UN Core Values and Competencies Flashcards

A UN staff member is asked to work extra hours to meet a critical deadline but receives no additional compensation. The most appropriate response reflecting UN values is to:

Answer: Fulfill the commitment professionally and raise workload concerns through proper channels afterward

Professionalism and Accountability require fulfilling obligations during critical periods while addressing workload concerns through legitimate channels.

The UN concept of 'Accountability' includes being answerable to whom?

Answer: To both the organization and the people it serves, including the public

UN Accountability extends to the organization, its mandates, and ultimately the people the UN is meant to serve worldwide.

A staff member who avoids stating opinions in meetings to prevent conflict is most likely lacking in which competency?

Answer: Communication

Effective Communication includes the confidence to clearly express views and ideas, even in difficult or sensitive situations.

Which scenario best illustrates a conflict between personal interest and the UN value of Integrity?

Answer: A staff member awards a contract to a vendor in which they hold undisclosed shares

Awarding a contract to a vendor in which you have an undisclosed financial interest is a direct conflict of interest that violates Integrity.

When facing a new digital records management system, a staff member who embodies 'Technological Awareness' would:

Answer: Attend training, practice with the system, and help colleagues adapt

Technological Awareness includes embracing new tools, learning to use them effectively, and supporting colleagues in the transition.

A General Service staff member notices that a key deadline has been missed due to unclear handoffs between team members. Demonstrating 'Teamwork' means the staff member should:

Answer: Work with the team to identify the communication gap and prevent recurrence

Teamwork includes taking collective responsibility for issues and collaborating to fix systemic problems rather than assigning blame.

How do the UN core values differ from UN core competencies?

Answer: Core values are the ethical principles all staff must uphold; competencies are observable behaviors evaluated in performance assessments

Core values (Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity) are foundational ethical principles, while competencies are specific, measurable behaviors assessed in staff evaluations.