Participants at the WCA Region AA Training Workshop, Dakar

At the recent training workshop in Dakar for AAs in the WCA Region, Sophie Diadhiou Keita (the elected USSA representative in the WCA Region) made a presentation on behalf of the Staff Association.

Sophie was happy to clarify the role of the USSA to her colleagues in the region and informed them about what issues we have been concentrating on recently, including monitoring regional responses to the SOS. Staff were particularly interested in how USSA interacts with the administration at HQ level and she explained that we represent staff on the SMT, MRC and APC as well as through our regular meetings with the EXO, DXD, DRM and HRM.

The session was a great opportunity to answer questions about the exact role of USSA at country level, particularly with regard to the benefits of adhering to the Staff Association from the point of view of national staff on UNDP contracts. Sophie was happy to clear up participants concerns in this regard, so much so that all of the participants unanimously by agreed to fill in the USSA membership form and comply with rules and regulations of the Association such as paying 2/1000 of their salaries to an AIDS Association in their respective countries.

Participants actively participated in the session and discussed issues of real concern in their daily work, such as:

-          UNAIDS/SSA contracts: There is an ongoing discussion with Finance and TOS to render such contracts more “humane” and find a more suitable solution.

-          Participation of local GS Staff in the New Staff Orientation: An issue which USSA is pursuing with the People Development Unit in Geneva.

-          Harmonization of UNDP/WHO contracts: Again this is an issue which USSA is following at all levels and hope to have some clarity soon

-          Access to UNDP E-learning facilities:  An issue which USSA is pursuing with the People Development Unit in Geneva.

UNAIDS Core and Managerial Competencies

In June this year the competency framework project was launched by HRM and the Executive Office.  Two months of consultations were held with focus groups at HQ, regional and country offices for data collection and analysis.  The first draft of the core and managerial competencies from these consultations was used to design an all staff survey which was rolled out in September.

As mentioned by Executive Director in the all staff message it is imperative that the competency framework reflect our work. Your opinion of UNAIDS and its requirements will be critical to ensure that the framework is valid and defines what counts as effective behaviour.

You have been asked for your opinion – it woudl be a shame to let this opportunity pass by!

Go to: https://intranet.unaids.org/index.php?q=node&page=1 to learn more about competencies and the methodology for developing this framework.

Before the core and managerial competencies are finalised the final results of the survey will be shared with all staff on the UNAIDS intranet.

If you have any questions or ideas about this initiative, please do not hesitate to contact People Development Unit.

The regional management meeting of MENA RST provided UNAIDS country offices, the RST, and cosponsors country focal points an opportunity to develop their 2010-2011 work plans under the global Outcome Framework and finalize their six-month monitoring and evaluation action plans for quality UNGASS reporting. The meeting was followed by a three-day skills building sessions on gender, difficult conversation skills and Human Rights based approach for HIV programming.

 USSA interactions with MENA staff was not only limited to the staff association session that took place in the afternoon of the third day, but USSA also had several one-to-one conversations with staff who wanted to reflect on particular concerns and enquire about certain information.

In its presentation, the staff association clearly and proactively articulated the key concerns of staff in MENA, presenting to staff, the upcoming RST Director, and senior HR management a list of persisting common concerns in 2009. These include the unresolved issues of short term contracts and the implications of retroactive signing of contracts; the understaffing in MENA compounded by the heavy workload; difficulties in implementing the work life balance policy and lack of time to explore training opportunities; as well lack of clear terms of reference and division of tasks and responsibilities.

USSA also referred to some HR-related problems, such as the insufficient training opportunities for staff, which HR management has already taken action to resolve.

In presenting achievements of the staff association in 2008, USSA urged staff to be more responsible and active in the implementation of policies they had earlier called for, including the work life balance and diversity policies and provide feedback and comments on strategies they had earlier requested and that were realized through the engagement of the staff association such as the communication strategy.

Dr Hind Khatib, new Director of MENA RST, emphasized commitment to work with the staff association, diffuse current anxieties related to the new management of RST and willingness to communicate on decisions transparently, timely and in consultation with staff.