborative Procurement of Vehicles is one of the key initiatives of the Procurement Network to deliver large financial impact through efficiency gains. The project started in 2012.

This report is the second donor report developed to report on progress of the HLCM Harmonization of Business Practices Plan of Action. It is clear that in 2011, has seen significant developments. Several initial projects have been completed, others are near completion or on track and several new initiatives are in the pipeline. This document will provide an update with details of each project presented in Annex I. Annex II contains a list of pipeline projects.

This report provides an overview of major developments in inter-agency cooperation within the framework of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) during the period leading to and covering its fall 2010 session and its spring 2011 session.

Conclusions of the Fifth Session of the High Level Committee on Management’s Procurement Network (HLCM PN), Vienna, 2-4 September 2009. The Session included updates from the Working Groups on Harmonisation, Professionalisation, Supplier Access, and Vendor Management (UNGM, UNCCS and Vendor Suspension).

Conclusions of the Seventh Session of the High Level Committee on Management’s Procurement Network (HLCM PN), Budapest, 24-26 March 2010. The Session included updates from the Working Groups on Harmonisation, Professionalisation, Supplier Access, Sustainable Procurement and Vendor Management as well as status reports on the projects on Vendor Eligibility and UNCCS. Other topics discussed were Aid Effectiveness/National Systems, Dual Use, and UN-Wide Standardisation of Field Motor Vehicles.

Conclusions of the Tenth Session of the High Level Committee on Management’s Procurement Network (HLCM PN), Rome, 28-30 September 2011. The Session included updates from the Working Groups on Harmonisation, Professional Development, Supplier Access, Sustainable Procurement and Vendor Management as well as status reports on the projects on Vendor Eligibility, Collaborative Procurement, and Harmonisation.

Agenda Items discussed included: System-Wide Business Practices (prioritization of the initiatives, with the lead and participating agencies identified); Country-level ICT Coherence; ICT Strategic Framework; Special Interest Groups: ICT Knowledge Sharing.

Briefing by the Office of the Controller of the United Nations on preparation for the upcoming meeting of the FAFA Working Group; IPSAS: issues from the Task Force; Progress of work on Harmonization of Financial Regulations and Rules; Cost recovery policies; and Coordination and distribution of work between the UNDG Management Group and the FB Network on financial management issues.

Follow-up to IPSAS Task Force; Lump Sum for Security Evaluation Allowance; Cost Sharing Arrangements for Jointly Financed Activities 2010-2011; Initial Observations of the Survey on Common Treasury Services; and FB-related Projects included in the HLCM Plan of Action for Harmonization of Business Practices.

Update on the HLCM Plan of Action for the Harmonization of Business Practices including WG on Common Treasury Services; the UN System-wide Financial Statistics Database and Reporting System project; the UNDG-HLCM WG on Cost Recovery Policy; status of the joint FBHR Network WG on Long Term Care; the joint FBHR network WG on Appendix D; WG on Staff Safety and Security; WG on Harmonized Financial Regulations and Rules; follow-up to the IPSAS Task Force meeting (Rome, Dec-2009) and IPSAS implementation progress; and organization of future FB Network meetings.

Update on the HLCM Plan of Action for the Harmonization of Business Practices including WG on Common Treasury Services; and the UN System-wide Financial Statistics Database and Reporting System project; JIU, ICSC and CEB Secretariat 2012-2013 budget proposals; DSS JFA Programme Budget proposal for 2012 - 2013; and Action points from the Task Force on Accounting Standards; WG on Safety and Security Costs.

The present report was prepared in order to provide the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council for 1993 with up-to-date information on the results of the ACC’s consideration of issues - such as the coordination of humanitarian assistance and the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development - currently before the Council and to inform the session of the outcome of the ACC’s review of its own functioning and methods of work, which was completed at the first regular meeting of ACC in April 1993.

This report covers: the reports of the Board's committees (HLCM and HLCP). Discussions on Programme issues (Follow-up to Monterrey: financing for development; HIV/AIDS and its linkages with food security and governance; Follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development) and Management issues (Staff security and safety;  Dialogue with staff representatives and the Chairman of the International Civil Service Commission).

This report covers: Discussions on Programme issues (Employment and decent work, Aid for trade, One United Nations at the country level); and Management issues (Harmonization and reform of United Nations System Business Practices).

This report provides an overview of major developments in inter-agency cooperation within the framework of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB), during the period covering its fall 2006 and spring 2007 sessions.

Review of the pay and benefits system: (a) Monitoring of the pilot study on broadbanding/reward for contribution; (b) Assessing the implementation of the new Job Evaluation Master Standard for the Professional and higher categories; (c) Mobility and hardship allowance, hazard pay and strategic bonuses; (d) Education grant: Review of the methodology for determining the level of the grant; Evolution of the United Nations/United States remuneration margin; Survey of best prevailing conditions of employment in Montreal; Considerations related to reviewing the Job Evaluation Standards for Genera

Review of 2010/2011 Work Plan; HR Response to Crisis Situations (i.e.

Outcome/follow up on HR Directors’ Strategic meeting; Briefing and follow up on HLCM Spring 2011 session; HR Network 2011-2012 Work Plan; HR Network Standing Committee on Field Conditions; Election of HR Network Chairpersons; Issues under ICSC consideration such as: GA resolutions/decisions, WG on mobility/hardship and hazard pay, pensionable remuneration, identification of the highest paid civil service under the Noblemaire principle (phase I), ACPAQ, conditions of service of the GS and other locally recruited staff, review of ICSC framework for HRM; Rest and recuperation framework; Design

ICSC Framework for Human Resources Management; Review of the pay and benefits scheme; Review of personnel working for UN common system organizations on non-staff contracts; Harmonization of Business Practices – HR Projects; Harmonization of vacancy advertisements and selection processes at Country level for GS and NPO positions; Harmonization of key elements of performance appraisal systems; Report from the Working Group on Inter-Organization Agreement concerning mobility; Update on the Mandatory Age of Separation; Review of EMSEA by ICSC; HRM Framework, and the pay and benefits system; Sit

Issues discussed included: Dialogue with Representatives of FICSA and CCISUA; HLCM proposal on Business Practices; Collaboration between HLCM and UNDG Management Group; Relationship between IAPWG and HLCM; Security and Safety of Staff; Information and Communication Technology; Finance and Budget; Human Resources; Confidentiality of Internal Audit Reports; Senior Management Network; Observations of the Panel of External Auditors on Tsunami; World Bank Financial Management Framework Agreement; Malicious Acts Insurance Policy (MAIP); After Service Health Insurance (ASHI); System-wide Coherence

Issues discussed included: Dialogue with FICSA, CCISUA and the United Nations International Civil Servants Federation; Security and safety of staff; Triennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system: management implications; Plan of Action for the Harmonization of Business Practices; UNDG on management issues; HLCM networks; Status of implementation of enterprise resource planning across the system; Institutional links between the High-level Committee and the representatives of the Internal Audit Services of the United Nations syste

Issues discussed included: Dialogue with FICSA, CCISUA and the United Nations International Civil Servants Federation; Security and safety of staff; HLCM Plan of Action for the Harmonization of Business Practices; Senior Management Leadership Programme; HLCM Networks; Outcome of the CEB review and strengthening of the CEB secretariat.

The WG has created a common framework for harmonisation of procurement-related regulations, rules, policies, procedures and business practices.  A standardised toolkit for country level procurement practitioners, taking into account the best practices, needs and insights from the country level has also been produced.  The WG provides support to the UNDG when required to support UNCTs implementing harmonized procurement.

The Digital & Technology Network (DTN) brings together the CIOs from UN System organizations to advise the HLCM on system-wide approaches to leveraging technology and functions as a forum to coordinate system-wide ICT policy and practices.

In 1994, recognizing the increasing importance of information and communication technology to achieving the mandates of their organizations, the ACC established the Information Systems Coordination Committee (ISCC), the precursor to the ICT Network (ICTN). In April 2002, the ICTN held its first session and has since conducted biannual meetings. Shifting focus to the strategic and digital transformation of the UN system as a whole, the ICTN changed its name to the Digital & Technology Network (DTN) in its autumn session of 2018. The DTN brings together the CIOs from CEB member organizations. It is the inter-agency mechanism for the promotion of cooperation and collaboration on digital and technology related matters.