FC 110/24  |
|
FC 110/24 |
Hundred and tenth Session |
Rome, 19 - 23 September 2005 |
Human Resources Issues Raised by the Finance Committee |
1. At its 109th session in May 2005, the Finance Committee requested additional information on several human resources issues, including the number and category of posts filled through internal promotions and external appointments, appointments to fixed-term positions made from the rank of consultants and the number of appointments of Permanent Representatives to FAO posts since January 2002. The Committee also requested the secretariat to report on the possibility of advertising general service vacancies and short-term professional vacancies (ref. CL 128/13, paras. 77 and 84).
2. The basic principle for the appointment of staff in FAO is established in Article VIII, para. 3 of the FAO Constitution, as follows:
In appointing the staff, the Director-General shall, subject to the paramount importance of securing the highest standards of efficiency and of technical competence, pay due regard to the importance of selecting personnel recruited on as wide a geographical basis as is possible.
This principle was most recently reaffirmed by the Governing Bodies at the Thirty-second Session of Conference in its Resolution 15/2003.
3. It is further noted that this principle is also embodied in Rule XXXIX of the General Rules of the Organization and in the Staff Regulations established under that Rule. Staff Regulation 301.4.4 provides that:
Subject to the provisions of Rule XXXIX(2) of the General Rules of the Organization, and without prejudice to the recruitment of fresh talent at all levels, the fullest regard shall be had, in filling vacancies, to the requisite qualifications and experience of persons already in the service of the Organization.
4. The responses provided below to the Committee’s queries should be seen in the light of these basic principles.
5. As indicated above, the Finance Committee requested statistical information on the sources of recruitment for the professional category in FAO. In this regard it is recalled that, insofar as feasible, the Organization arranges for public announcements of all professional staff vacancies and fills such vacancies through competititve methods of selection. In this context, applications for this open competition are received from a wide range of candidates, both in terms of geography and employment history.
6. The following table summarizes the number of candidates appointed from the categories and during the period designated by the Finance Committee:
Number of staff appointed with fixed-term contracts to or promoted on posts in the Programme of Work and Budget between 1/1/2002 and 18/7/2005 |
Location |
Grade |
Appointments |
Promotions |
Total | ||
without previous NSHR1/ contract |
with previous NSHR contract |
Former Perm Rep/Alt Perm Rep2/ |
||||
Headquarters |
ADG |
2 |
2 | |||
D-2 |
9 |
1 |
9 |
19 | ||
D-1 |
13 |
33 |
46 | |||
P-5 |
23 |
3 |
40 |
66 | ||
P-4 |
37 |
8 |
63 |
108 | ||
P-3 |
57 |
17 |
30 |
104 | ||
P-2 |
29 |
9 |
9 |
47 | ||
P-1 |
2 |
4 |
6 | |||
Headquarters Total |
170 |
40 |
188 |
398 | ||
Decentralized Offices |
ADG |
1 |
4 |
5 | ||
D-2 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
9 | ||
D-1 |
14 |
10 |
24 | |||
P-5 |
17 |
5 |
1 |
26 |
49 | |
P-4 |
19 |
16 |
35 | |||
P-3 |
6 |
5 |
11 | |||
P-2 |
5 |
5 | ||||
Decentralized Offices Total |
64 |
5 |
2 |
67 |
138 | |
Grand Total |
234 |
45 |
2 |
255 |
536 | |
7. At its last session, the Finance Committee requested whether it would be feasible that general service positions above the base entry level (i.e. those at the G-4 to G-7 grades) be advertised externally, as well as internally.
8. It has been the policy to recruit the majority of general service staff at the entry level (G-1 to G-3) through the Temporary Assistance Pool. This provides an opportunity to test, train and evaluate such recruits by giving them a range of short-term assignments across the Organization. This has proved successful in identifying excellent staff with the skills and competencies to meet the needs of the Organization. These staff are then able to compete for fixed-term appointments through internal vacancy announcements. It is noted, however, that where the need arises (i.e. limited internal availability of qualified candidates for specialized positions), the Organization does advertise externally.
9. It is also noted that this staffing approach has allowed FAO to address successfully the need for staff reductions resulting from budgetary cuts, by ensuring tight controls over external recruitment at the entry level, whilst supporting the redeployment and placement of staff (whose posts have been abolished) to available vacancies. Until the final budget position for 2006-2007 has been established and its impact is known, it would be difficult to justify the wider external advertisement of general service vacancies at Headquarters.
10. At the same session, the Committee also raised the possibility of advertising short-term professional positions.
11. Departments have been encouraged to advertise vacancies which are funded by extra-budgetary funds for project work. At the same time departments are also being encouraged to advertise short-term professional appointments where this is possible. A new section of the Employment web-site has been created which now carries advertisements for both short-term and project vacancies.
1 / Non-Staff Human Resources, e.g. consultants and subscribers to Personal Service Agreements, within one year prior to appointment as staff member
2 / Served as Permanent Representative or Alternative Permanent Representative of their country to FAO within one year prior to appointment as staff member