The ICT strategy is comprised of a vision, a management framework and three strategic programmes. These building blocks come together to shape the future of ICT at the United Nations Secretariat.
ICT Vision
The ICT strategy strives to harness the power of information, communications, and technology to increase its effectiveness and efficiency in delivering the United Nations’ services to the global community. The ICT strategy enables ICT to contribute to the Organization in the following areas:
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Work: Creates an ICT operation that is aligned with the mission and work programmes of the Secretariat;
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People: Enables United Nations personnel and their stakeholders to connect and share knowledge anytime, anywhere;
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Resources: Allows institutional resources to be efficiently deployed and utilized.
ICT Management Framework
The Secretariat is making significant improvements in its ICT management processes and structures to establish a unified, high-performing ICT environment throughout the Organization. Taken together, these improvements constitute the “Management Framework” of the ICT strategy, in which the five top priorities listed below were identified and planned for the 2009-2013 period. The Secretariat continues to monitor activities in these priority areas to facilitate a smooth implementation of the strategy:
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Develop the ICT management structure: A major element of the strategy is the creation of a new global ICT management structure that achieves coherence and eliminates the duplication and fragmentation of ICT. A single, united management structure leverages synergies and economies of scale and eliminates redundant operations.
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Deliver strategic programmes: ICT should effectively support and enable the work programmes of the Secretariat. Increasing the alignment of ICT programmes with substantive activities means that ICT must be more responsive to organizational units so that changes to work programmes or priorities are quickly reflected in the ICT activities and solutions.
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Enhance service delivery and performance management: ICT must help develop an open environment which allows access to the timely and reliable information that contributes to effective decisionmaking.
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Implement global architecture and standards: Establishing an Organizationwide, service-oriented architecture and strong technical standards enables the consolidation of ICT assets, systems and services on a global scale.
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Improve financial control and reporting: To maximize the value of ICT, a global ICT financial framework is needed to enforce financial discipline and accountability for all spending on ICT. Under this framework, new projects will be carefully scrutinized and prioritized.
