UNSSC Annual Report 2022 - 20 years of UNSSC (2024)

Introduction

The 2022 annual report of the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) celebrates our journey of learning, growth, and collaboration over the past two decades.

In 2002, a small group of 20 UN staff members embarked on their learning journeys, attending a transformative workshop in Turin on "Capacity development for UN field coordination" at the newly established United Nations System Staff College. Originally conceived in 1969 to meet the evolving needs of the UN family, the Staff College quickly became an independent institution. By the end of that year, it had trained 1,500 staff members, marking the beginning of a remarkable trajectory.

Today, UNSSC stands as a beacon of knowledge, training over 18,000 individuals annually. Thousands of faculty, staff, and students have participated in our learning and knowledge initiatives, equipping themselves with the skills, competencies, and understanding required to support the work of the United Nations.

Throughout its history, UNSSC has adapted and evolved to meet the challenges faced by the UN in addressing global crises, peacekeeping efforts, sustainable development and empowering marginalized groups. Our commitment to learning excellence, thought-provoking insight, and effective knowledge management has played a pivotal role in supporting UN staff and partners in their pursuit of a peaceful and sustainable future for all.

Everything we do at the Staff College is in service to our mission of educating leaders who make a difference in the world. This includes both what we teach and how we deliver that content. We must continue to innovate in all of our programmes, equipping future leaders with the judgement and skills to manage an ever more global, diverse and complex issues. And we must push ourselves to find new ways of engaging learners throughout their lives with meaningful, relevant ideas.

Thank you for joining us on this journey, and we look forward to another impactful year of learning and collaboration at UNSSC.

Those who registered for UNSSC webinars increased by 10 per cent.

96 per cent of participants in 2022 said they would recommend their learning programme to others.

SCALE 1 TO 6

2021

2022

How satisfied are you with the overall quality of the training you attended?

5.5

5.2

How relevant to your work was the training you received?

5.0

5.5

How would you rate UNSSC’s facilitation and teaching methodology?

5.3

5.2

Letters

Message from the Chair of the UNSSC Board of Governors

As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of UNSSC, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and excitement for the remarkable journey this institution has undertaken and the path that lies ahead. This significant milestone not only allows us to reflect on past achievements but also offers us an opportunity to envision the future of learning and the vital role that the Staff College will play in preparing the United Nations for the challenges and opportunities that await us.

For the past 20 years our Staff College has equipped thousands of people across the United Nations family and the multilateral community at large with essential skills and capabilities to deliver a more peaceful, sustainable and equitable world. At UNSSC, people from all across the world come together, learn from one another, and develop new solutions to common problems.

With a firm commitment to innovation and agility, the Staff College will intensify its efforts to prepare the United Nations for the future. It will expand its focus on emerging issues and cutting-edge technologies, thus ensuring that its programmes provide the necessary tools for UN staff and partners to navigate this changing landscape effectively. By fostering thought-provoking insights and excellence in knowledge management, it will empower our colleagues to meet the demands of tomorrow with confidence and expertise.

In this moment of celebration and reflection, let us acknowledge the successes achieved over the past two decades. But let us also seize this occasion to deepen our collective action, as we confront the challenges and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, through continued learning and knowledge sharing, we will shape the future of the United Nations and work tirelessly towards a peaceful and sustainable world for all.

Courtenay Rattray
Chef de Cabinet
Executive Office of the Secretary-General
Chair of the UNSSC Board of Governors

Director’s Foreword

I am delighted to present this Annual Report which celebrates UNSSC’s 20th anniversary.

2022 was a year of renewal, reflection and strategic forward-thinking. The pandemic gave us an opportunity to consider the lessons learned and leverage innovations. But nothing can replace the value of human interaction in a community such as ours, driven by the exchange of ideas.

This year has also been a time to consider how far the Staff College has come. Since its establishment in 2002, the College has grown from a modest beginning. It has become a distinguished centre of excellence for learning and capacity building within the United Nations and its stakeholders as well as a great space for convening policy thinkers and practitioners eager to undertake multidisciplinary collaborations.

The success of the College can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, our unique mandate, bestowed by the UN General Assembly, sets us apart as the dedicated organization responsible for building the capacity of UN personnel and stakeholders. By breaking institutional silos and promoting a unified approach, we strive to foster a sense of shared purpose under the "one UN flag" principle.

Financial sustainability and entrepreneurship are integral to our success. With over 60 per cent of our income generated through contracts, participant fees, and targeted donor contributions, we maintain a business perspective while prioritizing cost recovery. Our commitment to quality, client satisfaction, and competitiveness has resulted in solid growth and financial performance over the years.

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the dedicated and passionate personnel who form the backbone of the College. Despite recent challenges, their resilience, commitment, and unwavering support have been instrumental in upholding our mission to have everyone grow to achieve their full potential in a way that benefits society as well.

As we celebrate UNSSC's 20th anniversary, we acknowledge the visionary founders, the support of senior UN leaders, the trust of Member States, and the dedicated personnel who have contributed to our success. I am honoured to lead this esteemed institution, and I invite you to explore this Annual Report, which showcases our achievements, milestones, and aspirations for the future.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Jafar Javan
Director
UN System Staff College