STU/70th Council/23/025
13 October 2023

217th Session of the Executive Board of UNESCO

Comments of the UNESCO Staff Union (STU)

The agenda of the Executive Board - Joint Session of the Finance and Administrative Commission (FA) and the Programme and External Relations Commission (PX) includes item 4.III on the "Viability of the Field Network", on which STU has already expressed its views in Addendum 217 EX/4.III. Add.

We would like to emphasize once again the aspects of the implementation of this reform that give us cause for concern. The current reform will have numerous consequences for UNESCO staff in the field, which document 217 EX/4.III does not address. The colleagues concerned ask to be adequately informed, advised and supported in this process of transformation of their mandate and functions.

STU regrets the continuing lack of information on unresolved issues concerning the new job descriptions for staff affected by the reform. The move from thematic to multi-sectoral regional offices will mean that some colleagues will be transferred, and their duties, which were often specialized, will take on a more general character. The same applies to all colleagues who, without being transferred, will see their tasks change due to the modification of their office's scope and mandate. STU reiterates the importance of having job descriptions that reflect the real nature of the tasks performed, and calls on HRM to ensure that all the job descriptions of the colleagues concerned are revised and rewritten, within a reasonable timeframe, in close dialogue with those concerned. STU will support the staff members concerned to ensure that their rights are protected, in accordance with the UNESCO Human Resources Manual and ICSC classification standards.

STU also calls for financial resources to be made available to ensure that staff affected by the reform can access capacity-building training to ensure a smooth transition to the new management and programmatic frameworks.

With a view to reducing the risk of inequalities, STU also requests that a note be issued on the "ideal" staffing structures for regional and national offices as mentioned in document 216 EX/5.II.D, towards which these offices should aim in the coming years, so that the same conditions apply to posts at the same level, regardless of duty station, which is not currently the case.

Lastly, the reform of the field network represents an excellent opportunity for the next geographical mobility exercise, which could see an increase in the possibilities of choice and career development for colleagues taking part. The STU therefore requests that the new posts linked to the reform be added to the list of eligible posts for the next mobility exercise.

Best regards,

The STU President
For the STU Council