[lit-ideas] UN Outsourcing?
- From: JimKandJulieB@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2006 23:47:02 EST
Okay, I'm admittedly tired, but somehow I can't get my mind to wrap around
the concept of the United Nations outsourcing..... that seems....inherently
illogical/surrealistic.
Julie Krueger
befuddled
_http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060306/ap_on_re_us/un_management_reform;_ylt=Ahy
KEicmveaWVwgwQR8eAeIDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl_
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060306/ap_on_re_us/un_management_reform;_ylt=AhyKEicmveaWVwgw
QR8eAeIDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl)
Annan Wants U.N. to Consider Outsourcing
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer Mon Mar 6, 5:46 AM ET
UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General
_Kofi Annan_ (http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?p=Kofi+Annan)
will ask U.N. member states to consider outsourcing some U.N. operations as
part of an overhaul of the world body's management, according to an outline
of his proposed reforms obtained by The Associated Press.
Annan's reform report, which is expected to be released Tuesday, calls for
creating "a truly mobile international civil service" for the
_United Nations_ (http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?p=United+Nations)
, whose management came under heavy criticism during the recent oil-for-food
scandal and revelations of widespread sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers.
There has been speculation for months that the U.N. was preparing to embark
on a major program of outsourcing, including its translation operations.
The report does not contain concrete proposals for outsourcing, according to
the outline of key points obtained over the weekend. But Annan wants the
General Assembly "to free up" existing limitations so outsourcing can be
considered.
"We are particularly interested in exploring the benefits of possibly
relocating certain administrative functions to lower-cost countries, but we
will
need to undertake a detailed cost/benefit analysis in each case," the document
said, without giving specifics.
World leaders at the U.N. summit in September approved a modest blueprint for
revamping the United Nations, including a host of management reforms ranging
from a new ethics office to initiatives for making managers more
accountable. Annan was asked to submit his proposals during the first quarter
of 2006.
The United States has been pushing for a major management overhaul that would
give the secretary-general more power and flexibility. But the 191-member
General Assembly, dominated by developing countries, controls the U.N.'s purse
strings and is not expected to give up any power easily.
The outline of the report stressed the dramatic expansion of U.N. operations
in the past decade, including a fourfold increase in peacekeeping budgets and
deployments since 1998.
Annan's report will call for $280 million annually to provide better pay and
benefits for people in the field, where the U.N. Secretariat is having
difficulty recruiting and training staff. The secretary-general will also
request
a doubling of funds for training and staff development "to address the
significant under-investment over the years," the document said.
Another key element in the reform package is overhauling top management.
More than 25 departments and offices report directly to the secretary-general
but the deputy secretary-general, whose position was created in 1997, has no
statutory authority, the document said.
Annan will propose giving formal authority and accountability to the deputy
secretary-general's office. He will also call on his successor to consider
strengthening senior management and consolidating U.N. departments, the
document
said.
The secretary-general will propose an urgent upgrading of the U.N.
information and communication technology system, which could cost up to $120
million
over the next few years.
Despite significant investments, U.N. administrative systems "remain
fragmented, outdated and underfunded," making it impossible to store, search
and
retrieve information quickly and effectively, the outline said.
Annan's report will also suggest a number of improvements in the way the U.N.
buys goods and services, an area that has seen widespread corruption.
Touching on the contentious issue of the U.N. budget, now controlled by the
General Assembly, the report will propose giving the secretary-general greater
authority to redeploy posts and use savings from vacant posts.
The report will also address the time-consuming budget review process, which
is currently not linked to the evaluation of program results. It will propose
streamlining the plethora of accounts that hold voluntary contributions to
U.N. programs, the nearly 40 separate peacekeeping accounts, and the problem
of insufficient working capital reserves.
More than 270 U.N. reports on management and budget issues are produced every
year, which the document calls "overwhelming." Annan's report will propose a
consolidation.
World leaders had also asked Annan to propose a framework for a one-time
staff buyout "to modernize and improve personnel structure and quality." The
U.N. has studied the experiences of other organizations and still needs to
finalize details of a proposal for member states, the document said.
But Annan's report will say the buyout package should first be offered to
those whose jobs are affected by the management reforms.
"The report contains some indicative figures for a buyout â costing
approximately $100,000 per individual," the outline said.
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