Staff Association Participation in the June PBR: Progress, Gaps, and the Way Forward : GSA

Dear Colleagues,

You may have seen the message shared yesterday by our Executive Director regarding the first set of decisions following the June Global PBR process. We know many of you are trying to process what this means for children, the organization, your teams, and yourselves.

The June 2025 PBR marked a key moment for UNICEF, not just in resource alignment, but in how staff are engaged. Based on input from 82 Country Offices, a GSA-led review found progress in Staff Association involvement, but also highlighted gaps in inclusion, transparency, and emotional safety. GSA has been actively engaged throughout the process, supporting staff representatives at all levels through capacity building, reinforcing and practical guidance. While some offices demonstrated inclusive, trust-based practices, others reported symbolic engagement and unclear decisions. The report, now shared with senior management for consideration in upcoming PBRs (September and January), is also published on the GSA SharePoint. Staff voices must not only be heard, they must help shape the institution's future. To that end, an accountability framework is essential to ensure meaningful and consistent participation of Staff Associations in all offices.

We want all of us to take a moment of reflection and remind ourselves of the critical role that your local and regional staff representatives have played and continue to play throughout this process. They have been present, persistent, and vocal in every PBR discussion, advocating tirelessly for fairness, transparency, and protection of staff, even when decisions were difficult and beyond their control. They have done so with no control over the outcomes, but with deep care and courage, speaking up for staff and holding up our CRITAS values . We recognize the fear, sadness, frustration, and uncertainty that many of us are experiencing, these emotions are real, valid, and deserve to be met with empathy and understanding.

It is important that we direct our energies not to blame, but towards solidarity. No one, neither staff nor staff representatives are responsible for the difficult outcomes some of us face now. These decisions stem from broader organizational challenges, and while we may not agree with every step taken, it is crucial that we maintain compassion for one another during this uncertain time.

For impacted staff, please know that it is not a reflection of your worth, dedication, or contributions. You are valuable, the contributions you have made will continue to benefit the lives of children you served. As GSA, we will not stop, we remain committed to analyzing the numbers, advocating for robust support mechanisms during this transition, including ensuring fair access and monitoring of the upcoming ring-fenced recruitments, accompanying the staff support team, and other avenues of assistance.

Let us continue to support, lean on each other, listen with empathy, and stand together. If there is one thing this process continues to affirm, it is the strength of our collective voices and the unwavering commitment of staff to each other.

In solidarity,

Bizuhan, Francoise and Kamran

GSA Team