Workshop on Resource Tracking for Gender Equality 2016

• Ms. Theresa Panuccio, Director of OfO, UNEP,
• Mr. Alioune Badiane, Director of Programme Division, UN-Habitat,
• Fellow Colleagues here present,

Good morning and a Happy New Year to you all!

I am very pleased to join the senior management of UNEP and UN-Habitat to open this workshop on resource tracking for gender equality.  At the outset, allow me to emphasize the importance that the United Nations family in Kenya accords to the gender agenda, and to ensuring compliance with UN-SWAP requirements.

I would like to assure you of my strong support and that of my management team to making UNON a truly gender-sensitive organization. I am sure the leadership of UNEP and UN-Habitat share my enthusiasm in applauding this initiative.

This workshop is bringing together all three Nairobi-based Secretariat entities to discuss and craft concrete action plans towards our respective gender goals and improved compliance with UN-SWAP reporting requirements. The workshop is a strong indication of the collaborative spirit we all share, which reinforces this duty station’s role as a leader and trailblazer it has set itself to be.

Indeed, the Nairobi duty station has taken a lead role in the change management process that the UN Secretariat is currently undergoing, such as IPSAS compliance and Umoja implementation. In this regard, I am proud that UNON is the first UN Secretariat entity among the four Headquarters duty stations (New York, Nairobi, Geneva and Vienna) to formally promulgate its own Gender Policy in 2015. Furthermore, as a second step, a performance objective was included in the 2015/2016 individual work plans of UNON Senior Managers to underscore the relevance and priority given to the Gender Agenda at UNON. The Nairobi duty station is also a pioneer for Umoja within the UN Secretariat, having deployed the ERP system well before NY and the other Offices Away from Headquarters.

Like any trend-setter, challenges and minor set-backs are part and parcel of any implementation process of this nature. The challenges encountered in the process should serve as building blocks to further strengthen our collective resolve to pave the way and set the tone and pace for others to emulate. So please do not be deterred.

Embedding gender markers into the Programme of Work and activities of our respective Organisations is at an infancy stage.  In September 2013, the UN Development Group endorsed a Gender Equality Marker Guidance Note containing common principles and standards for gender equality marker systems.

As Finance Officers, HR Officers and other key programme support personnel, you all play a crucial role in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women across our three Secretariat entities.

You are pioneers in initiating the discussion on specific measurable objectives towards compliance with UN-SWAP requirements. You should take pride in your individual commitments, and I thank you for your participation in this workshop.

You have my full support and that of the Secretary-General towards our gender agenda and towards ensuring full compliance with UN-SWAP reporting requirements by 2017. The very presence of senior managers from UNON, UNEP and UN-HABITAT here today is a testament that this commitment exists throughout our three entities.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the World Food Programme (WFP), and especially Mr. Michael Hemling, for facilitating this workshop. As a UN agency that implemented an ERP system with gender markers well before the Secretariat, we stand to benefit significantly from WFP’s experience and lessons learned.

Once again, thank you all for your dedication and participation. I wish you a successful workshop and I look forward to receiving a summary report on the outcome.

Thank you for your kind attention.