Town Hall Meeting

Town Hall Meeting 

Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General 

14 December 2022

 

Dear FAO Colleagues from around the world!

 

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening!

 

1.         I am very pleased to address all of you today at the same time

 

2.         This is truly our ONE FAO, with digital technology the new Digital FAO makes us all feel like one big family.

 

3.         Creating an inclusive and positive work environment and listening to employees continues to be a top priority for me since I took office 40 months ago.

 

4.         The results of the new Employee Satisfaction Survey this year show significant improvements in several Organizational areas, including communication; leadership and direction; ethical behaviour and misconduct; and opportunities for growth and development.

 

5.         Results also show that 78% of employees recommend FAO as a good place to work, and 89% are proud to work at FAO, and feel valued and respected.

 

6.         These are good changes, but there is still more and better work to be done.

 

7.         The feedback from the 2020 Employee Satisfaction survey provided a good baseline for action.

 

8.         For example, opportunities have been created for employees to accelerate their career development with new training courses to develop skills, coaching, and online resources such as a Career Support Portal and a Career Management Guide.

 

9.         A high number of internal candidates have been selected for staff positions, many of which resulted in promotions.

 

10.       Furthermore, new guidelines for job classification were developed in 2022, which include the possibility of promotion for staff members consistently demonstrating additional responsibilities and/or job growth.

 

11.       The first job growth exercise is taking place for those who have been serving for 10 years or more in the General Service staff category. 

 

12.       Actions that recognize and support employees also continue to be taken, such as the ‘dangerous duty station supplement’ starting in 2023, in line with other UN agencies.

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

13.       I really appreciate these opportunities for us to get together and discuss issues that affect all FAO employees across the Organization.

 

14.       At headquarters, I often have the opportunity to sit down next to colleagues in the newly renovated cafeteria and have a chat.

 

15.       And I was pleased this year to have been able to travel to many FAO offices around the world to meet with colleagues in person and exchanges ideas, as this year we had the Regional Conferences which provided an opportunity to travel.

 

16.       The pandemic presented us with many obstacles, but we have managed to overcome them together, and we will continue to address and overcome other new challenges together in the coming years.

 

17.       We have worked hard together over the past 40 months to improve working conditions, despite the pandemic and other challenges.

 

18.       These were truly extraordinary efforts that have led to extraordinary results!

 

19.       After two years of COVID-19, teleworking guidelines were piloted earlier this year to support the return to office in a hybrid workplace.

 

20.       For example, at headquarters we have reached the highest number of physical presence in the office compared to other UN agencies, reaching a presence of between 55%-65%.

 

21.       With the opportunity to work from home combined with coming into the office to reconnect with colleagues, teams and managers.

 

22.       I want to thank all of you for helping to put this into practice in an efficient and effective manner, and coherently across all FAO offices, in line with local conditions.

 

23.       Mobile tools and resources, dedicated virtual workspaces and webinars were put in place, but it was your efforts that contributed to its success.

 

24.       The year-long pilot will finish in March, 2023, at which time, based on lessons learnt, we must adapt to the new normal with more deliverables, especially increased field work and increased discussion and debate together.

 

25.       There are further opportunities to strengthen FAO's workplace culture, and we are in the process of discussing and listening to ideas of how to integrate improvements.

 

26.       FAO continues to raise awareness to promote a respectful, inclusive, healthy and happy workplace.

 

27.       I, together with my Core Leadership team and the entire senior management team, remain firmly committed to zero tolerance on workplace misconduct issues and inaction.

 

28.       Strengthening protection mechanisms and a victim-centred approach will ensure a speedy response and measurable changes to FAO’s organizational culture.

 

29.       Regarding gender parity, FAO has achieved a score of 94% for indicators met or exceeded on the UN System-wide Action Plan on Gender Equality (UN-SWAP).

 

30.       And this year we have been recognized for excellence in implementing good practices that advance gender parity in the UN System. 

 

31.       Effective leadership and management is key in creating an ethical workplace, and a series of leadership dialogues have been held for managers at all levels, as well as a range of leadership development programmes.

 

32.       The FAO Youth Committee, FAO Women Committee, our Young Talent programme and the FAO Mentorship Programme, continue to make significant contributions.

 

33.       Consultations and engagement with the Staff Representative bodies takes place regularly in the spirit of cooperation and dialogue through the Staff Management Consultative Committee, the advisory committees on Occupational Health and Safety, and on Medical Coverage, as well as the Staff Pension Committee, handled by the Human Resources division on behalf of FAO. 

 

34.       FAO continues its efforts to promote and safeguard the health and well-being of all employees, and important steps have been taken in this direction during 2022.

 

35.       These include COVID-19 protection measures in office and the field; mental health services available to all, both individually, and in group sessions; revised travel health advisories and updated FAO travel preparation guidelines; and health awareness campaigns.

 

36.       The outcomes of these efforts are reflected in the low overall number of COVID-19 cases - I especially appreciate and salute all the colleagues who carefully followed all the recommendations provided - safe working places, effective response to emergencies in the field, and successful adoption of preventive approach.

 

37.       Regarding infrastructure, in 2022 important works at headquarters were completed including new energy efficient windows, and refurbished catering area on the 8th floor.

 

38.       There are a number of other examples in FAO Representation Offices across world that have been renovated as well.

Dear Colleagues,

 

39.       In 2022, the final phase of a UN vaccination campaign for UN personnel and dependents was successfully concluded, in close coordination with Host Governments.

 

40.       In Italy, this was carried out through the Office of the Designated Official for Security in Italy, for all UN personnel based in the country.

 

41.       FAO’s efficient and effective Critical Incident Response Team, dealt with 11 critical incidents in the last 12 months.

 

42.       I wish to recall and recognize the sacrifices made by FAO personnel delivering on the frontlines in challenging environments,

 

43.       And the FAO lives that have been lost in 2022 in the line of duty.

 

44.       In total, we have lost 3 staff members and 1 dependent in Somalia, a 1 staff member was seriously injured in South Sudan.

 

45.       In February 2022, I approved the new structures of the Regional Offices following the new headquarters’ model,

 

46.       And I requested the Regional Representatives to proceed with the restructuring of Sub-regional Offices, to ensure effective working together as ONE FAO.

 

47.       The aim of the transformed regional and sub-regional structures is to improve relevance, timeliness, cost-efficiency, technical quality and effectiveness of the support we provide to Members through our Country Offices.

 

48.       The restructuring is based on the principles of stronger and collegial leadership; integrated policy, technical and investment support teams; virtual networks; and improved and more interactive regional governance.

 

49.       To increase and improve capacities for strategic thinking and foresight; leveraging convening power of partnerships; strengthened liaison functions; and the adoption of a more effective and efficient administration to move forward towards a fully Digital FAO.

 

50.       After this phase, we will move to the transformation of the business model of Country Offices, concentrating on building a better corporate environment for Decentralized Office operations.

 

51.       We know that Country Offices still face many constraints in view of the great demand from countries for FAO’s expertise and services, and having to deliver with often insufficient resources.

 

52.       As I keep saying, we know that there is still a lot to be done, and we are committed to do more and better, together.

 

53.       We are committed to continue making extraordinary efforts!

 

54.       And we count on all of you as part of our ONE big global FAO family to continue doing the extraordinary together.

 

55.       I wish to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your dedication, your passion and your contribution.

 

56.       As we continue working towards the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework for the transformation of global agrifood systems, to ensure the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life for All, leaving no one behind,

 

57.       In support of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

58.       I declare that year 2023 will a year of EXCELLENCE!!

 

59.       I ask all of you be a part of this EXCELLENCE as individuals, units, divisions, centres, offices and streams, and of course across the entire FAO system.

 

60.       I wish you all a safe, healthy and happy 2023!

 

61.       I thank you.