From left to right: Anna Stańczyk, VEF Coordinator, TCS/DSE/ESD; Shahi Barogh, Finance Expert, COR/FIN/APT; Franz Brugger, Project Coordinator, TCS/CPS/CDA; Luciana Scheid, M&E / Procurement Expert, TCS/DSE/CTI

VIENNA – The Professional Association of Individual Service Agreement (ISA) holders came into existence with the adoption of its statues during a virtual Town Hall Meeting on 19 April, 2023.

During the Town Hall Meeting, chaired by the UNIDO Staff Council President, a team was elected. Bahareh Shahi Barogh, Anna Stańczyk, and Franz Brugger share the role of President, while   Luciana Scheid took the role of Treasurer.

The ISA Association is the first of its kind in the United Nations family. As other agencies increase their temporary workforce, it might serve as a pilot study for other entities keen on ensuring representation of all the personnel, notwithstanding their contractual arrangements.  The central goal is to foster representation, participate in, and shape the decisions that concern ISAs at UNIDO. Currently ISA holders account for the majority of UNIDO personnel. In this regard, the guiding principle of the Association is to cultivate a clear line of communication and sense of community for their constituents.

At the core of the ISA Association lies the value of open and solution-driven dialogue, inclusivity, and fairness. As the collective voice of the ISAs, the Association is looking into innovative approaches that respect the Organization’s core values and promote a positive working environment in which all personnel can make meaningful contributions to UNIDO’s success. In a joint statement, the four representatives of the ISA Association outlined that they are here to address the unique challenges faced by ISAs and to embrace the rich tapestry of situations, skills, and perspectives within their community.

Currently, the ISA Association is preparing to conduct a survey for ISAs at UNIDO to assess their needs, gather ideas and prepare an action plan that works for the organization’s personnel. With their call to action: “We need your voices and your opinions to represent you”, the Association hopes to build lasting partnerships and networks within UNIDO and with other associations.

In the meantime, the representatives have already actively engaged with various colleagues throughout UNIDO to exchange ideas, knowledge and work together to shape the future of the Organization. Ultimately, the ISA Association is dedicated to maximize the potential of to excel in their roles and thus better contribute to UNIDO’s mandate.