Staffing global governance: an effective human resources policy for a spectacular United Nations

This chapter examines the human resources policies developed and implemented within the United Nations System (UN). To this end, the chapter will first establish the current problems with the UN human resources policies; it will then explain the causes and consequences of these problems; and will finally develop and propose a solution. The analysis approaches UN human resources policies as a means towards UN goals. Yet, to fully understand these human resources problems, it would not be enough to analyze them just from a human resources perspective. Rather, human resources policies need to be addressed in conjunction with two other intertwined areas: UN management policies and UN accountability policies. As a result, this chapter will study UN human resources policies in conjunction with management and accountability policies, in the context of UN goals. Considering the political nature of human resources problems, the chapter proposes what would be a politically feasible course of action for reforming and improving UN human resources policies.