United Nations Staff Selection System

The United Nations Secretariat, in April 2010, pursuant to Secretary-General's bulletin ST/SGB/2002/5, promulgated United Nations Staff Selection System administrative instruction (ST/AI 2010/3) dated 22 April 2010.[1] ^{:p2, preamble} Administrative instruction ST/AI 2010/3 supersedes and abolishes the administrative instructions titled "Staff selection system" (ST/AI/ 2006/3/Rev.1), "Technical cooperation personnel and OPAS officers" (ST/AI/297 and Add.1), and "Movement of staff from the Field Service category to the Professional category" (ST/AI/360/Rev.1 and Corr.1).[1]^{:section 13.2} The new administrative instruction will remain in effect "until specifically amended or abolished".[2]^{:section 2(b)} ST/AI 2010/3 applies to all appointments up to the D-2 level that have contracts of 1 year or longer. It excludes appointments at the Assistant Secretary-General and Under-Secretary-General levels, temporary appointments, and appointment of staff selected through a competitive examination.[1]^{:section 3.1 and 3.2}

The intent of the new system is to integrate "recruitment, placement, promotion and mobility of staff within the Secretariat" up to and including D-1 and equivalent posts.[1]^{:section 2.1} The new system introduces a new requirement of periodic 'mobility' for promotion for "Staff in the Professional and above categories, up to and including those at the D-2 level".[1]^{:section 2.1}

ST/SGB and ST/AI

In the hierarchy of UN laws, ST/Secretary-General bulletins (ST/SGB) are higher than ST/AI. ST/SGB are bulletins that promulgate "Regulations adopted by the General Assembly, establish Financial Rules, Staff Rules and the organizational structure of the Secretariat and contain important decisions of policy. They are issued by the Secretary-General and remain in effect from a given date until specifically amended or abolished".[3]^{:section 2(a)} The ST/AI series are administrative instructions that implement ST/SGB. These "prescribe instructions and procedures ... and set forth office practices and procedures to be applied in more than one department of the Secretariat. These instructions remain in effect from a given date until specifically amended or abolished".[3]^{:section 2(b)}

Staff Selection System and gender equality in the UN

Affirmative measures to achieve gender equality in the UN system are contained in administrative instruction ST/AI/1999/9, "Special Measures for the Achievement of Gender Equality". This remains in force, and is listed under the heading Appointments, placement and promotion in the Annual Index to Administrative Issuance along with the administrative instruction on the Staff Selection System (ST/AI/2010/3).[3][4] Since 2010, the UN Secretariat has contended that section 13.3 of the new Staff Selection System (ST/AI 2010/3) supersedes the administrative instruction on gender equality (ST/AI 1999/9), especially its section 1.8 on affirmative action as it is inconsistent with 2010/3.[5]^{:p 33, paragraph 69} Similar provisions for gender equality existed in earlier Staff Selection System administrative instructions (ST/AI/2006/3).[6]^{:p14, section 13.3} However, it has been reported that administrative instruction addressing gender equality in the UN has become a more prominent issue since 2010 and has been implemented reluctantly with diminishing enthusiasm by UN entities.[5]^{:p 33, paragraph 70} UN Women, in contrast, continues to affirm that ST/AI/1999/9 is in effect and applicable.[7] The Secretary General has also reiterated to the general assembly that ST/AI/1999/9 remains in effect.[5]^{:p 33, paragraph 67}

Manuals on staff selection

The administrative instructions on the Staff Selection System have been supplemented with several manuals that are designed to serve as guidance on the responsibilities of (a) the head of the department, (b) the hiring manager, (c) the staff member/applicant, (d) the central review body members, (e) the recruiter (namely, the Office of Human Resources Management [OHRM]), as well as others.[1]^{:section 2.6} The main manuals, which are periodically updated by OHRM, are: (a) The Applicant's Manual: Manual for the Applicant on the Staff Selection System (Inspira);[8] and (b) Manual for the Recruiter on the Staff Selection System.[9]^:247

Jurisprudence

The Staff Selection System (ST/AI 2010/3) has been a frequent cause of litigation, especially with regard to affirmative action policies promulgated in ST/AI 1999/9. UN tribunals have ruled in favor of the UN gender equality policies in ST/AI 1999/9. Recent tribunal judgements are:

Appleton (2012)

In August 2012, the tribunal acknowledged that "The general provisions to give women preferential treatment for appointments are found in ST/AI/1999/9" and that during "selection, vacancies shall be filled by a woman if her qualifications (a) meet the requirements for the vacant post and (b) are substantially equal or superior to those of competing male candidates (sec. 1.8)"[10]^{:paragraph 54} As a result, the tribunal confirmed the mandatory character of the "rules in ST/AI/1999/9 concerning preferential treatment of women in selection processes".[10]^{:paragraph(S) 68, 70}

Farrimond (2014)

In August 2014, the UN administration accepted in the United Nations Dispute Tribunal that administrative instruction ST/AI/1999/9 was valid in a selection process.[11]^{:paragraph 33} In examining whether the relevant sections of ST/AI 1999/9 had "been correctly applied to the case at hand", the tribunal concluded that the administration failed to respect the provisions of ST/AI 1999/9[11]^{:paragraphs 36–38} and rescinded the initial selection decision for this and other infractions.[11]^{:paragraph 41}

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References

UN Secretariat (21 April 2010). "Administrative instruction Staff selection system, ST /AI/2010/3" (PDF). UN Secretariat. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
Chief, Policy and Conditions of Service Section, Office of Human Resources Management (January 2014). "Introduction". United Nations Index to administrative issuances: ST/IC/2014/1* (2014: Reissued for technical reasons on 22 May 2014. ed.). NY, USA: United Nations. pp. 2, 49, 70. The Annual Index to administrative issuances lists in alphanumeric order by series symbol, all issuances at United Nations Headquarters that were current as at 31 December 2013CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Chief, Policy and Conditions of Service Section, Office of Human Resources Management (January 2014). "Introduction". United Nations Index to administrative issuances: ST/IC/2014/1* (2014: Reissued for technical reasons on 22 May 2014. ed.). NY, USA: United Nations. pp. 2, 49, 70. The Annual Index to administrative issuances lists in alphanumeric order by series symbol, all issuances at United Nations Headquarters that were current as at 31 December 2013. ST/AI. "These administrative instructions prescribe instructions and procedures for the implementation of Secretary-General's bulletins and set forth office practices and procedures to be applied in more than one department of the Secretariat. These instructions remain in effect from a given date until specifically amended or abolishedCS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
United Nations (21 September 1999). "ST /AI/1999/9. SPECIAL MEASURES FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF GENDER EQUALITY" (PDF). New York: Secretariat. p. 7. Retrieved 9 December 2014. Gender Equality A/I( ST/AI/1999/9), superseded ST/AI/412 of 5 January 1996.
General Assembly (4 September 2012). "67/347 Improvement in the status of women in the United Nations system". Report of the Secretary-General. United Nations (A /67/347): 58. Retrieved 11 December 2014. Advancement of women: implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women
Secretariat (15 November 2006). "Administrative instruction Staff selection system (ST /AI/2006/3)" (PDF). UN Secretariat. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
U N Women (20 December 2014). "Gender related United Nations system policies". UN Women. UN Women. Retrieved 20 December 2014. II. will remain in effect until the Secretary-General is satisfied that substantial progress towards the goal of gender balance has been made. The special measures governing the selection and placement of women candidates apply for the filing of all vacant posts at the Professional level in every department and office that has not met the goal of 50/50 gender distribution overall and at each grade level.
OHRM, UN secretariat (18 April 2012). "The Applicant's Manual Manual for the Applicant on the Staff Selection System (inspira) (Release 2.2)" (PDF). OHRM, UN Secretariat. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
Office of Human Resources Management (12 October 2012). "The Recruiter's Manual Manual for the Recruiter on the Staff Selection System (inspira), Release 3.0" (PDF). UN Secretariat. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
Judgment No.: UNDT/2012/125 Date: 14 August 2012 UNITED NATIONS DISPUTE TRIBUNAL:APPLETON v. SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, http://www.un.org/en/oaj/files/undt/judgments/undt-2012-125.pdf
UNITED NATIONS DISPUTE TRIBUNAL (June 19, 2014). "FARRIMOND v. SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS" (PDF). Judgment. Geneva: UNITED NATIONS DISPUTE TRIBUNAL. Judgment No.: Undt/2014/068. Retrieved 19 December 2014.

External links

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[2010/3-1] UN Secretariat (21 April 2010). "Administrative instruction Staff selection system, ST /AI/2010/3" (PDF). UN Secretariat. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2015.

[ST/IC/2014/1*-2] Chief, Policy and Conditions of Service Section, Office of Human Resources Management (January 2014). "Introduction". United Nations Index to administrative issuances: ST/IC/2014/1* (2014: Reissued for technical reasons on 22 May 2014. ed.). NY, USA: United Nations. pp. 2, 49, 70. The Annual Index to administrative issuances lists in alphanumeric order by series symbol, all issuances at United Nations Headquarters that were current as at 31 December 2013CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[2ST/IC/2014/1*-3] Chief, Policy and Conditions of Service Section, Office of Human Resources Management (January 2014). "Introduction". United Nations Index to administrative issuances: ST/IC/2014/1* (2014: Reissued for technical reasons on 22 May 2014. ed.). NY, USA: United Nations. pp. 2, 49, 70. The Annual Index to administrative issuances lists in alphanumeric order by series symbol, all issuances at United Nations Headquarters that were current as at 31 December 2013. ST/AI. "These administrative instructions prescribe instructions and procedures for the implementation of Secretary-General's bulletins and set forth office practices and procedures to be applied in more than one department of the Secretariat. These instructions remain in effect from a given date until specifically amended or abolishedCS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[ST_/AI/1999/9-1-4] United Nations (21 September 1999). "ST /AI/1999/9. SPECIAL MEASURES FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF GENDER EQUALITY" (PDF). New York: Secretariat. p. 7. Retrieved 9 December 2014. Gender Equality A/I( ST/AI/1999/9), superseded ST/AI/412 of 5 January 1996.

[A_/67/347-5] General Assembly (4 September 2012). "67/347 Improvement in the status of women in the United Nations system". Report of the Secretary-General. United Nations (A /67/347): 58. Retrieved 11 December 2014. Advancement of women: implementation of the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women

[ST_/AI/2006/3-6] Secretariat (15 November 2006). "Administrative instruction Staff selection system (ST /AI/2006/3)" (PDF). UN Secretariat. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

[Gender_related_system_policies-7] U N Women (20 December 2014). "Gender related United Nations system policies". UN Women. UN Women. Retrieved 20 December 2014. II. will remain in effect until the Secretary-General is satisfied that substantial progress towards the goal of gender balance has been made. The special measures governing the selection and placement of women candidates apply for the filing of all vacant posts at the Professional level in every department and office that has not met the goal of 50/50 gender distribution overall and at each grade level.

[The_Applicant's_Manual,_2012-8] OHRM, UN secretariat (18 April 2012). "The Applicant's Manual Manual for the Applicant on the Staff Selection System (inspira) (Release 2.2)" (PDF). OHRM, UN Secretariat. Retrieved 6 April 2015.

[Release_3.0_Recruiters_manual-9] Office of Human Resources Management (12 October 2012). "The Recruiter's Manual Manual for the Recruiter on the Staff Selection System (inspira), Release 3.0" (PDF). UN Secretariat. Retrieved 6 April 2015.

[un.org-10] Judgment No.: UNDT/2012/125 Date: 14 August 2012 UNITED NATIONS DISPUTE TRIBUNAL:APPLETON v. SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, http://www.un.org/en/oaj/files/undt/judgments/undt-2012-125.pdf

[Judgment_No.:_Undt/2014/068-11] UNITED NATIONS DISPUTE TRIBUNAL (June 19, 2014). "FARRIMOND v. SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS" (PDF). Judgment. Geneva: UNITED NATIONS DISPUTE TRIBUNAL. Judgment No.: Undt/2014/068. Retrieved 19 December 2014.