Umoja

I am staff member with supervisory/managerial responsibilities. What is my role in Umoja?

Your role and responsibilities as a supervisor/manager will not change. The process to approve or initiate various managerial transactions, such as leave, will change with the implementation of the new system. Managers will be able to log into the Umoja Manager Self-Service (MSS) and access information, approve requests from their staff as well as perform tasks (initiate contract renewal) that will automatically send notifications or trigger workflows to other colleagues such as HR Partners.

What are the Key Changes in Human Resources? How will HR and related processes be handled online through Umoja?

  • Employee Self-Service portal will allow staff to:
    • View and update their HR information and profile
    • Initiate and track requests for leave requests, benefits and entitlements
    • Make travel requests directly and submit claims electronically
    • Own and be accountable for their information and entitlements
  • UN staff data will be stored centrally and shared across the organization
  • Transfer of staff across duty stations will be seamless, no more script transfer and delays in processing payroll

When will Umoja be implemented in my duty station?

  • Since 2013, Umoja has been gradually deployed to various duty stations.
  • HR, Payroll, Benefits, Organization Management and Travel are within the scope of Umoja Extension 1. Deployment of this functionality began in July 2014 in MINUSTAH, and continues in June 2015 in OCHA, UNON, UNEP, UN Habitat, UNAKRT and ESCAP, and November 2015 for the remaining of the Secretariat, except local staff in Peacekeeping missions. Full roll-out will be completed in March 2016.

What is Umoja and what does it mean to staff as the end user?

Umoja is an initiative for the United Nations Secretariat that includes a thorough streamlining of UN business processes. It is an implementation of SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. The system changes the way we do a wide variety of administrative and management activities and puts the focus on the staff member to be responsible for initiating actions and managing their own personal information.   It will transform the way staff and managers work, which will require a change in behaviours.