As predicted since 20th Sept 2011 - the plan to remove Roberto Villareal and replace him with Elia Yi Armstrong (South Korean) - was a successful one

Elia Yi Armstrong

(South Korean)

appointed:

Chief of Branch

Socio-Economic Development Branch

Division for Public Administration & Development Management

UN-DESA

The pianist, Elia Yi Armstrong, (see her CV) has finally worked out the plan to fire Roberto Villareal and position herself as the newest D1 at DPADM.

Yes, despite her current term at UNDP as Ethics Officer will end at the end of June 2012 (as per contract) Haiyan Qian, has selected thru a competitive process (check here to see process) Elia Yi Armstrong, who has a BA in Piano and a Master of 9 months from London Schools of Economics (despite her CV shows she was working in Chicago at the time she was supposedly studying for her full-time Master in London).

Well...good luck to Roberto Villareal, who was "demoted" for lack of managerial skills and removed from his job, in a well coordinated plan - which started already 12 months ago.

United Nations: Abuse of Authority at work place (DESA/DPADM/DMB)

Following the meetings at UN-DESA's flagship division of DPADM, there seem to be a clear case of abuse of authority happening at DMB.

But as usual with Haiyan Qian traveling to China to celebrate Chinese new year, and many at Executive office of Sha Zukang totally disengaged on the matter, it seems that the Mexican (Roberto Villareal) might have a real chance of getting over this with a Note-to-File. The question is what about those staffers who signed the petition, will there be any retaliation against them? Some now say that they are afraid to even continue to work under him since he "is known for being vindictive". So the question is will Haiyan Qian take action before she departs or will all this matter turn into those usual "clan battles" inside DESA, where abuse of authority becomes part of the "managerial charm"?

This is what UN's rules say about abuse of authority at work place:

Abuse of authority is the improper use of a position of influence, power or authority against another person. This is particularly serious when a person uses his or her influence, power or authority to improperly influence the career or employment conditions of another, including, but not limited to, appointment, assignment, contract renewal, performance evaluation or promotion. Abuse of authority may also include conduct that creates a hostile or offensive work environment which includes, but is not limited to, the use of intimidation, threats, blackmail or coercion. (ST/SGB/2008/5)

CV of Villareal:

Mr. Roberto Villareal joined the Division for Public Administration & Development Management as the new Chief of the Socio-Economic Development Branch (which will now be known as Development Management Branch) on 22 April. His most recent assignment was with the Division of the Regional Competitiveness and Governance of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), where he served as its head.

Mr. Villareal has served the Federal Government of Mexico for over 20 years, assuming the responsibilities of high level posts in different ministries and in diverse fields of socio-economic development. He previously served as the Undersecretary for Regional and Urban Development and Head Unit Social and Regional Policy, for the Federal Government of Mexico. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Is Elia Yi Armstrong cleaning up the place at DPADM so she can have a D1 served on a silver-plate?

On 20th September 2011 we predicted that Elia Yi Armstrong (on her way out from UNDP) would stir-up the waters and get either John-Mary Kauzya or Roberto Villareal out of their jobs.

Since Sept 2011, we confirmed the fact that Roberto Villareal was having major interpersonal problems with the staff at his Development Management Branch (DMB) of DPADM/DESA.

Well...less than 4 months later, our predictions are coming true, in a major investigation involving UN Ombudsman, Office of USG Sha Zukang and DESA's OHRM, there seem to be more than "issues" between staffers at DMB/DPADM.

Some say this is just an "Italian Job" to get the Mexican (Villareal) out, and plain the way to return of Elia Yi Armstrong (who seem to be more friendly with "the Italians"), others say that this is a failure of Haiyan Qian and DESA's management in first place to detect well in advance that Villareal, even at his previous job in Paris had similar inter-staff "issues", thus his appointment at the helm of DMB/DPADM (without a proper selection process) made things worst at DPADM. Another groups say that Villareal is a hardworking guy who detest "lazy employees who seat and do nothing all day", and thus he expresses his frustration with anger towards those who fail to deliver.

Whatever the option or situation might be, Villareal seem to be headed for a major confrontation.

Let's see what will happen.

ONLY AT UN-DESA !

UNDER SHA ZUKANG' MANAGEMENT !

Would the return of Elia Yi Armstrong create shake-up at DPADM's Organigramme?

The South Korean Ms. Elia Yi Armstrong will be returning to DPADM at the beginning of 2012. This creates a major problem for Ms. Haiyan Qian (Director of DPADM), because while on the DPADM organigramme Ms. Armstrong is a P5, she currently seats on D1 position at UNDP (on-loan) as Director of UNDP's Ethics Office.

The return of Ms. Yi Armstrong, poses some very challenging decisions for Sha Zukang and Ms. Qian, and we are told that the following are the options being discussed:

1. Mr. John Mary Kauzya

Chief of Public administration Capacity Branch (PACB)

Since 2002 (10 years)

**we are told that Ms. Yi Armstrong' desire is to have the post of Mr. Kauzya, since this one has been occupied for more than 10 years from him and is "about time for him to move elsewhere or comply with mobility rules". For this, parallel moves have been offered to Mr. Kauzya, which seem to have not satisfied him so far.

***another voice at 23 floor said that given that Mr. Kauzya is among "the very few Africans" at DESA, he might be the only viable candidate to replace Ms. Haiyan Qian, in which scenario the landing of Ms. Elia Yi Armstrong at DPADM as Chief of PACB would be a smooth one, without causing other "un-necessary collateral damages".

2. Mr. Roberto Villareal

Chief Development Management Branch (DMB)

**we are also told that the other option that Ms Qian is considering could be to remove Mr. Villareal from current job, given some inter-personal problems with its staff, and offer him smth with the Regional Commission of Latin America (ECLAC) or in case he rejects it, move him laterally to another post within DESA, far from DPADM. We are told this option is seen as the most viable one, given some recent confrontation between Ms. Qian and Mr. Villareal who had warrant the attention of USG - Sha Zukang to "solve" the matter.

All the above is being done in a climate of total secrecy, and seem that even this time there will be no need for an "open process of selection".

Only at United Nations...!