While we are looking to the world’s leaders to make bold decisions at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (http://www.sealthedeal2009.org/),

WE can make a small and convenient decision to reduce greenhouse gases:

 By CARPOOLING to work, we can

• Reduce traffic and thus commuting time 2x and more,
• Save money by sharing commuting costs,
• Meet new people,
• AND reduce pollution!

 Go to the carpooling website of the UN and International Organisations:

https://www.covoiturage.ch/annonces/entreprises/nations_unies_et_organisations_internationales

 Or use the carpooling board in the Red Ribbon Café:

It will also help you find colleagues who live in the same area to organize a carpool.

Check it out and if you have any comments or ideas please let us know.

 Go ahead and be green!

 UNAIDS Environmental Working Group

Want to know more about: 

UNAIDS Green House Rules?

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.

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.

After a successful launch and on-going ICDL Learning programme currently delivered in Geneva, the Information Technology and Systems (IMT) is preparing to rollout the ICDL Learning Programme to all staff members globally.  The UNAIDS ICDL global rollout will begin with a pilot phase soon to be launched in Africa and will steadily be making its way to ALL UNAIDS staff members over the course of 2009/2010.

All staff members will have the opportunity to achieve and obtain the internationally recognized computer proficiency certification “ICDL” that is supported and sponsored across the globe in over 148 countries with over nine (9) million registered members. Before long all staff members will have the opportunity to obtain their passport to a higher level of IT education enhancing mobility, marketability and career prospects.

ICDL is the most widely recognised International IT literacy qualification in the world.  The ICDL Learning and Certification programme is a test and validation of up-to-date practical computer skills and competencies covering seven (7) subject matter areas (Essential Concepts of IT, Using the computer and managing files, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases, Presentations, Information and Communication).

Find out more about ICDL

To find out more about the ICDL Programme, please go to the ICDL home page on the UNAIDS Intranet at: https://intranet.unaids.org/index.php?q=page/190 or send an email to the IMT Geneva Learning Team at (LearnIT@unaids.org) LearnIT (at) unaids (dot) org

Watch these inspiring ICDL Videos:

ICDL Promotional Video 1

ICDL Promotional Video 2

Share your ICDL Story with us

Do you have any comments, ideas or opinions on ICDL you would like to share with us?
Use the comments box

Are you already an ICDL Member? We invite you to share your ICDL story with us and who knows? You might just win the “ICDL Story of the Year” award. Check back regularly for details on the “My ICDL Story” competition coming soon.

Most recently, we have sent a letter to the EXD on the subject of the various review processes currently taking place. Like you, we feel that some clarification is required on the function of these working groups and how the vairous processes will be coordinated for the greater good of the organisation and its staff. We also wanted to ensure that the voice of staff is heard at each step in the process.

To read this letter, along with other recent correspondence to the administration, follow the link to our website: http://www.ussa-unaids.org/cms/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=34&Itemid=85

Your feedback on this issue is most welcome and we will keep you informed of any reply we receive from the administration.

If you have come

 The FICSA[1] President, Edmond Mobio, and General Secretary, Valérie de Kermel, along with the Staff Association Chair Manuel da Quinta met with Michel Sidibé, on Monday, 20 July 2009. FICSA took the opportunity to congratulate Michel Sidibé on his appointment as EXD of UNAIDS. They also commended him on his openness to dialogue and on his determination to work in partnership with the Staff Association.

(LtoR) Valerie de Kermel, General Secretary of FICSA, Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, Edmond Mobio, President of FICSA and Manuel da Quinta, Chair of UNAIDS Secretariat Staff Association(USSA)

During the meeting, Michel highlighted UNAIDS’ priorities with regard to collaboration with FICSA and support to UNAIDS staff in general, which include:

1. Support for the UNAIDS initiative on recognition of domestic partnership / same sex benefits by pushing this initiative at all levels available in the UN system, including the UN Human Resources network and Chief Executives’ Board (CEB)
2. Highlighting the collaboration between UNAIDS administration and the UNAIDS Staff Association as a model of partnership in the UN system
3. Assurance that during the current financial crisis, UNAIDS will be working to reduce costs and inefficiencies rather than considering reduction of staffing levels.

In response, FICSA expressed its full support for these issues. They also agreed to highlight and support these issues in their interaction with other UN agencies and in the UN Human Resources network. FICSA also noted with pleasure the positive environment and concrete results that they feel are a result of fruitful cooperation between UNAIDS administration and UNAIDS Secretariat Staff Association (USSA). They emphasized the importance of dialogue between staff and management to implement successfully the mandate of any organization.

The FICSA representatives also requested the support of UNAIDS with regard to the critical issue of the funding of UN Cares and the issue of the establishment of a FICSA Liaison Office in New York. The EXD agreed to cooperate on both matters.

To follow this issue, click on the following link to our website to read the statement by FICSA to the UNJSPF (United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund) .

Please rest assured that we are following this issue and we will share any information coming from this meeting with all staff as soon as it becomes available.

If you have any questions on this or other staff-related issues, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

Following several complaints from HQ staff, a letter to the Director DRM has been sent by the Staff Association to request UNAIDS to conduct a professional study of the HQ Building in Geneva

“Sick Building Syndrome” or “Building-related Illness” is not something new. It’s a modern day disease of our air tight energy efficient homes and the stagnant chemical or biological pollutant filled air that may consequently accumulate indoors.

To read the letter :

Open Page 1

Open Page 2

To learn more about the “Sick Building Syndrome” type “Sick Building” in googleor check one of these links :

Wikipedia Article

“Sick Building Syndrome” from the US Environmental Protection Agency