2 days ago
Sounds like a performance appraisal for which all credit goes to Kul!
Unknown commented on "Update on the Global PBR : Catherine Russell"
Jul 23, 2025
305 USD over 4 years or 76 million in annual savings is not much at all - the ANNUAL budget when all 7 regional offices were fully functioning was about 280 million per year or well over one billion in the last quadrennium. If they had made the bold and much overdue decision to phase out regional offices we could be counting big savings and zero impact on delivery. But we kicked the deflated ball down the road with an interim solution to collapse regional offices making them even more a meaningless unit of oversight. I was once embedded in a RO in the late 90s just for a few weeks - back then it was on mission - now staff STRETCH or SURGE? Anyway - back then it was the RD and 3 or 4 very senior advisors, and about 4 or 5 support staff and a driver. That same regional office - ahead of this big shift - had 170 staff of these 21 were P5s, 51 were P4s, and 32 were P3s supported by 23 GS. How did a RO function with 10 staff in the late 90s and now need to have 170 ? What does the 51 P4s when they come to work every day? I hate to say it - but the bloated growth of UNICEF - lopsidedly high at HQ and RO sides - should have been managed better - but it wasn't and NOW the pain is severe. And do we think there is any REAL work going on right now amidst all this uncertainty - at some CO levels yes - but nothing meaningful at RO or HQ level. Nil.
In Response to a comment by Unknown
Unknown commented on "Update on the Global PBR : Catherine Russell"
Jul 23, 2025
Indeed - we did similar calculations and it seems to be under 1 %. This would appear FAR below what cuts are needed- i mean what is the overall goal to be cut - seems quite elusive? Where does the rest of the cut come from? COs are STILL awaiting the guidance for next PBR in September and the time is running short - there is some expectation that this will be harsh at CO level in September since the first round was very HQ and RO specific. Believe me, the carnage has not even started.
In Response to a comment by Unknown
Maie Ayoub von Kohl commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 23, 2025
BRAVA! and Thank you. Big hug
Jul 23, 2025
Fully agree with Munir. And it is past the time of recognizing that it is a genocide. Various institutions of the UN have amply done that. It is past time for condemnation. It is time for action along the lines advocated in Francesca Albanes's report. Governments and ordinary people boycott those complicit in the genocide. hhammam@hotmail.com
Fouad commented on "Tribute to Robert Ledogar by Leila Bisharat"
Jul 23, 2025
Thank you Leila for this heartwarming tribute to our dearly departed colleague Bob. To paraphrase your last sentence: would that we have had more fellow workers like Bob Ledogar !:
Unknown commented on "Update on the Global PBR : Catherine Russell"
Jul 23, 2025
Is very underwhelming in terms of $ savings.
$305 million for quadrennium = $76.25 million per year. In 2024 UNICEF expenditure was $8.099 billion. $76.24 million is 0.94% (LESS THAN 1%).
$305 million for quadrennium = $76.25 million per year. In 2024 UNICEF expenditure was $8.099 billion. $76.24 million is 0.94% (LESS THAN 1%).
Kul Gautam commented on "Tribute to Robert Ledogar by Leila Bisharat"
Jul 23, 2025
Dear Leila,
Your beautiful tribute captures the essence of Bob Ledogar.
May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace and continue to inspire us!
Thank you.
Your beautiful tribute captures the essence of Bob Ledogar.
May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace and continue to inspire us!
Thank you.
Robert Cohen commented on "Tribute to Robert Ledogar by Leila Bisharat"
Jul 23, 2025
That’s Bob! What a lovely tribute!
Nuzhat Shahzadi commented on "The English are crazy : Ken Gibbs"
Jul 22, 2025
Hilarious! Love reading your stories, Ken! Keep writing- keep us laughing. thanks
Jul 21, 2025
Hi Mary. Great to hear from you. The Zimbabwe XUNICEF Reunion 2026 has been confirmed for 7-13 March 2026. Regrettably, February to July is Victoria Falls peak season, and accommodation is already running out for any other dates. Changing from February to March has already caused a steep increase in the accommodation costs. Update # 3 has been posted with XUNICEF newsletter, as well as the Canada and Malta Reunion WhatsApp groups today. We will sadly miss you.
In Response to a comment by Mary Racelis
Unknown commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 21, 2025
That previous comment was from Bill Hetzer.
Unknown commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 21, 2025
wonderful abstract paintings, Cecilia. I really love your style and use of color.
Unknown commented on "Words Trivia: Unusual Origins of Common English Phrases"
Jul 21, 2025
For some more unusual origins of some common English phrases one should read the following review of a book authored by Shashi Tharoor and dwell deeper into his book titled "Wonderland of Words". Peter Chen
https://scroll.in/article/1079409/wonderland-of-words-shashi-tharoors-seriously-funny-book-on-the-quirks-of-the-english-language
https://scroll.in/article/1079409/wonderland-of-words-shashi-tharoors-seriously-funny-book-on-the-quirks-of-the-english-language
Unknown commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 20, 2025
Juan Aguilar
Wonderful colors and very interesting technique. Thanks for sharing. Love from Guatemala. Juan Aguilar
Wonderful colors and very interesting technique. Thanks for sharing. Love from Guatemala. Juan Aguilar
Unknown commented on "Is the UN system collapsing? : Wayan Vota"
Jul 20, 2025
All these orgs are cutting jobs because of the US funding cuts, as in most of these orgs the US was their number one donor… it’s interesting to see that some of these orgs are reluctant o publicly name the USG as the cause of their problems…
Jul 20, 2025
Let's hope a few more Brian Schatz & Bernie Sanders type of legislators with a conscience will eventually emerge in the Republican Party once the Trump-mania fizzles or self-destructs in the next election cycles.
Unknown commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 20, 2025
Magical, bravo Cecilia!
Unknown commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 20, 2025
So beautiful !!
Unknown commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 20, 2025
Wow loving the bright colors and fanciful designs
Donna Keher
Donna Keher
Unknown commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 20, 2025
Amazing colors & I love the abstract. Fun technique!
In Response to a comment by Mehr Khan Williams
Zeba Bukhari commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 19, 2025
Beautiful. Love the colours
In Response to a comment by Mehr Khan Williams
Jul 19, 2025
The comment above from: Victor Karunan, Bangkok, Thailand
Jul 19, 2025
Susan - Congratulations. Was wonderful to connect online while we were in US last month. I very much look forward to reading and also potentially review it for an international journal.
Unknown commented on "John Gilmartin on RFK's claims of aluminum contamination in vaccines"
Jul 19, 2025
Oops sorry the above is from Fouad.
Unknown commented on "John Gilmartin on RFK's claims of aluminum contamination in vaccines"
Jul 19, 2025
I cannot remember that particular meeting, but like Detlef I deplore the change in rhetoric that maintains what the UN agency is doing rather than what the assisted country should be doing. In the early years I recall that every project document had a section called “Govt matching” where we showed their inputs to the activity. Over time this disappeared, sadly.
I agree that that the genius of JPG ‘s approach was highlighting the national efforts , not the UN inputs and giving primary importance to others, rather than to unicef.
I agree that that the genius of JPG ‘s approach was highlighting the national efforts , not the UN inputs and giving primary importance to others, rather than to unicef.
Mehr Khan Williams commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 19, 2025
I can see you had fun! So much color and such a different medium with so many possibilities. It is very abstract and the colors you used are also unusual for you! Happy painting Cecila and I look forward to seeing more! Yes,
The Arts Student’s League is an amazing place! Hope you come back again soon.
The Arts Student’s League is an amazing place! Hope you come back again soon.
Unknown commented on "Paintings - Cecilia Lotse"
Jul 19, 2025
Well done Cecilia, beautiful work.
Evelyn Bouillon
Evelyn Bouillon
Jul 19, 2025
Hello Susan! Congraturations on your and A.S.K/.Kumar's Protecting the World Children; Public Health, Human Rights Capabilities. Are you currently living in New York or Washington, DC? If so, I expect to be there late August or early September and would love to catch up with you. I will purchase my copy when I get there. If you still have an extra give-away copy which I can take to our mutual friend, Dr. Dennis Batangan, MD, I know he'll be most appreciative. He is doing marvelous work in public health training Local Governments in the Philippines to improve communication technologies and applications, linking local health officials directly with community health workers. You can reach me at < maryracelis@gmail.com> Mary
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Labels
Comments
Labels:
Comments
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Comments
Post a Comment
If you are a member of XUNICEF, you can comment directly on a post. Or, send your comments to us at xunicef.news.views@gmail.com and we will publish them for you.