This initiative examines the way in which the UN system Organizations source and manage the IS and ICT services and infrastructure. Whilst some UN organizations have outsourced and decentralized part of the ICT services and infrastructure to country locations, the strategy proposes changes that, in addition to being more efficient and providing more timely support, can contribute to capacity building in developing countries and can make a direct contribution to the MDGs, and to the wider development agenda.

Its target position is one in which a large number of UN system organizations would utilize UN-owned shared services facilities operated and managed from bases in developing countries and countries in transition. It also suggests that IS and ICT could be used as a pilot to spearhead the development of a new model for the provision of administrative support in the UN. This project is being led by FAO. More...

Background: Problem Opportunity Target Position Advantages Constraints Timeframe Action Plan Sustainability

It is with improved training that we encourage understanding and willing compliance with Governance & Security best practice, improve maturity of the UN system in use of IS and ICT, and ensure that mainstreaming of IS and ICT in development programmes actually happens. The key deliverable is a series of IS and ICT training courses made available through the UN Staff College for training in UN system IS and ICT best practice. This would also be made available in CBT form and by video in the main supported languages of the UN, for wider distribution. This project is being led by UNCTAD. More...

Background: Problem Opportunity Target Position Advantages Constraints Timeframe Action Plan Sustainability

Business Case preparation and costing would deliver a set of business case preparation and project costing guidelines for senior managers, setting down minimum standards concerning how IS and ICT investments should be proposed and evaluated. More...

Background: Problem Opportunity Target Position Advantages Constraints Timeframe Action Plan Sustainability

Opportunities exist for improved returns on IS and ICT investments, but these require greater cooperation and joint working between UN system Organizations. This will require that UN system Organizations work to a set of agreed UN best practice guidelines in IS and ICT matters.

The key deliverable in this area is a UN Best Practice Guide for Information Governance containing Minimum Information Governance Standards across a wide range of ICT topics including Systems Development Methodology, Information Management Standards, Operations Procedures, Service Management, and Project Management Methodologies - the governance arrangements concerning how IS and ICT practitioners manage IS and ICT resources. It would be commissioned and delivered once, avoiding duplication and resulting different standards amongst UN Organizations. This project is being led by WFP. More...

Background: Problem Opportunity Target Position Advantages Timeframe Action Plan Sustainability

The key deliverable in this area is an improved return on investment for ERP solutions, and a lower cost of entry. In addition, teams of UN functional and IS experts would be established to provide advice on best practice procedures for common UN administrative and financial processes. This would enable the sharing of experiences and maximize the opportunities to achieve streamlining and effectiveness savings across a wide range of administrative processes. This project is being led by UN. More...

Background: Problem Opportunity Target Position Advantages Constraints Timeframe Action Plan Sustainability

Organizations generate a wealth of development knowledge, and a systematic approach is needed to gather, distill, organize, retrieve and present the information for their own use as well as for the stakeholders. Organizations need to evolve into knowledge based, and to offer up-stream advice and services to partner with countries. The aim is to foster a ‘community of knowledge workers and practitioners’. This project is being led by FAO. More...

Background: Problem Opportunity Target Position Advantages Constraints Timeframe Action Plan Sustainability

In the area of finance and some HR (e.g. payroll, cash management or records management) UN system requirements are common, or close to common, across Agencies. Reinventing and redeveloping these solutions is wasteful of resources, and long-term maintenance costs are multiplied by the number of agencies. This initiative proposes that sharing these applications has a clear advantage and could yield substantial cost savings. This project is being led by UNRWA. More...

Background: Problem Opportunity Target Position Advantages Constraints Timeframe Action Plan Sustainability

This initiative examines problems currently being experienced, on an agency-by-agency basis, with the establishment of effective telecommunications networks to all parts of the World to facilitate development activities, and to address crisis and emergency country situations. It considers the opportunities and recommends action on an inter-agency basis, in collaboration with NGOs and other interested partners, to establish a UN Development telecommunications network to provide a rapid UN assistance response, to lower the cost of entry, and to improve the telecommunications services, thereby improving the effectiveness of development programmes. The network would be managed by the UN or other development organizations. More...

Background: Problem Opportunity Target Position Advantages Constraints Timeframe Action Plan Sustainability