United Nations Development Programme UNDP JPO Service Centre News and Activity Bulletin First Quarter UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
Contents News from the UNDP JPO Service Centre... JPOs/SARCs administered by the UNDP JPO Service Centre... Brief introduction to the JPO and SARC Programmes... Role of the UNDP JPO Service Centre... Breakdown by Organization... Breakdown by Donor... 7 Focus on the UNDP JPO/SARC Programme... UNDP and affiliated JPOs Breakdown by Entity... UNDP JPOs and SARCs Breakdown by Sector of Activity... UNDP JPOs and SARCs Overall Breakdown by Region... 4 UNDP JPOs Retention Rates... UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
News from the UNDP JPO Service Centre Looking back and ahead: - Trends proved to be another exciting and challenging year for the UNDP JPO Service Centre. We continued providing day-to-day human resources and strategic/counselling support to the JPOs and SARCs, while expanding our service lines and expertise. The following achievements can be highlighted: Recruitment of new JPOs and SARCs: 7 new JPOs (including with UNDP) and 9 new SARCs started their assignment in, consolidating the existing active community of young practitioners, and contributing to the United Nations cooperation and development work. Temporary figures from the client surveys (JPOs/SARCs, Donor Countries, and Partner Organisations) show a very high appreciation of the JPOSC s services (over 9% satisfaction rate). Detailed figures will be shared in the coming weeks. Welcoming new JPO donor countries: Australia, Kuwait, and Nigeria. Australia reactivated its JPO programme in by funding two JPO positions with UN Women and WHO. The State of Kuwait and UNDP signed a JPO agreement in October, leading to the funding 9 JPO posts with UNDP and post with UNIDO. The Federal Republic of Nigeria and UNDP also entered a JPO agreement in October. A total of 7 JPOs assigned to UNDP and partner Organizations will be recruited in. Strengthening other donor partnerships: in addition to the regular donor relation activities, partnerships with other donors were enhanced through closer cooperation on the JPO recruitment process (Sweden further outsourced part of the recruitment process to UNDP) and increase in donors supporting the SARC Programme (Norway funded its first SARCs in ). Numerous activities related to the UNDP and UN Women JPO career support activities: creation of a career support brochure, JPO-tailored webinars on Building Your Career, review of the content and structure of the JPO pre-departure training in Copenhagen, and systematic offer of individual sessions of career coaching/counselling to JPOs and SARCs. Organization of a JPO Duty Station Survey: This one-time survey was designed to seek feedback from UNDP Country Offices or Headquarters Duty Stations that currently or recently benefited from a JPO placement, in order to better respond to the needs of the hosting offices. Implementation of accounting and financial changes due to UNDP s adoption of IPSAS standards: new revenue management for JPO Programme contribution, revised donor reports. More work on these questions of importance both to UNDP and to the donor community will take place in. New JPO Job Description format: the JPO Job Description format has been reviewed, in particular to better highlights two key elements in the success of a JPO placement: access to supervision and learning/training opportunities. Strengthening networking activities: move of the JPO-Net, the SARC-Net and the JAA-Net from an email-based network system to UNDP s social platform Teamworks, allowing more cross-group interaction and knowledge sharing options. UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
In spite of these various activities and achievements, the UNDP JPO Service Centre had to face a challenging situation in terms of funding commitments. Following a trend initiated in with a difficult financial situation and budgetary constraints from the donor community, the JPO/SARC population administered by the UNDP JPO Service Centre continued its decrease in. We hope to see a shift in the funding trends in, thanks to the emergence of new donor partners and new funding commitments from UNDP s traditional donor partners. Looking ahead in, the UNDP JPO Service Centre will strive to continue providing high quality services to its clients (JPOs/SARCs, duty stations, donors and UN Organizations) and to further developing its service lines. We are also planning to implement several new initiatives this year, such as: fully revamped JPOSC website roll-out of the intercultural management project further enhancement of the JPO career development programme piloting the upcoming UNDP corporate e-recruit system competency-based interview technique training courses to Country Offices organisation of a SARC workshop, and a UNDP JPO workshop on Human Development participation in career/student fairs to present the JPO programme & other employment opportunities More information to come in the next bulletins! From the JPO Service Centre The JPO Service Centre team recently encountered some changes as Ms. Trephene Andrea, Human Resources Assistant at the UNDP JPO Service Centre, has recently undertaken a one year Detail Assignment with the UNDP BES/SAS Team in Copenhagen. We wish her all the best in her new assignment! Ms. Olga Nielsen, HR Associate, has left the JPO Service Centre team in Copenhagen. Olga joined the UNDP JPO Service Centre in November. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Olga for her contribution and wish her all the best in her new assignment with UNFPA! Finally, the UNDP JPO Service Centre is very pleased to announce that Ms. Sonia Luz joined the JPOSC as a HR Assistant. She will cover the maternity leave of Ms. Angelica Marino. Sonia is from Portugal and she comes with experience from the Learning & Development team in UNOPS, from the European Environment Agency where she worked on the Rio+ Conference and most recently working with a refugee organisation in Copenhagen. My JPO Story by Maria Cadahia: News from current and former JPOs Maria Cadahia, who was a Spanish-Funded JPO with UNDP, shares with us her experience and insights on her assignments in Montenegro and Papua New Guinea. Read Maria s story UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org 4
JPOs/SARCs administered by the UNDP JPO Service Centre Brief introduction to the JPO and SARC Programmes The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme offers young professionals under years old the opportunity to gain two to three years of experience in multilateral development cooperation. In turn, JPOs bring up-to-date academic knowledge to recipient UN Organizations. In, UNDP expanded its JPO Programme to include a Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator (SARC) Programme in response to a need to support UN coordination in the field. SARCs are experienced young professionals (in many cases former JPOs) recruited at the P level. The SARC Programme is currently funded by Denmark, Spain and Sweden. Both the JPO and SARC Programmes allow UNDP and other United Nations entities to augment professional staffing capacity and to create a pool of talent to tap into for future staffing needs. Both Programmes also give participating donor countries a unique opportunity to strengthen their national capacity in the field of cooperation and to market their nationals with the UN System. Role of the UNDP JPO Service Centre Part of the UNDP Office of Human Resources, the UNDP JPO Service Centre (JPOSC) is in charge of the following activities: Overall management of the UNDP and affiliated (UNCDF, UNDOCO, and UNV) JPO Programme, as well as the SARC Programme. This responsibility includes strategic donor activities, such as JPO/SARC placements, supervision, career planning, etc. 4 4 Number of JPOs and SARCs Day-to-day contracts, benefits and entitlements administration of all or some JPOs assigned to partner UN Organizations (UN Women, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOPS, UNRWA, UNSSC, UNU, UPU, and WHO). 8 As of January, the UNDP JPO Service Centre administers 9 JPOs and SARCs, as follows: JPOs/SARCs are assigned to UNDP and affiliated funds and programmes (UNCDF, UNDOCO and UNV) JPOs are assigned to partner UN Agencies that have delegated the administration of part or all of their JPO Programme to UNDP. Jan. Jan. 7 Jan. 8 UNDP JPOs Jan. 9 non-undp JPOs Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. UNDP SARCs UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
Breakdown by Organization As of January, the UNDP JPO Service Centre (JPOSC) administers 9 JPOs and SARCs, assigned to UN entities. Compared to the first quarter, the total number of JPOs/SARCs administered by the JPO Service Centre has decreased by %. This diminution can be explained by the current overall funding context, as well as by the gradual decrease of JPOs/SARCs funded by Spain (from in Jan. to 7 in Jan. ). The number of UNDP and affiliated (UNCDF, UNDOCO and UNV) JPOs and SARCs represents 4% of the total population serviced by the JPO Service Centre. Organization Number of JPOs& SARCs Percentage UN Women 4 8% UNAIDS % UNDP 44 8% UNDP / UNCDF % UNDP / UNDOCO % UNDP / UNV % UNFPA 44 % UNITAR % UNOPS 4 % UNRWA 7% WHO % Total 9 % 4 Number of JPOs and SARCs 4 8 WHO UNRWA UNOPS UNITAR UNIDO UNFPA UNAIDS UN Women UNDP / UNV UNDP / UNDOCO UNDP / UNCDF UNDP UNDP SARC Programme Jan. Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
Breakdown by Donor As of January, Spain funds one JPO/SARC out of five, and more than 9% of all current JPOs/SARCs are funded by European countries. This trend will change in the course of the year with the arrival of JPOs funded by Kuwait and Nigeria. Donor UNDP &affiliated JPOs & SARCS Non-UNDP JPOs Total by donor Percentage Austria % Belgium 8 9 7 % Denmark 7 7 4 % Finland 8% France 7 9 % Germany % Greece 4 4 % Italy % Japan 8 7% Luxembourg 9 4 4% Norway 8 8% Rep. of Korea % Spain 9 8 7 % Sweden 7 9 7% Switzerland % The Netherlands % Total 9 % 4 Number of JPOs/SARCs 8 9 7 8 7 9 7 4 8 4 9 8 9 7 JPOs administered on behalf of other UN Organizations UNDP and affiliated JPOs & SARCs UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org 7
Breakdown by Gender As of January, 74% of all JPOs and SARCs administered by the UNDP JPO Service Centre are female. This is the highest percentage of female participants in the JPO/SARC Programmes ever. Organization Number of JPOs & SARCS Percentage Females 74% Males 7 % Total 9 % 4 Number of JPOs and SARCs 4 8 Jan. Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Males Females UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org 8
Upcoming Activity As of January, JPO/SARC positions have been selected by the donor community and are in the process of being filled. The recruitment process varies from post to post: some JPOs/SARCs are in the final recruitment stage, while other placements will be advertised in the coming months. Donor UNDP & affiliated JPOs and SARCS Non-UNDP JPOs Total by Donor Percentage Australia % Austria % Denmark % Finland % France 9% Germany 8% Italy % Japan 8% Kuwait 9 % Luxembourg % Norway 4 4 8 % Republic of Korea % Sweden 9% The Netherlands % Total % Upcoming JPOs and SARCs 9 9 4 4 JPOs administered on behalf of other UN Organizations UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org 9
Focus on the UNDP JPO/SARC Programme UNDP and affiliated JPOs Breakdown by Entity The UNDP JPO population includes JPOs directly assigned to UNDP, as well as to UNCDF, UNDOCO and UNV. Until, JPOs assigned to UNIFEM (now part of UN Women) were included in the UNDP JPO population. The total number of UNDP JPOs has therefore decreased as UN Women JPOs are no longer included. Entity Number of JPOs Percentage UNDOCO % UNV % UNCDF % UNDP 9% Total 4 % UNDP UNCDF UNV UNDOCO 9 UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
UNDP SARCs Breakdown by Donor Initially funded by Denmark from, the Special Assistant to the Resident Coordinator (SARC) Programme is now funded by four donor countries, with Norway recently joining the Programme. Donor Number of SARCS Percentage Denmark % Norway % Spain 8 % Sweden % Total % 4 Number of SARCs 9 7 7 7 4 8 4 8 Jan. 7 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Denmark Norway Spain Sweden UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
UNDP JPOs and SARCs Breakdown by Gender The SARC population is more gender-balanced than the JPO population, which reflects the fact that males are more represented in higher level UN positions. This trend is however slightly reversing, as the pool of potential SARC talent is becoming increasingly female-based. Gender UNDP JPOs SARCS Total Percentage Females 9 7% Males 4 4 9% Total 4 % % % 9% 9% 8% 8% 7% % 7% 7% % % % % 4% 4% % % % % 7% % % 8% % UNDP and affiliated JPOs % SARCs Males Females Males Females UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
UNDP JPOs and SARCs Breakdown by Sector of Activity Because of the growing importance of the SARC Programme, % of UNDP JPOs/SARCs now work in the field of UN System Coordination. The largest following groups are related to UNDP s other main areas of intervention (governance, environment, and crisis prevention and recovery). Sector of Activity Number of UNDP JPOs & SARCS Percentage HIV/AIDS % Gender % Private sector development, micro-finance and trade % Capacity Development % Local Governance and Microfinance % MDGs & Sustainable human development 4% Business and administrative management % Poverty and economic issues % Strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation 7% Crisis prevention, humanitarian relief and recovery % Energy and environment 9 % Governance and human rights 7% UN system coordination 47 % Total % UN system coordination 47 Governance and human rights Energy and environment Crisis prevention, humanitarian relief and recovery Strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation Poverty and economic issues Business and administrative management 9 MDGs & Sustainable human development Local Governance and Microfinance Capacity Development Private sector development, micro-finance and trade Gender HIV/AIDS Number of UNDP & affiliated JPOs and SARCs 4 UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
UNDP JPOs and SARCs Overall Breakdown by Region Close to one JPO/SARC out of three is assigned to sub-saharan Africa, confirming the donors interest in supporting one of UNDP s key regions of intervention. The number of JPOs assigned to Headquarters locations has increased over the years and now reaches % in relative terms. Region Number of UNDP JPOs & SARCs Percentage Africa 4 % Arab States 8% Asia-Pacific 4 % Eastern Europe and the CIS 4% Headquarters % Latin America and the Caribbean 8 % Total % Number of UNDP JPOs and SARCs 4 7 4 4 4 8 4 48 4 8 8 9 4 7 7 4 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Africa Arab States Asia-Pacific Europe & the CIS Headquarters Latin America and Car. Note on the graphics: UNDP-UNIFEM JPOs were included in the above 8, 9 and figures. They have been taken out of the figures from January, as UNIFEM is now part of UN Women, which is an Organization distinct to UNDP. UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org 4
UNDP JPOs and SARCs Breakdown by Region: Africa Donor UNDP & affiliated JPOs SARCs Total by donor Percentage Belgium % Denmark % Finland % Germany % Italy % Japan % Luxembourg % Norway % Rep. of Korea % Spain 7% Sweden 8 4% Switzerland % The Netherlands 4 4 % Total 4 % Africa Region (UNDP & affiliated JPOs) 8 Africa Region (SARCs) 4 4 4 8 Norway Spain Sweden UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
UNDP JPOs and SARCs Breakdown by Region: Arab States Donor UNDP & affiliated JPOs SARCs Total by donor Percentage Belgium 8% Denmark 7% Italy 7% Japan 8% Norway % Spain % Total 8 4 % Arab States Region (UNDP & affiliated JPOs) Arab States Region (SARCs) Norway Spain UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
UNDP JPOs and SARCs Breakdown by Region: Asia-Pacific Donor UNDP & affiliated JPOs SARCs Total by donor Percentage Belgium 4% Denmark 4 7% Finland % France 4% Japan % Luxembourg 4% Norway 8% Spain % Sweden 4% The Netherlands 8% Total 9 4 % Asia-Pacific Region (UNDP & affiliated JPOs) Asia-Pacific Region (SARCs) 4 Denmark Spain Sweden UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org 7
UNDP JPOs and SARCs Breakdown by Region: Eastern Europe and the CIS Donor UNDP & affiliated JPOs SARCs Total by donor Percentage Finland % Greece % Italy 7% The Netherlands 7% Total % Eastern Europe & the CIS Region (UNDP & affiliated JPOs) Finland Greece Italy The Netherlands UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org 8
UNDP JPOs and SARCs Breakdown by Region: Latin America and the Caribbean Donor UNDP & affiliated JPOs SARCs Total by donor Percentage Belgium % Italy % Japan % Luxembourg % Norway 7% Spain % The Netherlands % Total 8 % Latin America & the Caribbean Region (UNDP & affiliated JPOs) Latin America and the Caribbean Region (SARCs) 4 4 Spain UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org 9
UNDP JPOs and SARCs Breakdown by Region: Headquarters Locations Donor UNDP & affiliated JPOs SARCs Total by donor Percentage Belgium 4 4 7% Finland % France % Germany 9 9 % Greece 4% Japan % Luxembourg 9% Norway 9% Rep. of Korea % Spain 9 % Sweden % The Netherlands 9% Total % Headquarters Locations (UNDP & affiliated JPOs) Headquarters Locations (SARCs) 9 4 9 9 Spain Sweden UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
UNDP JPOs Retention Rates Retention groups are defined as follows: Retained, current UN Staff groups former JPOs who still work in the UN System. Retained, former UN Staff groups former JPOs who worked for at least six months within the UN System after their JPO assignment, but who currently have another professional activity or occupation. Non retained JPOs groups former JPOs who did not work at all, or worked for less than six months, within the UN System after the completion of their JPO assignment. Over the last ten years, at least 4% of UNDP and affiliated JPOs continued working in the UN System after their JPO assignment; and at least JPO out of still works in the UN System. This figure is probably higher as it is not possible to keep a perfectly accurate carrier track of all separated JPOs. The detailed figures below are based on available information as of August. Updated figures will be shared in the next issue of this Bulletin. UNDP Retention figures for and will be shared in the coming months. UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
Current retention status (based on available information as of end ) total number of JPOs: JPO Year end retained current UN staff, females retained no longer UN staff, females not retained, females not retained, males retained current UN staff, males retained no longer UN staff, males 8 9 7 7 9 7 7 9 8 9 7 4 4 7 8 8 7 9 8 8 8 7 9 4 7 9 8 7 7 7 9 7 9 8 9 8 Total 47 9 7 4 79 Total 8 4 7 8 9 7 9 7 7 8 4 8 7 7 Number of JPOs 8 8 7 7 9 9 8 4 8 7 7 9 4 7 8 9 retained, current UN staff, females retained, current UN staff, males UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org
Current retention status (based on available information as of end ) in percentage: JPO Year end retained current UN staff, females retained no longer UN staff, females not retained, females not retained, males retained current UN staff, males retained no longer UN staff, males % % 7% % % 8% % 8% 8% % 8% % 8% % % % % 8% % % % 4 % 4% 9% 9% % 8% % % % 9% % 8% % % % 7% % % 4% % % 7 % % 4% % 9% 4% % 8 4% % % 4% 8% % % 9 % % % 7% % % % % % 44% % % % % Percentage 9% 8% % % % % % Total % 9% 8% 7% % % 4% % % % % % % % 9% 9% % 7% % 4% 44% % 8% % 8% 9% % 7% 4% % % 8% 8% % % 4% % 7% % % % 8% 8% % 4% % 8% % % % 4% % % % 8% % % % % 9% 4% % 8% % % % % % % 4 7 8 9 retained, current UN staff, females retained, current UN staff, males UNDP JPO Service Centre - www.jposc.org