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By Matthew Russell Lee, CJR Letter PFTracker  Q&A

UNITED NATIONS GATE, March 11 – The corruption in the UN system under UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres ranges from impunity for sexual abuse and harassment to lack of financial disclosures and audits to outright double-dipping of benefits, whistleblower UN staff have repeatedly complained to Inner City Press. Two months later, one of the double dipper was rewarded with a promotion to UN Resident Coordinator in the United Arab Emirates, see Achim Steiner's announcement below. After that there was a meeting in which Guterres' senior official berated staff for leaking to Inner City Press (called "Innercity Press" in the minutes), and bragged that there would be no accountability for the double dippers. Now on March 11 there this, from whistleblowers: "the General Assembly decided to appoint the UNDP Administrator [Achim Steiner, another of Guterres' fellow travelers with massive costs like Guterres himself] as UNCDF's oversight Manager (managing director), while keeping some autonomy on the day-to-day operations of the small finance entity.  In view of this, the appointment of the Executive Secretary of UNCDF (D2 Level) was always a result of a political appointment by UNDP Administrator. For instance, you can have no previous financial background, or track record of managing medium/large teams or institutions, you could also be deemed unqualified and still be chosen to lead UNCDF.   Take Judith Karl - existing Executive Secretary- as an example. Few months after receiving her official separation letters from UNDP as a result of UNDP's reform process, to which her post and skills were deemed unnecessary, and her attempts of securing three other D1/D2 posts were also unsuccessful, Ms. Karl, receives favorable treatment from the former UNDP Administrator and gets appointed as UNCDF Executive. Sources do confirm that she was not in the top shortlisted candidates for the Job but that is the power of political appointments in the UN.   Ms. Karl's lack of relevant experience and wrong appointment is not the main focus of this article, but rather the elite "North" team she managed to form to lead the agency responsible for the poorest of the poor. Racism and widely noticed corruption are the normal norm at UNCDF headquarters, staff here say. The historic  absent interest of all UNDP Administrators in supervising UNCDF have allowed each Executive Secretary to do what they want, when they want, all under the radar.  Here are the names and countries of all the senior management team of UNCDF: Judith, Executive Secretary (USA), Xavier, Deputy Executive Secretary ( France), Henri , Director Financial Inclusion (France), David, Director Local Governance ( UK), Esther, head of partnerships (USA), Andrew, Head of Evaluation (UK), Anders, Head of Investment Platform (Sweden), Ruth, Managing Director of Better Than Cash Alliance (Australia), Vincent, Asia Regional Coordinator (Dutch), Christel, West Africa Regional Coordinator (France), Dmitry, East Africa Regional Coordinator (Serbia)... Meaning, if you ever aspire for a management position at UNCDF, you must be from the North. And one specific condition is that you cannot be promoted from within because you are never good enough, especially if you are from a third world country. Do not act shocked! It has been widely known that all asenior Managers at UNCDF are either white or from the North, except one individual. If you belong to Judith's group of elites, you can get whatever you want and do whatever you want.    We will be factually more precise: It’s enough to get you to work from any European or North destination of your choosing such as opening an office in Brussels (Mobile Money for the Poor Manager) for one elite Individual, or London ( Better Than Cash  Manager), or Washington (the new Digital Strategy Manager). You can also start at a low position and be guaranteed a promotion every two years. You only need to be from her circle of elites, who must be white or from the North.  Still not convinced? Did you know that since her arrival at UNCDF, Judith held three Senior Management Retreats for her Elite team all in Northern countries? Don’t you get it? It’s disgusting to be in the south.  Be assured, these Elite privileges are  handed to you. You don’t even need to work for your job. You are just given. For example, Mr. Anders Berlin joined UNCDF on a secondment from Sweden SIDA at a P5 Adviser level. In less than 2 years he is upgraded to a D1 with his own unit. The executive secretary announced the creation of that new third ‘Pillar’ over an email. Certainly the D1 was fake advertised, the Terms of Reference (ToR) drafted to fit his CV and the recruitment will be orchestrated so he won’t need to compete.   What gives Judith the right to create a third Practice at UNCDF, at a D1 level with other newly recruited international staff when 3 years earlier the internal staff suffered a horrible restructuring which led to many people losing their jobs or downgraded? Evidently the restructuring resulted in the removal of staff from the south to create more opportunities for new people from the North.   Staff morale among the doomed people from the south is frightening and  shocking at the Least Developed Countries’ agency. Last year Judith Karl denied a finance genius from Africa the opportunity for career growth in HQ after 6 years of service. To Ms. Karl he was not good enough for a P4 level post, she also made specific justifications for her decision based on the lack of funds as a reason. A month later, the same staff member secures a P4 job with UNDP, who race quickly to take him. The jaw-dropping part in this factual story is that after his departure to UNDP, Ms. Karl decides to advertise for a P4 post and hired a staff from a donor country to replace him.   The orchestration of the new UNCDF digital strategy is nothing but a strategy to remove additional people from the south from their posts, with the hope of benefitting preferred candidates from the North. Without a change management expert to review the Financial Inclusion Practice team and the relevance of the new digital strategy, three out of 6 key managers and other staff from the south were formally and informally advised to look for new jobs. To which all of them have contacted the ethics office and the office of the UN ombudsman on their deliberate targeting.   If you think you can beat these elites at their game, think again. They are ahead of the curve in coming up with justifications for every action they do. There is the corporate priority card when she wants to avoid following a proper procurement process such as creating  D1 posts, it’s the Administrator and UNDP’s priority when changing the organization direction without consultation, lack of funds when preventing brilliant women from the south to progress after long service, the gender card when prohibiting men from the south from progressing, or spreading fake glory headlines to cover how bad her organisation is run. We will expand on those specific stories in a future article.  It is fair to mention that very few senior managers from the North are just, empowering and inclusive. It is evident in UNCDF global staff survey. Unfortunately, they are powerless under the Judith regime to pose any change. We regret mixing them in this article as they have tried to stand for minorities and people from the south. Be assured you are not the purpose of this Article.   In the next Article, we will prove to you the lies Judith has spread trying to place herself as a finance innovator for the UN with the hope that someone will offer her a higher post. We can give you some teasers for your enjoyment. Did you know her Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) launched at the New York Stock Exchange is broke with no investors? The partnership with 17 Asset Management private sector ended up without one intervention? Her new third-party SME fund in Luxembourg has no funds or projects?   Quiz time: How many people from the south were denied promotions or let go in the past 4 years? How many people from the North/White granted promotions or hired in the past 4 years? UNCDF is a leader in innovation and offering proven solutions to local problems. It has a wealth of knowledge and talented long serving staff. We must preserve their talent and what they stand for. If there is one or few rotten tomatoes, then remove the bad ones to preserve the good reputation UNCDF has worked hard for many years to achieve.   The UN Princess is under the radar, enjoying her Elite status with her other elites. Will there ever be an investigation into the racism and exclusion at UNCDF? We all know this will be brushed under the carpet. The irony is that it’s the UN agency for the Least Developed Countries." This is the corrupt UN of Guterres: "CGSM Follow-up Meeting on 30 November 2018  Minutes of the Meeting   Participants:  Mr. David Bearfield, Director OHR  Ms. Henrietta De Beer, Policy Advisor, OHR  Mr. Dimitri Samaras, UNDP, UNFPA, UnWomen and UNOPS Staff Council Chairman  Ms. Fikerte Assefa, Staff Council Vice-Chair  Ms. Amsale Admassu, Staff Council Representative  Ms. Audrey Hyatt, Staff Council Representative   Summary of Minutes  The OHR Director opened the meeting by welcoming the staff council followed by the statement of the Staff Council Chair on the Council Mandate.   The Staff Council Chair expressed his concern on inconsistent implementation and administration of rules and regulations.  He reminded that documented in the CGSM minutes acknowledgement that  “5 were found to be not in line with the existing policies” and asked for clarification on how these individuals could be exempted from any sanction.    The Staff Council chair also informed the meeting that a staff member complained that he was asked by OHR team not to raise benefit entitlements issues anymore.  He also offered to get additional benefit entitlement....The OHR Director said that the damage is already done when staff gave internal information to the Innercity press.  He considers the focus on HR colleagues is a witch hunt.  He also added that they are working to identify these individuals who communicated the valuable information to outside.      The OHR Director insisted that there is no evidence of wrong doing by any of the 18 staff members mentioned in the article.  He also added that this case has been concluded as an organizational administrative error. Furthermore,  he refuses to let anyone targeting his staff." The UN is in decay. Since Guterres had Inner City Press roughed up on and banned since July 3, 2018 it cannot ask about this at the UN noon briefing as it has in the past, back to the time of Kofi Annan. But it has asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who Guterres' Communicator Alison Smale has told UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye would answer - but didn't: "August 27-3: Please state the Secretariat's and DSG / Development System's knowledge of dual citizen staff getting US Tax reimbursement and also Home Leave and Education grant entitlements using their national/original passport - and what is being done about it." No answer at all, 23 hours after the briefing in which Dujarric claimed the ban is for being in a parking lot making some diplomats and UN officials uncomfortable. (Isn't that a journalist's job?) On August 28, Dujarric wrote to Inner City Press regarding the question, "I WILL HAVE A COMMENT LATER ON THIS ISSUE." But now two days later, nothing. Instead, from within UNDP, an all-staff email referencing Inner City Press' story, leaked to Inner City Press: "From: UNDP Bulletin
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2018 5:06:13 PM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
To: All Staff UNDP Global
Subject: Update on Staff Benefits
Dear Colleagues,
You may have seen a press article published this week which alleges that a number of UNDP staff are improperly receiving benefits related to their expatriate status as internationally recruited staff.
Given our duty of care to staff and to the organization, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you regarding the situation.
Firstly, it is important to recognize that UNDP is a rules-based organization. For the benefit of its stakeholders, its staff, and the people it serves, UNDP recognizes it is of the utmost importance that administrative rules are applied consistently and fairly. In recognition of that principle, and as standard procedure, UNDP regularly screens for compliance with administrative rules.
Secondly, as part of that screening, UNDP had already commissioned an independent review by the UN Secretariat’s Office of Human Resources Management to ensure the fair and consistent application of rules related to eligibility for UNDP headquarters staff who are internationally recruited and receive related entitlements and benefits.
Thirdly, I would like to emphasize that there is no evidence nor any suggestion that any member of UNDP staff has acted inappropriately or dishonestly. OHR, on behalf of UNDP, will continue to ensure that rules and procedures are applied properly and correctly, in this, as in all other cases.
With my best regards,
Michele Candotti
Chief of Staff & Director of the Executive Office."
  But as whistleblowers point out, "Of course they have to say that because so many high level staff are also taking home leave benefits they don't have right to. Many of us hope you won't let this story go. You must press Steiner and the high level ppl listed in that chart you posted to respond to your questions and ask the top man at HR David Bearfield to explain how these ppl take home leave when Staff Rule 4.5 (d) says they can't. This is wrong." So is Guterres' outrageous targeting, roughing up and banning of Inner City Press to try to cover up his UN's corruption. And so is this announcement by Achim Steiner, with a double dipper promoted: "Dear Colleagues, It is my pleasure to announce the following UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative appointments:
Ms. Marina Walter has been appointed as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Ms. Dena Assaf has been appointed as UN Resident Coordinator for the United Arab Emirates.
Ms. Louisa Vinton has been appointed as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Georgia.
Ms. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh (Cameroon) has been appointed as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for the Kingdom of eSwatini.
Please join me in congratulating Marina, Dena, Louisa and Nathalie to their new assignments.
Kind regards,
Achim Steiner"

  Since Dena Assaf was one of the 14 double dippers, Inner City Press on October 30 asked not only Guterres' two spokesmen but also his Deputy Amina J. Mohammed: "please immediately explain the outcome of the inquiry into “double dipping” at UNDP Inner City Press previously asked you about and you said you would have an answer about, and explain how one of the 14 double dippers named by whistleblowers has just been named the UN resident coordinator in the UAE." Despite promises by Guterres' Global Communicator Alison Smale, including to UNSR David Kaye, that questions would be answered, this one has not been. But now this, from inside UNDP "From: Achim Steiner
Sent: Thursday, November 1, 2018 4:57 PM
To:
Subject: Arrangements for RC/RRs
Dear Colleagues,
Further to the announcement of newly appointed UN Resident Coordinators and UNDP Resident Representatives, please note that as of 1 January 2019, following the de-linking of the functions of the UN Resident Coordinator and those of the UNDP Resident Representative as mandated by General Assembly resolution 72/279, Ms. Marina Walter and Ms. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh will continue serving as UN Resident Coordinators, whereas Ms. Louisa Vinton will continue to serve as UNDP Resident Representative. Kind regards." And Dena Assaf? The UN, despite the murky corruption into which Guterres is taking it, must explain.

And here they are, UNanswered by Guterres' spokesman Dujarric who instead blocks Inner City Press after having roughed up, so with names unredacted as no responses at all to questions asked in three days ago to Guterres' Team, including on WOGC, connected to imprisoned UN briber Ng Lap Seng's Carlos Garcia, dealing in Kiribati with the UN, separate exclusive here, now this: "Dear Matthew, While UNDP and all UN agencies are suffering from the budget problem, some dishonest UNDP staff are taking two entitlements using their two passports interchangeably against the UNDP benefits entitlement rules.  As a US Citizen, they get US Tax reimbursement; they also get Home Leave and Education grant entitlements using their national/original passport.  It is sad to see UNDP’s senior staff participated in this fraud, as you can see from below Atlas record these staffs grade is from P4 – D2.  Predominantly, Ana Patricia ALVAREZ, and  Shazma Nathwani, the  HR Advisors also participated in this scam.   Some of the staff got more than $100,000 with this ongoing problem, e.g. Shazma Nathwani, $168,000. HR Staff have identified this issue early this year and reported to the HR Director and BMS Director but no action taken.  All UNDP staff in HQ knows this problem but had no other choice fear of retaliation, because of these people close relationship with UNDP senior management including their network.  We need your help...

ATLAS Record - List of Staffs with inappropriate  multiple benefits
No     Name     Title     Current Location     Level     Country-Place of Home Leave      Nationality Types     Douale payments made
1      ALVAREZ, Ana Patricia     HR Business Partner Central Bureaus, HQ/BMS/OHR     UNDP - New York     P-5     Honduras     Honduras- official     Home Leave and Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
2      ASSAF, Dena     Deputy Director, HQ/UNDOCO     UNDP - New York     D-2     Palestine     Palestine - official     Home Leave
                                    USA - Tax      
3      BRANT Heather     Chief of Section, HQ/Evaluation Office     UNDP - New York     P-5     Switzerland     Switzerland - official     Home Leave and Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
4      ALAIN Noudehou     Chief of Staff & Director, Executive Office, CO/SS     South Sudan     D-2     Benin     Benin - official     Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
5      ORUC  Yesim     Deputy  Director, HQ/BERA/LO/Washington     Washington     P-5     Tureky     Turkey - official     Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
6      REIMOV, Ajmiyaz     Programme Analyst (Research), HQ/BPPS     UNDP - New York     P-2     Uzbekistan     Uzbekistan - official     Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
7      RUSSELL, Andrew     UN Development Coordinator, HQ/BMS/OHR     UNDP - New York     D-1     Canada     Canada - official     Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
8      SERENYI Peter     Policy Specialist, HQ/UNDOCO     UNDP - New York     P-4     Hungary     Hungary - official     Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
9     SHAMASH-LADD Hamutal Esther     Legal Specialist     UNDP - New York     P-4     Israel     Israel - official     Home Leave
                                    USA - Tax      
10      UNGUREANU Carla     Human Resources Analyst, HQ/BMS/OHR     UNDP - New York     P-2     Peru     Peru - official     Home Leave
                                    USA - Tax      
11      JUHKAM Robert     Team Leader, HQ/BERA     UNDP - New York     P-5     Estonia     Estonia - official     Home Leave and Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
12      KINSLEY Sharon     Deputy Chief of Staff & Deputy Director     UNDP - New York     D-1     UK     UK - official     Home Leave and Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
13      LINOU Natalia     Policy Specialist, HQ/BPPS     UNDP - New York     P-4     Greece     Greece - official     Home Leave and Education Grant
                                    USA - Tax      
14      NATHWANI Shazma     Human Resources Specialist, HQ/BMS/OHR     UNDP - New York     P-4     Australia     Australia - Official     Home Leave
                                    USA - Tax     A
Regards,

UNDP Staffers

We'll have more on this.

***

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