iSeek Global Access, a new Member States Portal and an ICT Greening Policy are three of the seven ICT Fast Forward (FF) initiatives that have been completed and already delivering high impact, user-focused information and communications technology (ICT) solutions for the Secretariat. A fourth initiative, UN Call Management has also been completed and is in an initial pilot deployment stage in selected departments with plans for a roll out over the coming months at UN Headquarters in New York.In September 2008, Mr. Choi Soon-hong, Assistant Secretary-General/Chief Information Technology Officer (CITO), and ICT managers throughout the Secretariat selected seven initiatives for the inaugural round of the FF Programme out of more than 40 suggestions received from staff across the Secretariat.
In contrast to the multi-year ICT strategic programmes that provide long-term benefits to the entire Organization, the goal of the ICT Fast Forward Programme is to facilitate rapid ICT solutions aligned with institutional needs and to improve the working life of staff and the larger UN community. FF Initiatives also encourage ICT personnel to be innovative and work in teams across ICT units and in partnership with other departments and offices.
A summary of the completed initiatives follows:
iSeek Global Access
iSeek posted in early December 2008 an article on the first initiative completed, iSeek Global Access, which expanded iSeek access to more than 100 new sites around the world.
Member States Portal
A Member States Portal, dubbed “deleGATE” and led by DPI’s Outreach Division and the Office of ICT (OICT), has been available since November 2008. Known as the "iSeek for Member States," the web site features dynamic content from iSeek of interest to delegations working at UN Headquarters in New York. The deleGATE portal is updated on a daily basis and includes links to essential information resources and delegate-specific tools.
ICT Greening Policy
A draft Secretary-General's Bulletin (SGB) on ICT Greening Policy, which includes input from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has been completed and is being reviewed. Topics covered in the draft SGB include acquisitions and disposal, energy saving measures, reduction of paper waste and green-friendly business processes. Once the policy is established, the next step is to implement various ICT greening measures as required by the policy on the basis of a Secretariat-wide plan.
UN Online Call Management
With respect to the UN Online Call Management system, which provides staff with online processing of telephone billing at UN Headquarters in New York, the procurement of software was completed in December. Transition to a new version of Application Suite software is expected to be finalized by 30 January 2009. Testing of the new features, pre-marking of calls, wireless integration and payroll deduction will be performed in February. The completed system will be rolled out to all departments and offices in the following months.
Three remaining initiatives from 2008: Document Subscription Service, Shared Resources on Lotus Notes and Enterprise Feedback Management System required further elaboration or were subject to changes in priorities. These initiatives will be rolled over into one of the new Fast Forward cycle for 2009.
Seek will keep you apprised with further Fast Forward updates, including the second round of initiatives for 2009.
