Department of Economic and Social Affairs 11th Meeting of National Recruitment Services and UN Organizations on the JPO Programmes Bonn, 25th - 27th April 2017 Final Report United Nations New York, 2018 DESA The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental sphere and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: i) it compiles, generates and analyzes a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which Member States of the United Nations draw to review common problems and to take stock of policy options; ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on a joint course of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and iii) it advises interested governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities. Note The designations employed and the presentation of material in this report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Acknowledgement Special acknowledgement to the Government of Germany for generously hosting the Meeting in Bonn. Distribution Limited distribution to participating countries and United Nations Organizations. Enquiries concerning this report may be directed to: UN JPO Programme Capacity Development Office United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs One United Nations Plaza, Room DC1-2585 United Nations, New York, NY 10017 Tel. +1 917-367-5058, Fax: +1 212-963-1270 E-mail: [email protected] United Nations publication Copyright © United Nations, 2018 All rights reserved Index 1. Executive Summary………………………….………………………………………………………………………3 2. Introduction....………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6 3. Day 1: JPOs as Future Leaders of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ……8 3.1 Video Message by Mr. Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs ………………..…………………….……………………………………………………………………8 3.2 Presentations by Ms. Claire Messina, Deputy Director, UN System Staff College, and Mr. Patrick van Weerelt, Head, UN System Staff College Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development…………………………………………………………………………………………9 3.3 Tour de Table – Donors.…………………………………………………….……………………………….9 4. Day 2: Enhancing the JPO Programme ..…………………………………………………..…….………16 4.1 Summary of Progress in Implementation of HR Reforms in the UN Secretariat, Presentation by Ms. Aruna Thanabalasingam, Director, Strategic Planning and Staffing Division, United Nations Office of Human Resources Management………………………………………………………………………………………………………….16 4.2 Impact of the ICSC changes to the Compensation Package of the UN Common System on the JPO Programmes, Presentation by Ms. Lorrae Davey, UNDP and Ms. Andrea Theocharis, UN Secretariat JPO Programme……………………………………………….17 4.3 Overview of Recent Developments Impacting the JPO Programmes, Presentation by Mr. Mario Tuason, Head, Capacity Development Office, UN/DESA ……………………18 4.4 40 Years of the Italian JPO Programme – Outcomes of a Comprehensive Analysis, Presentation by Mr. Stefano Ligrone, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy and Mr. Gherardo Casini, UN/DESA Rome Office……………………19 4.5 The Swiss JPO Programme – Findings of a Recent Study, Presentation by Ms. Patricia Barandun, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland………………….20 4.6 Assessment of the JPO Programmes Across the UN System, Presentation by Mr. Jean-Luc Marcelin, UNDP…………………………………………………………………………………21 4.7 Discussion on Indicators for Successful JPO Placements Beyond Retention, Presentation by Mr. Michael Dahl, UNFPA…………………………………………………………….23 4.8 Diversity in the JPO Programmes, Presentation by Ms. Lykke Andersen, UNDP..23 4.9 Fostering Learning and Development for JPOs, Presentation by Ms. Claire Messina, UNSSC…………………………………………………………………………………………………….24 1 4.10 Sponsorship of Developing Country Candidates (DCCs), Presentation by Mr. Matteo Sasso, UN Secretariat JPO Programme………………………………………………………25 4.11 The Chinese JPO Programme, Presentation by Mr. Yongchao Ma, Deputy Director, Department of Personnel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs……………………………..26 4.12 The Kuwaiti JPO Programme – Supporting UN Development Operations Abroad and Enhancing National Capacity, Presentation by Mr. Khaled Mahdi……………………27 5. Day 3: Day 3: Meeting Recommendations.……………………………………………………………28 5.1 Review of Previous Recommendations and High-Level Overview of Administrative Measures Taken by the UN System/Donor Meeting on the JPO Programmes, Presentation by Mr. Matteo Sasso, UN Secretariat JPO Programme…28 6. Annexes Annex I: Agenda……………………………………………………………………………………………..……..30 Annex II: Recommendations of the 11th Meeting of National Recruitment Services and UN Organizations on the JPO Programmes in Bonn, 25th-27th April 2017…..…....34 Annex III: List of Participants.………………………………………………………………………………….37 2 1. Executive Summary The 11th Meeting of National Recruitment Services and UN Organizations on the JPO Programmes was held in Bonn, Germany from 25th to 27th of April 2017. It was attended by over 100 delegates and representatives of UN organizations and partner countries (see Annex III). The Agenda focused on trends in the JPO Programmes, particularly in the context of ongoing reforms in the UN System, with the view of further enhancing the Programmes and its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Meeting engaged three focal areas: 1) JPOs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was the main thematic nexus of discussions during the Meeting; Participants acknowledged the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and made suggestions and exchanges of views on Programme reforms aiming at supporting UN Organizations in their implementation of the Agenda through the provision of talented young professionals. The UN System Staff College (UNSSC) noted that the 2030 Agenda would require structural and cultural changes in the organization of development agencies and the UN System; JPOs could become future leaders of the Agenda, regardless of their future career development, and as such, they shall develop competencies such as Systems Thinking, Co-Creation, Focusing on Impact, and Driving Transformational Change. While commending the commitment of the JPO Programmes to sustainable development, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Thomas Gass, emphasized the need to maximize JPO talent and enthusiasm as efficient tools to satisfy the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda. 2) Human Resources Management Reform A second main subject addressed during the Meeting was the status of ongoing United Nations Human Resources Management Reforms. Ms. Aruna Thanabalasingnam of the United Nations Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) outlined in detail the latest progress in the UN Secretariat, such as the 3 recently launched New Staff Selection and Managed Mobility System, followed by a presentation by the Head of UN DESA’s Capacity Development Office, Mr. Mario Tuason, who provided a general overview of recent developments potentially impacting the JPO Programmes, while Ms. Lorrae Davey, UNDP JPO Service Centre, and Ms. Andrea Theocharis, UN Secretariat JPO Programme, further analyzed the impact of changes to the staff compensation package that were recently implemented following a comprehensive review by the International Civil Services Commission (ICSC). In addition, diversity in the JPO Programmes, and opportunities for professional development for JPOs were recurring points of Meeting conversations. Ms. Lykke Andersen of the UNDP JPO Service Centre, by addressing the subject of inclusiveness, highlighted the underrepresentation of persons with disabilities in the JPO Programmes. 3) Best Practices and Further Developing the JPO Programmes Country-specific assessments provided insights on best practices, achievements, and solutions to challenges in the JPO Programmes. An analysis conducted by the Italian Programme highlighted the general trends and the positive career development of Italian sponsored former JPOs in the last 40 years, outlining how serving as a JPO had been relevant for the participants to the Programme, regardless of the different career paths they undertook afterwards. The evaluation conducted by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs found its JPOs to place greater importance on personal development, meaningfulness, and the challenge level of work when deciding to join, remain in, or to leave the Programme. Meeting Participants also gained insights from representatives of the recently established Chinese and Kuwaiti JPO Programmes. Additionally, Mr. Matteo Sasso of the UN Secretariat JPO Programme devoted discussion on ways to improve the sponsorship of candidates from developing countries (DCCs), Ms. Messina of UNSSC stressed the importance of strong learning frameworks for JPOS, and Mr. Jean-Luc Marcelin of the UNDP JPO Service Centre, presenting