UNESCO. General Conference; 36th; 36 C/5: volume 1: Draft ...

III.C – Support services management
13001 The role of the Sector for Administration (ADM) is to ensure support for the effective implementation
of UNESCO’s programmes through the common support services of procurement, information
systems and telecommunications, conferences, languages, documents, security, utilities, premises and
equipment, as well as the maintenance and conservation of Headquarters premises.
13002 The Sector places great importance on strengthening operational support throughout the Organization
by continuously seeking more cost effective and efficient ways to provide administrative, information
and managerial systems and services, including outsourcing in conformity with the Organizations
outsourcing policy, providing a safe, healthy and environmentally friendly working environment and
managing through clearly defined service level agreements to continuously enhance its support to
programme delivery.
13003 Under the authority of the Assistant Director-General for Administration (ADG/ADM), ADM
comprises four divisions: the Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (ADM/
DIT), the Division of Conferences, Languages and Documents (ADM/CLD), the Procurement
Division (ADM/PRO) and the Headquarters Division (ADM/HQD). The ADG/ADM coordinates the
operations of the sector.
13004 Rationalization and optimization efforts will be pursued to capitalize on synergies and increase
efficiency gains for the Organization.
Chapter 1 – Coordination, support, monitoring and evaluation
Unit responsible: Office of the Assistant Director-General for Administration (ADM/ADG)
13101 ADG/ADM is responsible for the overall planning, policy, coordination and information for the sector.
The principal focus is on ensuring that the sector provides user-oriented services in an efficient manner.
13102 It also focuses on coordinating the rationalization of business processes within the sector, the
optimization of its services and structures and the benchmarking of administrative best practices with
other UN, Inter-governmental and public sector entities with a view towards seeking cost effectiveness
and cost efficiency for the Organization.
13103 Under the framework of the Organization’s outsourcing policy, ADG/ADM coordinates the divisions
in reviewing and implementing alternative service delivery modalities like outsourcing where the
services under its purview can be delivered less expensively, more efficiently or expeditiously by an
outside body.
13104 The Office of the ADG/ADM provides coordination and administrative support to the divisions,
ensuring that all its resources are efficiently utilized through proper management, internal control and
monitoring.
13105 Furthermore, the Office continues to coordinate the mitigation of its carbon footprint, in line with
United Nations system approaches and with the objective of “greening” UNESCO.
259 36 C/5 – Corporate services