WIPO Director General Francis Gurry will Chair the United Nations (UN) High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM) – the UN body in charge of addressing the administrative and management issues of common concern to the UN system – for a two year period as of fall 2012.
This decision was taken on Friday, April 13, 2012 at the bi-annual meeting of the UN Chief Executives Board (CEB), on the proposal of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The CEB groups all executive heads of the UN system.
The HLCM is made up of senior administrative managers of the UN System organizations. It meets face-to-face twice a year and undertakes ad-hoc consultations and coordination initiatives on a continuing basis. The body is charged with identifying and analyzing administrative and management issues, which require a system-wide response. It is authorized to take decisions on behalf of the Executive Heads and to identify, promote and coordinate management reforms that will improve services, achieve productivity improvements and increase efficiency and effectiveness across the UN system.
Current issues under consideration by the HLCM include safety of UN staff, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the UN system, including in the areas of human resources, finance and budget, procurement and information and communication technology (ICT).
One of the key issues to be addressed during the next meetings of the HLCM is the development of the UN Change Plan based on the Secretary-General’s vision for the Organization, and having four main deliverables – enhancing trust and confidence, engaging staff, improving working methods and rationalizing structures and functions.
HLCM is chaired on a rotational basis by one of the executive heads members of CEB. Mr. Gurry replaces Ms. Josette Sheeran, the former Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).