Chronology
2006
November 9
The Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence in the areas of Development, Humanitarian Assistance and the Environment delivers its report “delivering as One” to the General Assembly with far-reaching proposals for a more unified, coherent UN structure at the country level.
October
The Secretariat issues the “United Nations Secretariat First Consolidated Report 2005”, covering both financial and programme information for the year 2005, and is a first step in improving Secretariat reporting to the Member States.
20 July
In resolution 59/283, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to form a panel of external, independent experts to review and redesign the United Nations administration of justice system. The “Justice Redesign Panel” subsequently submitted comprehensive and far-reaching proposals for a new model for resolving staff grievances.
10 July
The Steering Committee for the “Comprehensive Review of Governance and Oversight with the UN and its Funds, Programmes, and Specialized Agencies” submits its 2005 World Summit-mandated review to the Secretary-General.
7 July
The General Assembly, in response to the Secretary-General’s 7 March report, decided to approve a modest package of reforms granting the Secretary-General limited budgetary discretion, approving the creation of a Chief Information Technology Officer and endorsing, in principle, the development of a Enterprise Resource Planning system for the Organization.
2 May
The Secretary-General presented his report “Uniting Against Terrorism” (A/60/825). This report presents elements for a counter-terrorism strategy as presented in Madrid in March 2005.
May
The General Assembly elected the first 47 members of the new Human Rights Council. While the new membership has drawn criticism from some critics as “old wine in new bottles,” the reformed election procedures (GA vote and absolute majority) were effective in dissuading some countries from running and provided a greater degree of transparency.
10 April
More stringent guidelines on financial disclosure and declaration of interests issued, designed to include more senior managers, procurement officers, and those who invest the assets of the organization.
3 April
Human Rights Council established, designed to allow for a more rigorous implementation and monitoring of human rights, replacing the Human Rights Commission.
30 March
A report entitled “Mandating and delivering: analysis and recommendations to facilitate the review of mandates” is issued following the General Assembly’s request for a review of mandates older than five years.
22 March
A policy on the “Acceptance of Pro Bono Goods and Services” is introduced for the purpose of preventing conflicts of interests with service providers and contractors in the context of the organization accepting free offers of support to various humanitarian, peacekeeping, and other UN operations.
7 March
The Secretary-General, in response to the request contained in the Outcome Document from the member states, presents his management report “Investing in the United Nations: for a stronger Organisation worldwide” containing 22 far-reaching reform proposals.
1 January
Ethics Office begins operations, responsible for managing and overseeing the new Whistleblower protection and revised financial disclosure policies, as well as the development of Ethics training programmes for staff.
2005
30 December
Peacebuilding Commission established “to marshal resources at the disposal of the international community to advise and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict recovery, focusing attention on reconstruction, institution-building and sustainable development, in countries emerging from conflict.”
19 December
New “Protection against retaliation for reporting misconduct or whistleblower protection” policy issued to help ensure that the organization functions in an open, fair, and transparent manner, with the objective of enhancing protection for individuals.
December
Based on the recommendation by the Secretary-General, Member States approve an additional 39
positions to increase the capacity of OIOS’s audit and investigatory capacities.
Member States agree, in principle, to create an Independent Audit Advisory Committee, which will
advise them on the adequacy of the Organization’s audit coverage and resourcing.
28 November
Introduction of a system-wide programme entitled “Prevention of workplace harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority”.
October
DPKO establishes a dedicated Conduct and Discipline Team in headquarters to address the prevention of misconduct and enforcement of standards of conduct through means such as implementing training and awareness raising, identifying and responding to complaints, establishing and maintaining a comprehensive data base, and providing strategic guidance and policy development, including standardizing the norms of conduct.
14-16 September
World Summit takes place, as a follow-up summit meeting to the United Nations' 2000 Millennium
Summit, which led to the Millennium Declaration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Management
reform was also discussed at length, and the final “Outcome Document” requested the Secretary-General
“to submit proposals for implementing management reforms to the General Assembly for consideration
and decision in the first quarter of 2006.”
At the Summit, Heads of State agreed on a significant number of issues including measures to increase
ODA, ground-breaking criteria for the “responsibility to protect” civilian in conflict situations,
the establishment of a Peacebuilding Commission, a request for a review of mandates, establishment
of a Human Rights Council, and a strong push for a comprehensive convention against terrorism by the
end of the year.
12 September
Introduction of a system-wide awareness programme entitled the “Integrity Awareness Initiative” to raise staff members’ level of awareness of the core values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity.
22 August
Policy Committee created to advise the Secretary-General on issues requiring strategic guidance and policy decisions on thematic and country-specific issues affecting the organization. Management Committee also created to consider internal reform and management-related issues requiring strategic direction from the Secretary-General.
June
The many changes to procurement at the UN since 1999 were validated by an independent review conducted by the United States National Institute of Government Purchasing in mid-2005. Weaknesses subsequently identified led to an additional assessment of internal controls conducted by the external audit firm Deloitte.
5 May
Management Performance Board established to replace the Accountability Panel, tasked with ensuring that individual senior managers comply with performance targets and standards.
2004
2 December
Issuance of the Report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges & Change: “A more secure world: our shared responsibility”.
1 November
Secretary-General’s introduction of the package of enhancements for the UN’s system of security management to the General Assembly.
27 October
Launch of implementation plan for strengthening of national systems for human rights protection in collaboration with UN Country Teams.
September
Issuance of SG’s “omnibus” report on the status of implementation of human resource management reforms.
11 June
Report of the High-level Panel on UN – Civil Society relations issued.
June
Issuance of the Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system – reflecting better coherence and coordination between UN offices at the country-level.
March
Two General Assembly resolutions on procedural improvements to the UN’s system of budgeting and planning, and the 2004/5 budget allocation itself (A/RES/58/269 and 270).
February
General Accounting Office of the United States issues a comprehensive assessment of UN reform, indicating that 85% of the 1997 and 2002 reform packages were either fully or partly implemented.
1 January
Regional UN Information Centre for Western Europe opened in Brussels following the closure of nine under-resourced and disparate individual centres throughout the region.
2003
3 November
Secretary-General names High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.
19 September
Review of UN technical cooperation completed and shared with Member States.
5 September
Status of implementation report for SG’s 2nd reform package issued to Member States.
March/April
The SG submits a thoroughly updated programme budget proposal for 2004/5 reflecting increased attention to development issues, significant resource allocation, major reorganization, discontinuance of recurrent outputs and increased resources for information technology and staff training.
2002
18 December
The General Assembly issues a broad supportive resolution on the SG’s second package of UN reform (A/RES/57/300).
November
The Department of Public Information is restructured into three main divisions and a new concept of operations.
9 September
The SG’s second major package of reform “An agenda for further change” was issued (A/57/387), detailing proposals on:
- Aligning UN activities (meetings, reports, events) with the priorities agreed in the Millennium Declaration;
- Strengthening human rights;
- Enhancing public information;
- Servicing Member States better;
- Working better together;
- Allocating resources to priorities; and
- Additional measures to improve human resource management.
1 August
A full-time United Nations Security Coordinator at the Assistant Secretary-General level is appointed based on the Secretary-General's first report on staff security.
31 July
The first annual report charting trends related to the achievement of United Nations Millennium Development Goals (A/57/270) is released.
1 July
Ms. M. Patricia Durrant is appointed Staff Ombudsman to facilitate informal resolution of staff-management disputes.
1 May
The Office of Human Resources Management inaugurates a new staff selection system.
January
The Staff College in Turin was inaugurated as an independent entity.
2001
6 September
The "Road map towards the implementation of the UN Millennium Declaration" (A/56/326) is issued.
January
An electronic Integrated Management and Information System (IMIS) is instituted, digitalizing budget and management information and linking United Nations operations in New York and worldwide.
2000
23 December
The General Assembly endorses a watershed resolution (55/231) on results-based budgeting.
18 October
The Secretary-General in his report to the General Assembly, "Safety and Security of United Nations Personnel" (A/55/494) described a two-year programme for the reinforcement of the United Nations Security Management System.
6-8 September
The Millennium Summit is held at United Nations Headquarters, and 147 Heads of State and Government and 191 nations in total adopt the United Nations Millennium Declaration -- a landmark document giving clear directions for adapting the Organization to the new century.
23 August
The Report on the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations ("Brahimi Report") (A/55/305 - S/2000/809) recommends sweeping changes in peacekeeping strategy, doctrine and operations.
1 August
Publication of the Report of the Secretary-General on Human Resources Management Reform (A/55/253).
26 July
More than 50 CEOs meet with the Secretary-General at United Nations Headquarters for the launch of the Global Compact, the Secretary-General's initiative to engage businesses, labour and civil society organizations in promoting basic United Nations principles.
29 June
The Secretary-General convenes a first meeting of the high-level Accountability Panel in order to address systematic managerial issues. The Secretary-General has established written compacts with all senior managers, which holds them accountable for delivery of key activities and results.
1999
31 January
The Secretary-General proposes the Global Compact on human rights, labour and environment in an address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
28 February
Gratis personnel attached to the Secretariat under the sponsorship of a Member State are phased out.
1998
December
The General Assembly mandates an international meeting on "financing for development", organized through a United Nations partnership with the Bretton Woods institutions and the WTO.
August
A Strategic Planning Unit is established within the Executive Office of the Secretary-General.
18 April
The Economic and Social Council meets for the first time with finance ministers from the Spring meeting of the Bretton Woods institutions -- an event that has been repeated each year since.
1 March
Louise Fréchette assumes the newly-created post of Deputy Secretary-General. The UN Fund for International Partnerships is established to engage businesses in United Nations projects for development.
January
The Department of Disarmament Affairs is established.
1997
19 December
The General Assembly adopts resolution 52/12, endorsing the Secretary-General's reform programme.
4 November
The Secretary-General delivers a statement to the open-ended informal consultations of the plenary -- "United Nations Reform: Measures and Proposals".
22 September
The Secretary-General addresses the 52nd session of the General Assembly, dubbed "the Reform Assembly", on his proposals.
15 September
The Geneva-based human rights programmes are merged into a single Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Mary Robinson takes over as High Commissioner.
25 July
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) approves a plan to join in dialogue on development policy coordination with the Bretton Woods institutions, at a high-level meeting attended by IMF Managing Director Michel Camdessus, WTO Director-General Renato Ruggiero, World Bank Vice-President Jean-Francois Rischard, and the UNCTAD Secretary-General Rubens Ricupero.
16 July
The Secretary-General presents "track two" of his plan to the General Assembly:
- establishing a Senior Management Group, composed of the coordinators of the sectoral groups, heads of the regional commissions and other Under-Secretary-Generals;
- establishing a "common framework" for the work of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF, as part of the functioning of the United Nations Development Group;
- consolidating United Nations work to counter crime, drugs and terrorism under a unified Office of Drug Control and Crime Prevention;
- proposing to the General Assembly the creation of the post of Deputy Secretary-General to improve management and oversee work that cuts across departmental and agency lines;
- proposing to the General Assembly a "Millennium Assembly" in 2000;
- re-organizing the Department of Humanitarian Affairs into a new Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
14 July
The Secretary-General issues his report on "Renewing the United Nations: A Programme for Reform" (A/51/950). The report comprises two parts: Part one contains a thematic overview of the main reform elements, highlighting the new leadership and management structure the Secretary-General is instituting and summarizes the key sectoral measures he is taking and proposing to Member States. Part two includes a more detailed discussion of the entire set of reform measures as well as specific actions and recommendations.
27 June
The Task Force on the Reorientation of United Nations Public Information Activities, appointed in April 1997 by the Secretary-General, submits report "Global Vision, Local Voice - A strategic communications programme for the United Nations" (A/AC.198/1997/CRP.1). It recommends ways and means to reorient the work of the Department of Public Information to convey the United Nations story with more vigor and purpose.
17 March
In a letter to the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General announces "track one" of his organizational reform programme:
- merging three departments into one Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA);
- taking steps to cut Secretariat administrative costs from 38 to 25 per cent of the budget; and
- strengthening the role of Resident Coordinator as leader of United Nations country team and moving towards use of common premises and services.
1 February
One month after taking office the Secretary-General urges business leaders meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos to invest more in poor countries and to work in partnership with United Nations departments, funds and programmes.
Late January
The Secretary-General groups UN departments, funds and programmes under four sectoral areas: peace and security, economic and social affairs, humanitarian affairs, and development.
1996
17 December
In his acceptance speech, Secretary-General-designate Kofi Annan outlines goals for term: to make the United Nations leaner, more efficient and more effective, more responsive to the wishes and needs of its Members and more realistic in its goals and commitments.