In the bustling corridors of the United Nations, where global challenges are met with coordinated efforts, staff mobility plays a crucial yet often understated role. Staff mobility refers to the movement of personnel across different roles, departments, and locations within the UN system. This dynamic process encompasses transfers between various UN entities, rotations into new roles, and assignments to different geographical areas, all aimed at enhancing the organization’s effectiveness and adaptability.

On 1 October 2023, the UN Secretariat unveiled a groundbreaking Administrative Instruction designed to enhance staff mobility across various UN entities, including field missions. This initiative aims to simplify staff transfers, broaden career opportunities, promote on-the-job learning, and increase organizational flexibility.

A major milestone was achieved with the launch of the first annual global mobility exercise on 1 November 2023. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) in DMSPC conducted thorough briefings for 60 Secretariat entities, focusing particularly on field missions.

After the expression of interest in specific mobility job openings and their ranking carried out by staff members and the subsequent review and ranking of applicants conducted by hiring managers, the exercise resulted in 78 reassignment recommendations, spanning diverse duty stations from challenging field locations to headquarters, including 51 reassignments between different category duty stations, of which 18 moves were from D/E to B/C and H/A duty stations. By 31 August, 23 staff members had successfully transitioned to their new roles, marking the beginning of this transformative process, and others are expected to assume their new roles and responsibilities by the end of September.

During the first mobility cycle, staff stationed in various locations with different hardship levels had the chance to relocate. Examples include moves from New York to Medellín, Colombia; from Juba, South Sudan to Brindisi, Italy; from Abyei, Sudan to New York; from Geneva to Goma, DRC; from Sana’a, Yemen to Islamabad, Pakistan; from Bonn to Addis Ababa; from New York to Bangkok; and from Bangui, CAR to RSCE Entebbe. While many of these relocations remained within ‘E’ hardship level stations, the program’s gradual expansion—particularly with new hires starting from October 2023—promises greater opportunities for staff to work in less challenging environments in the future.

The mobility exercise has not only streamlined the reassignment of staff within the same job functions, but has also facilitated nine cross-job family transitions. For example, an Associate Librarian based in New York is transitioning to Bangkok as an Associate Economic Affairs Officer; a Humanitarian Affairs Officer in Bamako is moving to Kinshasa as a Public Information Officer; a Programme Management Officer from Nairobi is relocating to Kuwait as an Administrative Officer; a Staff Welfare Assistant in Juba is being reassigned to Naqoura as an Administrative Assistant; and a Liaison Officer from Apartado is heading to Tehran as a Political Affairs Officer. This approach broadens the scope of professional experience and fosters versatile skill development across different roles and locations.

This mobility exercise represents a significant leap forward in the UN’s approach to staff placements and movements. It aims to optimize staff positioning to maximize their impact and support their professional growth.

The approach also ensures that staff members have opportunities for on-the-job essential skills acquisition and development through service across geographical locations where the Secretariat has a presence. The program is geared towards gradually expanding, offering even more opportunities for participants in the future.

“Staff mobility is more than just a game of musical chairs; it’s a cornerstone of organizational flexibility,” explains Zurab Elzarov, Head of the Mobility Implementation Team (MIT). “For the staff, mobility opens doors to significant professional development. By rotating through different positions and locations, employees gain a broad array of skills and experiences. This not only enriches their own careers but also enhances the UN’s overall capability. A staff member with experience in field operations, policy-making and mediation brings a wealth of knowledge that benefits the entire organization.”

Staff motivation and retention are also closely tied to mobility. Opportunities for new challenges and career advancement keep employees engaged and enthusiastic about their work. When staff members see a clear path for growth and a chance to make a difference in various roles, they are more likely to stay committed to the UN’s mission. Patrick Mwanje, Transport Assistant who was reassigned from Islamabad in UNMOGIP to Jerusalem in UNTSO, reflects on his experience: “I believe the core objectives were largely met, despite a few unforeseen challenges typical of any inaugural initiative. Personally, this exercise has been a transformative experience, broadening my professional skill set and exposing me to diverse operational environments. It has bolstered my flexibility and resilience, while expanding my global network and enhancing my understanding of various cultural contexts—a significant asset for my role in an international organization like the UN.”

Additionally, staff mobility strengthens the UN’s global presence. By ensuring that expertise is available where it’s most needed, the organization can maintain a robust and effective presence in diverse and often challenging environments. This global reach is essential for addressing the world’s pressing issues and fulfilling the UN’s mandate. As Arbreshe Zeka, Human Resources Assistant with RSCE in Entebbe who is moving as Staff Welfare Assistant to Juba in UNMISS, puts it: “I’m honored to be selected for reassignment through mobility. The process has been smooth, and I’m excited to embrace a new challenge. This opportunity will not only enhance my professional growth but also enable me to contribute to diverse areas of our work, which is truly thrilling.”

In essence, staff mobility is not just a logistical process but a strategic advantage that enables the United Nations to adapt, grow, and thrive in its quest to address global challenges. Through this dynamic approach to human resources, the UN ensures that it can meet the world’s evolving needs with agility and expertise. For Ashraf Abdelaal, Economic Affairs Officer, participation in the first mobility exercise was “a transformative journey, allowing me to embrace new challenges by relocating to UNCTAD in Geneva after nearly nine years in Iraq as an Economic Affairs Officer. While I am grateful to be among those who successfully transitioned, I believe there is still potential for improvement, especially in fostering greater staff participation in future exercises to create more movement opportunities.”

In coordination with the entity focal points for mobility and the participants of the first exercise, OHR is drawing lessons learnt from the first mobility exercise in preparation for the next cycles of this important program. The objective is to review the process and make it less cumbersome, timely and addressing the requests raised by staff such as increased communication, guidance and feedback on the exercise. In addition, in close collaboration with staff representatives, a proposal on additional non-financial incentives for currently serving staff members was developed with the aim of removing barriers and facilitating the smooth reassignment of staff.

As we look ahead, we encourage all staff to participate in the next mobility exercise. By taking part, you will not only gain invaluable experience and contribute to a cohesive and agile organization, but also play a key role in advancing the UN’s mission. Embrace this opportunity to broaden your professional horizons, enhance your skills, and help the UN thrive in its quest to address the world’s evolving needs.