XUNICEF News and Views

Having returned to Sweden after fifty years abroad—thirty of them with UNICEF—following the passing of my wife, I received my first pension payment into my Swedish bank account today. It amounted to almost SEK 100,000 for the month. That figure made me reflect.

 From: AFICS Association of Former International Civil Servants < afics@un.org > Date: Thu, Apr 9, 2026, 07:16 Subject: UNJSPF: Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in April 2026 To: AFICS Association of Former International Civil Servants < afics@un.org > Dear AFICS/NY Members, I am pleased to inform you that the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) has announced that, in accordance with the provisions of the UNJSPF Pension Adjustment System and based on consumer price index data published by the UN Statistics Division, there will be a  2.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the US dollar track  with respect to periodic benefits. The increase will be effective 1 April 2026, and the initial month’s COLA adjustment will be reflected in April pension benefits, payable in arrears at the end of the month. Further information is available on the UNJSPF’s website:  https://www.unjspf.org/newsroom/retirees-and-beneficiaries-cost-of-living-adjust...

  Pour la version française, voir ci-dessous  For the French version, please see below UNJSPF News - March 2026 Join our next Pension Townhall sessions. Check the dedicated  Pension Townhall page  for more information.

  Pour la version française, voir ci-dessous  For the French version, please see below UNJSPF News - February 2026 Join our next Pension Townhall sessions. Check the dedicated  Pension Townhall page  for more information. Secretary-General Appoints Robert van der Zee of Netherlands Representative for United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund Asset Investments Mr. van der Zee served as Chief Financial Officer at the World Food Programme (WFP) in Italy (2024-2025), bringing 30 years of experience across various financial management roles. He possesses extensive and in-depth organizational and financial knowledge and expertise along with a strong track record of senior leadership in both the financial services industry and in international organizations.   Click  here  to read the article. Published on 2 February 2026 Understanding your pension: the milestone years explained You might be wondering whether working a few more months o...

The following letter from the President of FAFICS was sent to members of AFICS.  Note that the full letter follows the summary below.  UN General Assembly Requests Comprehensive Review of UN Pension Scheme Author: Jerry Barton, FAFICS President Publication: FAFICS (Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants) Date: 26 January 2026 Summary: The UN General Assembly, as part of its approval of the Pension Fund's budget on 31 December 2025, invited the Pension Board to conduct a comprehensive review of the entire UN pension scheme.

Interesting info about UNJSPF in BAFUNCS newsletter Rafah Pensions to rise in April UN pensions on the Dollar track will rise by 2.7 per cent in April 2026, while those on the local Sterling track will go up by 3.4 percent. These figures reflect the movement in the consumer price indices of the USA and the UK, respectively, in the 12 months to December 2025.

  Subject: Update on the 2026 UNJSPF Holistic Review and Your Pension Security Dear Retirees and Beneficiaries,

New Year's message from Rosemarie McClean and Robert van der Zee on the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

 UN Pension Review: Understanding the Risks Author: Loraine Rickard-Martin Publication: Independent Analysis Date: 13 January 2026 Click here for the article GA Resolution See  A/RES/80/243   para 14 Click here for the US Mission statement Summary The UN General Assembly's resolution A/RES/80/243.XII.14 invites the Pension Board to conduct a holistic review of the UN pension system, including examining defined-contribution and hybrid models and ways to lower contributions.

UN Pension Fund Study Request Linked-in January 6, 2025  Click here for Ian Richards column on Linked-in Summary Ian Richards, a member of the UN Joint Staff Pension Board, reports that the UN General Assembly made an unexpected request during its 80th session in late December 2025.

  Pour la version française, voir ci-dessous  For the French version, please see below

Editor's Note:  There may be further developments in this news, since the memo below went out in August.  We would appreciate hearing from our members who live in Austria about further news and reactions.  See also below the ARICSA memo information from other sources. Thanks.  

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  Pour la version française, voir ci-dessous See the French version below The next global virtual pension townhall session will focus on "Pension payments and two-track essentials".   Whether you have recently retired or have been a beneficiary for years, this session is designed to provide practical guidance and valuable insights to help you make informed financial decisions. Gain a clearer understanding of the Fund's Pension Adjustment System and the principles governing benefit payments so that you can plan with confidence. Pension payments and two-track essentials   Date: Wednesday, 12 November 2025 Time: 09:00 to 10:30 a.m. (NY time) Language: English Click here to join the session This informative session is designed to help retirees and beneficiaries better understand how pension payments are processed and how the two-track system works. An expert from the UNJSPF will walk you through key concepts, clarify common questions, and provide essential...

Pour la version française, voir ci-dessous See the French version below Come join us for a live Q&A with your Pension Fund!   The next global virtual Pension Townhall sessions will focus on "Ask Your Pension Fund – Q&A for retirees and beneficiaries." These interactive sessions are designed to give you a chance to ask questions directly and get them addressed by experts from the Fund. Bring your pension questions and join the conversation. We're here to help. Ask your Pension Fund - Q&A for retirees and beneficiaries Date: Wednesday, 29 October 2025 Time: 09:00 to 11:00 a.m. (NY time) Language: English Click here to join the session The purpose of this session is to address questions you may have relating to your entitlements from the Fund, for example, how to change address or payment options, how to comply with the Fund's annual Certificate of Entitlement exercise, or entitlements for survivors. We will also take a moment to show you some useful we...