United Nations
The United Nations - Hierarchy? Or Not?
The United Nations has a bad reputation for being overly hierarchical and bureaucratic. I agree, but see also an alternative informal organization thriving under the camouflage of formal rules.
In his excellent book on social norms and values - The Great Disruption - Francis Fukuyama places such ’social networks’ in the context of social science [...]
Famine in Kenya
A correction to my earlier post is in order on the world’s response to the famine in Kenya. My colleague is indeed working hard to respond to this crises. The UNDP is funding an assessment, and also executing an EMOP (Emergency Operation) with the FAO and WFP. The assessment will help the UN ask for [...]
Bomb Scare at the UNDP
An interesting morning, this one. Arriving into work at 8:15am, I was not allowed near the UNDP building. Appearently, UN security received a bomb scare, indicating a bomb had been planted in the UNDP building. The few staff members that were not on vacation - perhaps 15% of the total - milled around the gardens, [...]
Procedure for claiming Travel Expenses
Ever travel for work? Claim expenses for that? Here is what you must do in the UN, to get your money back. The general idea is to make the process so difficult that you would be much happier just spending out of your pocket.
1. Fill in a travel authorization, to be signed by the unit [...]
The UN Millenium Village
Last weekend’s workshop and field trip were organized in part by the MDG Centre, part of the UN Millenium Project. Not surprisingly, the field trip, therefore, included a visit to the UN Millenium Village. So much the better, because I had heard a lot about it. Now that I know what it is, I can [...]
Why the UN does not like the US
The US embassy is right across the entrance to the UN compound. It is an imposing structure, with a massive concrete wall all around. Leading up to both is the ‘UN Avenue’, onto which all cars must turn from the main road.
As I turned onto UN Avenue in a UN car today, two small cars [...]
The UNDP Budget Performance
Did you know that the UNDP, globally, had a budget of US$ 6 billion in 2005? For the Kenya country office, that translated into approximately $ 18 million. These are figures that came out of my first staff meeting at the UNDP, with the country desk officer at UNDP New York present.
I find this shocking [...]
Work Culture @ the UN
Its Friday today. Did I tell you the office closes at 2pm? Yesterday, Thursday, I left work at 5:30pm, and I was one of the last ones out. Isn’t that great - not having to work beyond official working hours? I can’t remember when I last did that.
But I was just reminded why working at [...]
