UNDG Business Operations Lessons Learned BOS

Advanced Business Operations Training

Kabul, Afghanistan November 2014.

Lessons Learned BOS- Pilots

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Challenges Competing priorities

Uneven burden sharing

Procedures for common procurement is not clearly outlined

To receive input

Conducting joint monitoring and feedback

Perception of HQ resistance to common procurement

Doing business as usual…

Lack of incentive

Connection between Programmeprocurement needs and the Common Procurement team planning.

Lessons learned Recognition of staff contribution

Identifying champions and ownership

Clarity of terminology and processes

Plan for how to use end-user feedback

Still need for additional individual contract committees for common LTAs for some agencies.

Acknowledge the benefit for smaller agencies

Commitment from Heads Of Agencies for outcomes of common LTA processes.

Importance of country level agreement of process for common LTAs (SOP)

Tell the story!

Common Procurement UN Tanzania

Lessons Learned BOS- Pilots• Capturing the data is hard work. Needs to be real commitment and

leadership to get this done. worth considering getting external help • Procurement people seem to prefer to maintain their individual

relationships with suppliers. • With staff turnover there is a regular need to re-explain and re-advocate

for BOS. Capacity development /Regular training should be provided to reinforce the strategic management of programme and operations activities.

• Quarterly UN induction training on Common Business Ops organised as a common staff development action (under the HR component of the BOS) is very much recommended.

• The M&E TWG should be enhanced to allow for better planning and monitoring (of programme as well as operational activities).