Rima Al-Chikh took up the post of Director of the Division of Conference Management at UNOG in October 2023. We sat down with her in her office on the second floor of the E-building to discuss how she aims to implement new changes for the Division.

How has your UN career been to date and how did you find your recent move to UNOG?

This isn’t my first experience at UNOG: I spent seven and a half months here in 2017 as Chief of the Arabic Translation Section. To give you a bit of background, I am a translator by profession and training. Before joining the UN, I spent nearly a decade working as a technical translator for various international organizations and corporations, mainly in Europe, including some time at the F.A.O. in Rome. In December 2004, I was recruited as an Arabic translator in New York and I am now approaching my 20th anniversary with the UN!

Have you always worked in New York?

Not at all, I’ve been there on and off. A desk job is only part of the UN experience. From the outset of my career, I was eager to see how the UN operates in the field and contribute to its on-the-ground efforts. Early on in my career, I was detached from DGACM to DPPA and spent over a year providing language support to the Security Council Panel of Experts on Sudan during the Darfur conflict. I have also worked as a Reviser at the Office of the United Nations at Nairobi for almost four years.

Would you consider that period in the field to be the highlight of your career?

It was definitely one of the highlights of my career, as it gave me a deep sense of purpose. However, there have been many other defining moments as well, including each time I arrived in a new place. For example, during my time in Nairobi. Beside expanding your fields of expertise, you learn how things are done and what you can contribute, then you build on those experiences to prepare for the next assignment.

So, what new experiences has the move to UNOG brought you?

After 10 months here, I can say so far, so good. There are of course differences compared to my previous role as Chief of Arabic Translation at UNHQ, where I worked with one language within a specific area of conference management. UNOG’s clients have their own unique priorities and working methods. While these differences can be challenging sometimes, the Division operates with global standards and specific mandates, and I have many experienced colleagues whom I can rely on for advice and support.

What is your vision for DCM? What changes are you planning?

While I’m not planning any major changes, I see opportunities for us to become more efficient in some areas.
I am also acutely aware of the rapid evolution of conference services and professions. My primary focus is on ensuring that we are well-prepared for the future, regardless of what it may bring. DCM is a part of a global team with global projects and we look at opportunities to make a meaningful contribution and to collaborate with our colleagues in the other duty stations. Besides developing our technological tools and exploring new opportunities, we are now exploring the potential of AI through a new inter-duty station working group on Technology and AI, aimed at looking into innovative solutions and staying ahead of emerging trends.

In fact, you arrived in Geneva during a particularly complex phase

I arrived in October 2023 in the midst of a liquidity crisis and the phasing out of the business continuity measures put in place to respond to the pandemic.

What has that meant in practical terms?

We’ve had to work closely with our clients to make the necessary adjustments on both sides. Cash conservation measures have primarily targeted non-post expenditures such as the hiring of temporary staff in translation and interpretation, where our resources were reduced by 51%, amounting to around 17 million dollars. Our key message to clients has focused on the importance of managing resources efficiently and thankfully we have received their full support and understanding.

The end of business continuity measures took up a significant amount of my time initially. For instance, certain services – in particular, remote participation in meetings – had to be discontinued because we did not have a mandate to continue servicing them. We came under a lot of pressure following this decision, but we must adhere to mandates, and we cannot provide unmandated services, especially in the face of budgetary constraints. Despite extensive discussions with Member States and advance notice prior to suspending remote participation, some of our clients were not fully prepared for this change.

Why was a GA mandate for remote participation not forthcoming last year?

The issue is complex. Member States need assurances about confidentiality; mechanisms for authenticating participants’ identities, and platforms offering the highest level of cybersecurity. These concerns were central to the discussions that took place in the Fifth Committee, the Committee on Conferences, and the General Assembly. However, despite extensive deliberations, a consensus on a satisfactory solution wasn’t reached by the end of 2023.

Can we expect a different outcome this year?

A draft resolution is under discussion among the membership of the General Assembly. The most important factor for us as conference services would be the provision of a clear mandate by Member States. This mandate will provide us with the necessary direction, ensuring that we understand exactly what is expected of us. Once we have that clarity, we can then focus on how to implement those expectations.

The platforms used for remote participation have affected staff health. What measures will be taken to protect staff health?

During business continuity, a variety of platforms were used for remote participation, which regrettably had negative effects on staff health. OICT in New York is studying different solutions to address these issues. However, not only do we need the best platforms with superior sound quality; we also need to ensure that all remote participants adhere to best practices. During the pandemic, delegates were connecting from various locations with suboptimal sound quality such as their cars; their residence – often using mobile phones with poor connectivity, which significantly undermined sound quality and in turn impacted staff. This is why we need a precise set of rules for remote participation to protect our colleagues’ health and ensure the effectiveness of our services.

Another concern for staff is the introduction of AI. What impact will it have on the translation and interpretation services?

AI is an important development in our field and while it can be used to assist translators and interpreters by enhancing productivity and accuracy, I don’t think that it will replace them. Human expertise will always be crucial in verifying that documents meet the high standards required by Member States. Moreover, interpretation involves nuanced understanding and cultural context which is a part of interpretation that cannot be automated.

While it’s hard to predict how exactly AI will evolve in the future, we must actively shape its integration rather than wait for its impact and let technology happen. So we must be open to change, promote adaptability within teams and work closely with other UN departments and other international organizations to stay informed about the latest technological developments and how they can be leveraged to benefit our services.

Meanwhile, the SHP is entering a critical phase for the availability of meeting rooms. Will UNOG have enough rooms for regular meetings and still be able to host the World Health Assembly and the International Labour Conference?

The E Building will close in late 2025 for around two years, which will undoubtedly impact the availability of meeting rooms. Whilst the SHP is not under DCM’s control, the Director-General pays very close attention to its progress. So, we’ll see how things progress. The good news is that we have nine meeting rooms available in the A Building, along with the Assembly Hall and Tempus, which should be sufficient to accommodate regular meetings. However, we do anticipate potential bottlenecks during peak times, which may require clients to find alternatives. We are actively working to make the necessary adjustments to minimize disruptions. Our current planning suggests that we will be able to continue hosting the WHA and the ILC as scheduled in 2025.

You are also the UNOG Focal Point for Multilingualism. How do you plan to promote linguistic diversity and what does multilingualism mean for you?

Multilingualism is at the very core of what we do in DCM – it’s our raison d’être. While it’s true that English may dominate our daily interactions, we must not forget that we live in a French-speaking city and not overlook the importance of other UN languages. Effective communication in multiple languages is essential for all staff across UNOG. Equal treatment of languages is assured in all meetings – a crucial signal because the UN is a political organization and if you deny the use of a language or give prominence to one language, then you are sending a political message about the importance, not only of the language, but also the words of those who speak it. Therefore, we must make deliberate efforts to promote all official languages equally, ensuring that our communications and activities are truly multilingual. At the end of the day, this commitment to linguistic diversity reflects the core values of the United Nations and reinforces the importance of respecting and celebrating the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of our global community.

Why not increase the number of official languages, as Portugal and Brazil have advocated?

Expanding the number of official UN languages is a complex issue with huge implications. Such a change would require the agreement of the General Assembly. However, it is important to recognize that linguistic diversity goes far beyond the six official UN languages. Every language holds a rich pot of knowledge and culture, all of which deserve to be acknowledged and showcased whenever possible. At a human level, I see multilingualism as being closely connected to anti-racism. If you embrace and respect other languages and cultures, then you will be more accepting of the people who speak those languages. The UN encompasses a far richer tapestry of human experience than just the six official languages or any one dominant language. So, recognizing the broader spectrum of languages around the world is vital to our mission of inclusivity and understanding.

What qualities do you need to cope with such a broad mandate?

I think it’s crucial to listen closely to what’s happening around me and be ready to adapt quickly. That means I need to be decisive while accepting that some decisions may be unpopular. At the same time, it’s important to stay humble and recognize that there’s no point in forcing a one-size-fits-all solution. Fortunately, I haven’t faced any insurmountable challenges so far!