STU/66th Council/15/021
11 June 2015

What happened to UNESCO’s mobility policy?

Some of you may recall that on 30 October 2013, HRM released an Updated Policy on Geographical Mobility , which was meant to be implemented in “the latter part of 2014”.

While reaffirming the principles and objectives of the 2009 Geographical Mobility policy, the updated version introduced new features such as a long- awaited mechanism for periodic mobility reviews to take place at least once per biennium.

Since then, nothing has happened. Rotation continues to depend on case-by- case and non-transparent decisions by Sectors and/or on individual abilities to reach decision-making levels and negotiate a transfer. There is no transparent mechanism in place to apply for rotation and colleagues reaching or having exceeded their Standard Duration of Assignment (SDA) are left in the dark when it comes to planning their future. The only certain thing in this context is the punctual reduction of salaries after the fifth year of assignment.

Needless to say that this uncertainty has a very negative impact on the professional and personal lives of many colleagues, as they cannot envisage any long-term planning either for work or for family life. Some colleagues, particularly in the field, see this situation as a psychological torture. For others, this is yet another confirmation that rotation will never work in UNESCO and that going to the field is accepting a one-way ticket to the unknown.

STU has always been favorable to the establishment of mobility exercises that allow staff members to plan their careers and opt for reassignments to new functions and duty stations, with clear, fair and respected conditions for everyone.

We urge the Administration to apply the Updated Policy on Geographical Mobility and urgently provide a transparent mechanism for rotation that staff can finally trust!