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group photo with participants to the EECA Regional Management Meeting

Manuel Da Quinta, Chair of the UNAIDS Secretariat Staff Association, and Jason Sigurdson, member of the USSA Executive Committee, provided a brief presentation highlighting key advances made in 2008 and priority issues to be addressed in 2009.  In the interactive break-out session, Meeting participants noted their priority issues for the region, in four key areas: 1) training, learning and development; 2) staff empowerment and inclusiveness; 3) transparency in change and decision making ; 4) change management – motivation and anxiety. 

It was noted with concern that Eastern Europe and Central Asia has lost its regional representation (Vinay Saldanha) in the recent USSA election.  To both Lev Zohrahyan and Manoela Grozdanova  an invitation was extended to join the group of USSA volunteers, and help facilitate a link between regional staff and the USSA Executive Committee.  One staff member suggested that there be discussion and strategising in connection with the next USSA election, to support the election campaign for a regional representative.  It was also suggested that the USSA consider a system of fixed regional representation (i.e. making specific allocations by region for the block of Executive Committee positions designated for field staff).  All members of staff were encouraged to voice issues of concern and ideas, either through their regional volunteers or directly with the USSA Chair and Executive Committee members.

Beak-out sessions

The session ended with a question and answer session and colleagues in this region were also able to interact privately with both representatives from USSA about their concerns.

The outcomes of the session will be available to staff on the trip report posted on the USSA website. www.ussa-unaids.org