UN Systems High Level Committee on Management (HLCM)
The UN System High-level Committee on Management (HLCM) reports to the Chief Executives Board and is repsonsible for making sure that the UN System has cooridnated management and administration. Their purpose is to find and analyze managerial issues that concern the system as a whole and necessitate a system-wide response. They have the authority to make decisions on the behalf of the Executive Heads and reforms that will help to make the United Nations System more productive, efficient and effective as well as to improve the services that it has to offer the global community. In this way they can work towards achieving the recommendations to conquer fragmentation in the United Nations System, as set forth in the 2006 report titled, "Delivering as One."
The Chairmanship of the HLCM is rotated and the position is held by one of the Executive Heads of the CEB. They HLCM is made up of the most senior administrative managers from the UN system organizations. The group meets face-to-face twice a year and is continually dealing with ad-hoc consultations and coordinating initiatives. Additionally, they maintain conversations with staff representatives on system-wide concerns and interact with the required Member States in the United Nations Fifth Committee.
The HLCM is supported by five technical networks which include groups in the areas of human resources, information and communication technology, finance and budget, legal matters and procurement. These networks allow senior staff, from their respective areas, to give input into the HLCM's decision making process as a reporter or advisor. They are also responsible for continuing a dialogue with the Federations of Staff Associations regarding system-wide concerns.
The Human Resources Network collects statistics from the UN system organizations as well as develops and maintains personnel standards for system-wide use. The Finance and Budget Network works with those who are responsible for the financial management throughout the UN system. The Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Network is comprised of those who are in charge of information communications technologies in the United Nations. The Procurement Network works towards creating a policy framework and practical implementation of procurement. The Legal Network was established in 2007 and is aimed at improving legal services system-wide and maintaining congruence while also allowing for the autonomy of member organizations.
Current Efforts
The HLCM is working on examining the current accountability structure with the intent to find the best practices and provide further guidance on working in concert with accountability and transparency.
Business Practices
A main concern of the HLCM is to harmonize and reform the Business Practices in the UN system. There are two criteria in which they will use to develop the project and with which to assess the priorities. First they must achieve efficiency and secondly, they must promote the the concept of delivering as one on the country level. In an effort to harmonize the business practices, they have put forth a Plan of Action for the Harmonization of Business. This plan looks at how the operations can be harmonized and strengthened throughout the UN system, between agencies in the areas of human resources, finance and budget, information and communication and technology and procurement. This group is being funded mostly through gifts and funds committed to the project, and not budgetary monies.
Security and Staff Safety
A Steering Committee is developing a plan for a system-wide security management system after discussions at CEB and HLCM sessions in 2009. This comes after recognizing that staff are often in insecure and unstable environments where their safety may be at risk. This will allow for their safety while continuing to run operations in such environments. Additionally, the Executive Group on Security (EGS) has been established to strengthen the overall security system of the UN system.
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