According to those familiar with the matter, Albert Einstein would have easily qualified for four to seven Nobel Prizes. He was nominated for the prize 62 times. Einstein also was a pacifist, a refugee, and exchanged letters with Mahatma Gandhi. There were people and institutions that received a Nobel Prize more than once. The UNHCR got it twice and the ICRC three times.
You might have an inkling where this is going. Not that we should care too much about the prize – neither did Einstein. We haven’t joined UNICEF to earn accolades. But as a purely subjective organizational performance metric, so to speak, and notwithstanding that UNICEF got the Peace Prize a mere 55 years ago, you can judge yourself how far UNICEF might be away from being considered for one.
Hence the relentless organization-wide organizational improvement efforts, the task forces, work streams, workshops and consultations. The reports available to us [1, 2, 3] raise issues such as the lack of clarity on UNICEF’s role; lack of competencies in many areas including on how to use data; outdated systems and siloes; accountability questions; reactivity instead of proactivity; and duplication of effort. Tentative remedies include to reinforce capacities, digitize planning, leverage technology, incorporate lessons learned, motivate staff, develop indicators to streamline indicator management and, of course, more flexible funding. Synergies will be increased and a culture of trust and collaboration built. Much to my joy, there even are ‘outside-in’ and ‘inside-out’ perspectives.
Of course, my extract is only a teeny-tiny fraction of what is being reported, and - some may argue - presented out of context; but I agree to most of it. Except for integrating supply needs in programme planning, because this was already decided 30 years ago and it didn’t seem to work; and because I am not convinced that it will help world peace or lower the global Gini coefficient.
I do wonder, though, how the complex and multi-layered reform efforts conspire to help UNICEF to approach greater pre-eminence. Notwithstanding the need for deep research, interminable debate, or intricate and drawn-out transformation processes, the magic will unfold only when guided by a clear and simply stated ambition. In 1965, UNICEF was awarded honours “for its effort to enhance solidarity between nations and reduce the difference between rich and poor states”. What are we aiming for this time?
Good observations. It would be good if you could get hired as a consultant to get things right.
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