Heard on the Grapevine - Reuniting Syria's two offices, push for donors, posts in the 'excellence hubs'

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Grapevine - heard from Syria country level staff

At least one group of staff seem pleased with the consolidation of offices - Syrian staff say that they are pleased that they are no longer separated in two offices.  Moreover, the better long-established Damascus Office is better staffed and equipped to handle UNICEF's work in the country.

At the country level between 20 and 30 % of posts have been abolished.  On the other hand, only staff on abolished posts can apply for vacancies in the "Excellence Hubs", which seem to be taking over what we knew as regional offices. This gives some staff on abolished posts hope of a future in UNICEF.

There is a new push to find donors, especially new donors in the Middle East.  The hope is to find enough 'new money 'to fund all the remaining posts for at least two years.

'Business as usual' is over - now country offices are using 'bottleneck analysis' and similar tools to focus on priorities.

Staff joining the 'town halls' remain very stressed.  Nonetheless there is hope that by January questions of staffing will be much more clear.