The strong motivation of the staff

Ambassador Francesco Mezzalama airs his views and ponders on his experience during 10 years of service as an Inspector of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU).

UNS: After 10 years in the JIU where you had the opportunity to work and interact with the entire United Nations system, how do you assess your mission comparing it with your previous experience in the Italian diplomatic service?

Francesco Mezzalama: let me first frame my activities within the functions of the Joint Inspection Unit. The JIU is the only systemwide independent and external oversight body and I insist on “external” because it qualifies its mandate vis-à-vis internal oversight with which it should not be confused. The Unit aims to ensure that action undertaken by the United Nations components are carried out in the most economical manner and that optimum use is made of available resources. Inspection and evaluation are the tools used to review the correct implementation of the organization’s mandates as established by the relevant legislative and executive organs. It is evident from what I have said how these functions differ from traditional diplomacy in which I had been involved for many years. But I would add that my previous engagements in multilateral diplomacy have been a useful background. It was challenging to move from the seat of a Member State representative to the independent position of an Inspector assessing the activities of the Organization and its complex internal structures. I have discovered the diversity of a system whose multifaceted composition I can hardly have imagined from outside.

The UN organization is sometimes the object of criticism. Do you think it is justified?
Earthly undertakings are normally a mixture of lights and shadows. Perfection does not belong to this world. The United Nations is no exception to the rule. The challenge in our case is to reduce the negative and expand the positive. That is the motivation to which I have tried to inspire my work with the Organization.

Which are in your opinion the positive and negative aspects of the UN system ?
I remember the witticism of the former Representative of a country, Permanent Member of the Security Council “This Organization is created to prevent us gong to hell; it is not created to take us to heaven”. After 10 years of full involvement in the United Nations, I do not feel that much disenchanted, though I recognize that there is room for improvements. I mentioned among the positive aspects that in no another forum it is possible to develop a dialogue of such a dimension at the international level. The ongoing enlargement of the Institution, which has now reached 191 members, makes it really global. Discussion is the best way to avoid confrontation and Nations of all sizes can participate on equal footing in the dialogues on the most diversified issues, political, economic, social, humanitarian, juridical and so on. It is significant that the recourse to the vote has been gradually replaced, in many cases by consensus. Though the focus is often on New York, the enormous work of the Specialized Agencies, Funds and Programmes on concrete grounds is essential. One of my preoccupations has been to put it into value and to have it adequately publicized. The mobilisation of resources in case of emergencies is particularly enhanced by the United Nations structures and millions of lives have been saved. The positive listing could continue bypassing the limit of this interview. Among the negative aspects, lack of coordination must be mentioned. This is one of the obstacles against which the JIU is fighting permanently. Overlaps are frequent and they mean waste of time and resources. Excessive bureaucratisation is something inconvenient with consequent overproduction of documents, which are insufficiently studied and rapidly forgotten. Streamlining should be reinforced, including the agendas of the General Assembly, of the legislative bodies, and of meetings of different kinds. Reforms are often proposed, but they proceed too slowly or lack a comprehensive approach.

What do you propose as solutions?
I do not think that an overall formula can be proposed. It would be unrealistic. Each component of the system has its characteristics. Rather than giving personal suggestions, I would rather refer to the collective work of the JIU. Together with other Inspectors (the Unit is composed of eleven Inspectors), and a dedicated staff, reports are elaborated dealing with management, administration and the evaluation of the United Nations bodies activities and how they can be more efficient and effective. Our recommendations touch upon good governance, delegation of authority, decentralization, transparency, better use of human resources and many other aspects that we deem deserve attention. It is our preoccupation that a follow- up is ensured and recently the Unit has set up a mechanism of monitoring in order that the recommendations are rapidly and fully implemented. The JIU reports are a mirror of good lessons to be learned and bad lessons to be avoided.

Have things changed since your appointment as an Inspector? If so in what way?
The initiatives to improve the overall mechanism of the Organization have been frequent. The Secretary General has faced the problem of reform of the system with energy and determination. The turn of the century has offered a special opportunity for a meaningful assessment of the situation. The Millennium Declaration was an important event in that direction. But the implementation depends ultimately on the will and decisions of Member States. Unfortunately, more than once the words do not correspond to the facts. The reform, as it has been repeatedly stated, is an ongoing process and is and will continue to be carried out. As an Inspector together with my colleagues, we have oriented our work programme taking into account the priorities linked to the efforts towards the improvement of the functioning of the Organization. Being a system wide body, the JIU has suggested solutions not only to the problems existing in New York, but also to those faced by the Agencies. Their management and administration have been thoroughly assessed and the process is still underway. I think that there is a more mature conscience that postponements, a practice not only used but also abused, must be replaced by timely decisions. The responsibility is for all, Member States and Secretariats alike.

Which sector of your activity you found more stimulating and has been reflected in your reports? Looking back at the work that I have done in ten years, I find that my preferences, subject to the exigencies of the work programme, have gone to the technical cooperation, to the humanitarian field, to the human resources and to the civil society. My reports on NGOs, and the private sector have contributed to explore new avenues and strengthen the cooperation among the people, the governments and the United Nations. I have also been interested by the phenomenon of the aging of the staff and the connected issue of replacement and rejuvenation of the human resources. These problems have been addressed in some of my reports and during my missions I have always sought the opinion of the staff representatives for a complete picture of the subject under my examination.

You conducted several field missions in relation to your inspection and investigation responsibilities. Which one is of a particular interest to you?
The complex emergencies, the relationship between humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping operations has taken me several times to Africa. The seriousness of the situations in that Continent was a source of concern but the warmth, the genuineness and friendship of the populations always impressed me greatly. It would be too long to get into details, but I like to remember my mission to Mozambique at a time when the intervention of the United Nations had piloted the civil war towards a peaceful settlement. It was a remarkable success for the Organization. More generally within the context of my inspections, I have constantly underlined the essential role of women in economic and social developments and supported the need of appropriate recognition and wider participation in civic responsibility. I am confident that similar attention will be devoted to the issue by the future Inspectors.

Have you any plans for the future?
Among my priorities I surely enlist my engagement to make the United Nation’s activities better known and appreciated for their contribution to mutual understanding, safe guard of peace and assistance to peoples in need. In doing so, I will certainly give recognition to the strong motivation of the staff, working when necessary in difficult conditions, who share the merit of the steady engagement in the pursuit of the goals of the Organization.

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these issues with you on the UN Special . I learn a lot by working with you, and you have a lot to teach.

Inspector Mezzalama’s service to the United Nations as an Inspector ended at 31 December 2002.

Interview by Seble Demeke, UN.