INSIDE VIEW

Life as the UN’s paymaster

UN Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan tells us how he balances the UN’s books, explains our mission to funders, and keeps everyone paid on time, wherever they are. How much money do you manage? We have roughly $14 billion in annual revenues. I say “roughly”, and this...

Delving into the UNOG Conduct and Discipline focal points

Bettina Gerber, Chief of the Human Resources Legal Unit and Jérôme Blanchard, Legal Officer work to combat concerns and assist in conflict resolutions for staff at UNOG. In this interview, they reveal the challenges of their respective roles and the steps towards a...

Cycling around The Palais

Faced with a climate emergency, Wells’ quote (above) about cycling is more resonant to us today than when he wrote it. We read a lot about the changes we need to make to combat climate change: eating less meat, using renewables, reducing the number of flights we take,...

Êtes-vous passionné(e) de langues? Tentez l’interprétation

Rien ne prédestinait Valérie Coutarel à embrasser la carrière d’interprète. D’origine franco-française, vivant en Province, jusqu’à 11 ans, elle n’est exposée à aucune langue étrangère. En outre, à cette époque, il n’y a pas d’Internet et la télévision française ne...

Is there a (professional) life after the UN?

The UN is a wonderful place to work. I recall my excitement when I first crossed the 59th Street Bridge into Manhattan, about to start an assignment in the Secretary-General’s Office - having just resigned after a few years with the UK Foreign Service. Some...

Centre for Learning and Multilingualism adopts UN values

Throughout and since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear to staff at the Centre for Learning and Multilingualism (CLM) that training from now on will be different. Flexible Working Arrangements (FWA) are now default across the organization. This has had a big...

Independence of the Office of the UN Ombudsman

Independence is often described as the bedrock underpinning the other three fundamental principles -neutrality, confidentiality, and informality - supporting the policies and practice of any Ombudsman’s Office. The principle of independence was a major driver behind...

From the battlefield to the UN

Here’s what Mr. Duley said when I asked him to explain how his unique experiences had shaped his understanding of war-torn environments and how they are represented. “When I was thirty I switched from working as a photographer in the world of fashion and music, to...

Informality: the hidden treasure in conflict resolution

Few people know that the United Nations affords its managers and staff the opportunity to discuss their workplace concerns, informally and amicably without prejudice to their rights in pursuing formal recourse. Even if they are vaguely aware of its existence, most...

INSIDE VIEW

Delving into the UNOG Conduct and Discipline focal points

Bettina Gerber, Chief of the Human Resources Legal Unit and Jérôme Blanchard, Legal Officer work to combat concerns and assist in conflict resolutions for staff at UNOG. In this interview, they reveal the challenges of their respective roles and the steps towards a...

Cycling around The Palais

Faced with a climate emergency, Wells’ quote (above) about cycling is more resonant to us today than when he wrote it. We read a lot about the changes we need to make to combat climate change: eating less meat, using renewables, reducing the number of flights we take,...

Êtes-vous passionné(e) de langues? Tentez l’interprétation

Rien ne prédestinait Valérie Coutarel à embrasser la carrière d’interprète. D’origine franco-française, vivant en Province, jusqu’à 11 ans, elle n’est exposée à aucune langue étrangère. En outre, à cette époque, il n’y a pas d’Internet et la télévision française ne...

Is there a (professional) life after the UN?

The UN is a wonderful place to work. I recall my excitement when I first crossed the 59th Street Bridge into Manhattan, about to start an assignment in the Secretary-General’s Office - having just resigned after a few years with the UK Foreign Service. Some...

Centre for Learning and Multilingualism adopts UN values

Throughout and since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear to staff at the Centre for Learning and Multilingualism (CLM) that training from now on will be different. Flexible Working Arrangements (FWA) are now default across the organization. This has had a big...

Independence of the Office of the UN Ombudsman

Independence is often described as the bedrock underpinning the other three fundamental principles -neutrality, confidentiality, and informality - supporting the policies and practice of any Ombudsman’s Office. The principle of independence was a major driver behind...

From the battlefield to the UN

Here’s what Mr. Duley said when I asked him to explain how his unique experiences had shaped his understanding of war-torn environments and how they are represented. “When I was thirty I switched from working as a photographer in the world of fashion and music, to...

Informality: the hidden treasure in conflict resolution

Few people know that the United Nations affords its managers and staff the opportunity to discuss their workplace concerns, informally and amicably without prejudice to their rights in pursuing formal recourse. Even if they are vaguely aware of its existence, most...

Walking the talk on empowering women at the UN and beyond

Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, also known as SDG5, is not only one of the 17 goals under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but also a catalyst for sustainable development in all its dimensions. Gender equality is thus one of the...

Diversity equals excellence

Diversity is good for all of us”, said Ana Casades matter-of-factly, as she shrugged and looked across to me. “It goes to the core of what the UN is about,” added her colleague, María Carolina López Uribe. Ms. Casades and Ms. López Uribe are both Spanish language...

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