Feedback on Systemic Trends
Based on our Terms of Reference, our Office shall identify, analyze and report on broad systemic issues and make recommendations to improve the policies, procedures, systems and structures of the respective organization, without breaching confidentiality or anonymity.
In this context, the work of the Office of the Ombudsman extends beyond the resolution of individual workplace concerns. Every case that passes through our Office carries information not only about the individuals, but about the organization as a whole. Identifying and acting on that information is one of the most important contributions the Office of the Ombudsman makes to UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNOPS and UN Women.
As part of its ongoing work, the Office systematically collects and analyses data derived from its casework. This process allows the Office to move beyond individual situations and identify recurring themes, emerging patterns, and structural conditions that may be generating conflict across the organization. These are issues that no single staff member or manager may be able to see from their own vantage point, but that become visible when looked at in aggregate.
The insights gathered through this process are shared with senior leadership and administration in the form of systemic feedback and concrete recommendations. These are not observations about specific individuals or cases; confidentiality is preserved at all times. Rather, they are institutional observations about the conditions, policies, processes, or management practices that may be contributing to workplace tension, dissatisfaction, or conflict at a deeper level. The goal is not to assign blame, but to support the organization in addressing root causes rather than managing symptoms.
The Office of the Ombudsman publishes an annual report summarizing its casework data, the key trends and concerns identified during the year, and its recommendations to the administration. This report is an important transparency tool, a way of accounting for the Office’s work while contributing to a broader organizational conversation about the conditions that allow people to thrive professionally.
You can explore our latest findings, trends, and recommendations by visiting our Annual Reports.
Apart from our annual report, we also provide systemic and team feedback in other ways, including observations and recommendations to leadership at the end of our in-person missions, after identifying some trends or repeated concerns.
The audio story below brings this service to life through an illustrative case scenario.
Audio story