The United Nations system represents a remarkable effort of nations to work together, not only at the political level, but also for the purpose of delivering goods and services to the international community. It consists of a loosely knit network of secretariats, funds, programs and agencies, dispersed around the globe. A large number of governing bodies provide direction, all representing the same Member States, but rarely working in concert. The staff of the United Nations system comes from some 180 countries.
Funding is partly voluntary, partly assessed, but always scarce.
No national legislation applies to the UN system. In operational terms, its tasks cover relief, peacekeeping, post-conflict recovery and development. In this course, the participants will examine the governance structure and decision-making processes in the UN organizations. They will review the rules and regulations whereby the organizations handle people, money and tangible assets, and see how they manage their human and financial resources. Special attention will be paid to the way in which cultural and political factors influence management practices.