DESA's Seoul Center plunged into scandals

During a recent visit of Ban Ki-Moon in Seoul, South Korea (July 3, 2008) he stated that his purpose of visit to Korea was to encourage Korean government to contribute more to international community, and underlined importance of further active roles of UN Family in Korea will get essential. 

At the end of his meeting in Seoul, little Ban would know that he was about to take a happy family photo with a rather disturbing and scandal embroiled branch of his own organization - called : United Nations Governance Centre (UNGC - http://www.ungc.org/)

Click in the picture for larger image

To be fair to Ban Ki-moon, UNGC was established on June 23, 2006, almost six months before Ban Ki-moon was appointed Secretary General. Eventhough the timing and selection of Seoul as the center of good governance for Asia would have left many in the region skeptical and think that it was just a move of South Korean government to strengthen their "candidacy" for the post of Secretary General (Ban Ki-moon was running for SG job at time of announcement).

In the agreement reached between DESA and GoSK (Government of South Korea), the goal of the United Nations Governance Centre (UNGC) is to act as an international and regional focal point for research, training and advocacy in government reinvention, and its functions will be oriented towards addressing information requirements of public officials, civil society, and the private sector. In the initial stages, UNGC would focus on e-government, government innovation, citizen participation, and public ethics in terms of research, capacity development, consulting and support activities.

on the opening day

All the above looked "very promising" if DESA ought to entrust the centre to anyone else other than Guido Bertucci, John Mary Kauzya and Elia Armstrong, who as usual would corrupt anything they would touch and manage on their way.

A very recent secret report from DESA's Executive Office details a massive abuse of power, UN immunities - including abuse with tax-deduction and other UN perks for SK Government officials as well as corrupt procurement practices and commitment of funds without any procedural approval from HQs.

While many at 23rd floor are "committed to secrecy on Seoul center" due to "sensitivity" it bears from Ban Ki-Moon being a south korean, the scandal has now become a heavy one, that even ASG Jomo has admitted that the center should be "shut down, or if it should continue it should not under DESA's flag".

With UNGC being the second scandal of DESA's centers in the world (UNTC - Thessaloniki Centre was the first one) now we wonder what would be the status of other centers of DESA ?

Bernard Kliksberg's Beautiful Life !

Today we will discuss the story of another corrupt case in DESA (Department Economic and Social Affairs) of the United Nations. 

His name is Bernard Kligsberg. A so-called leading Argentinean economist, who has made his career in "advising" multiple International institutions at same time. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as you do it in the private sector. But if you work for the UN and you sign the contracts - you have to bide by them and dedicate full time to your work for the respective UN unit who hires you. 

His career at UN-DESA and his personal relation to Guido Bertucci is extremely important because while employed for years as indefinite CONSULTANT at DPADM located at DC-2 - 17 floor, this gentleman was also employed as full time personal advisor to Rebeca Grynspan, Assistant Secretary General of United Nations for Latin America Bureau of UNDP - DC-1, making an astonishing US$429,341 Thousand Dollars a year, respectively from:

1. Full Time Employee of UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA/DPADM);
2. Full Time Employee of UN Development Programme (UNDP/RBLAC);
3. Full Time Employee of InterAmerican Development Bank in Washington DC (BID);
4. Consultant of UN Development Programme Office in Argentina;

All the above is TAX-FREE, and since this well-known economist is in US with a G4 Visa - thanks to Bertucci and Furio De Tomassi, why not make some extra money aside working for various private and/or semi-private banks in Washington DC. 

Here are all the payment Mr. Kilksberg made at UNDP - at the same very period he was under contract and being paid from Bertucci/De Tomassi with full support of Catherine Pelluso and under "extremely vigilant eyes" of Marie Oveissi.

Another important element of Mr. Kliksberg's career is that while he was employed as CONSULTANT of DPADM/DESA he was also for the past 7 years member of the Committee of Experts in Public Administration, the body who was supposed to exercise oversight functions over DPADM/Bertucci. 

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL for Mr. Kliksberg - isn't it?

Payments from UNDP Office in ARGENTINA

Payments made by UNDP HQs - Latin America Bureau (RBLAC)


Payments made by UNDP for Travel - While DESA paid for his travel as well

We really wonder at this point if Mr. Sha Zukang or anyother manager of UN-DESA would take any actions to really remove once and for all the corruption which eating-up DESA/DPADM and TCMS like a cancer.

Mismanagement and Waste Erode UN-DESA's best intentions

While the UN-DESA was trying to implement its core mandates and assist members tates in many development areas, millions vanished from its headquarters in New York and/or peripheral project centers . The CASH was diverted in form of illegal hiring of shadow consultants and institutions.

The cases of Catherine Gazzoli, Adriana Alberti, Barbara Ubaldi, Elia Armstrong, Jose Manuel Sucre, Claudio Aponte or Bernard Kligsberg or even the mismanagement of Associate Experts Programmes - epitomizes only few of the uncomfortable truths about the Guido Bertucci's and Furio De Tomassi's operations inside DESA. 

The system of awarding contracts in DESA, including the role of Catherine Peluso and Patrizio Civili - a blatant lapse in office rules and regulations - reflected the mismanagement and waste that are all too typical of the sprawling collection of regional offices, councils and projects that UN-DESA has become.

If you ask around in DESA, many staffers and officials serving here would describe, with exasperation, anger and regret, a department grown rife with what a longtime DPADM staffer called "appalling inefficiencies and backbiting and corruption" - tenacious cancers that have debilitated DESA as well as entire UN, demoralized its own staff and severely undercut its support in the member states. 

DESA of today, and specially DPADM lavished money on conferences and round-tables that produce little but talk, or justified for managers to find a short-way visiting their home countries paid by UN. Millions of words are printed in turgid reports. The defense of the status quo perpetuates unneeded projects, while fraud has tarnished the luster of even some of the more successful projects/products. 

As a member state's representative of fifth committee said: " this bureaucracy was designed in hell - and Ban Ki-moon and Sha Zukang better change it now".

Change is always a problem in UN and specifically inside DESA - were many managers don't want changes because many of them have vested interests in the existing system.

Latest OIOS reports have shown that the failings of the UN-DESA, which have undermined its credibility with both government and private citizens, can be traced in part to micromanagement by member states and their puppets inside DESA.

One thing we have learned so far on Bertucci operation is that they used hiring of consultants and contractors to derail funds. Among the many tricks used is the hiring also of so called "retirees" - who preferred to be hired as consultants in additions to obtaining their normal pensions and serve in CORE functions such are: - human resources or finance. 

Critics of DESA's operations contend that true reforms should include pruning DESA of its obsolete appendages. Technical Cooperation Management Support Unit, for example is a shameful duplication of resources and roles with those already embedded inside DM/Secretariat. TCMS also has played the role of fire-wall towards any internal audits or investigations. 

Fake UN-DESA representative attends federal government business and distributes awards in the name of UN

unbelievable story this of Claudio Aponte. As per the website of the Government of the State of Colima in Mexico, Claudio Aponte - is presented as the Representative of the United Nations and DESA in Mexico. While meeting is also attended by Guido Bertucci.

The website tells about one of the many visits of Guido Bertucci in Mexico, in which he and the "Representative of UN in Mexico" - Mr. Aponte, meet among others the Governor of Colima and invite him to attend official meetings of United Nations both in Mexico and abroad.


Click here to see the webpage of the State of Colima (or click in the picture)


But Claudio Aponte is not a UN Representative and he has never been one for that matter. During the tenure of Guido Bertucci as Director of DESA/DPADM he has received 68 short-term consultancy contracts for a total value of more than $373,000.


But wait this guy was a member of the CEPA in 2001/2/3/4/5/6/7 and 2008 (Committee of Expert in Public Administration) as Representative of Mexico. Click here to see UNPAN webpage in which Claudio Aponte this time represents Mexico at the UN meeting.

We would like to know from Mr. Sha Zukang, how can a person be at the same time:

- United Nations and DESA Representative in Mexico; and
- Mexico Representative at the United Nations Committee of Expert in Public Administration;

Isn't this a conflict of interest? How can Mr. Furio De Tomassi and Marie Oveissi issue 68 short-term contracts (SSAs) to a person who attends - as it appears in UNPAN - represents the Government of Mexico in CEPA?

How can Furio De Tomassi and Marie Oveissi allow that this individual attend official meetings and represent the United Nations and Department of Economic and Social Affairs in various important federal government activities in Mexico?

Who gave this guy the clearance to represent the UN/DESA in Mexico ? Is Sha Zukang aware of this ? DId Sha Zukang approve Aponte as representative of DESA in Mexico?

We call on OIOS and Procurement Task Force of the United Nations to immediately investigate the process of procurement of services and contracting of Claudio Aponte, as well as his deliverable during the past years.

UNDP steals Fraser-Moleketi from CEPA and moves fast to ensure leadership in Public Administration

November 12, 2008, 11:15

While "mafia style" games inside DESA's cupola continue for months to decide on a "quality" replacement of Guido Bertucci and Adil Khan, another big player in the field of Democratic Governance and tough competitor of DESA worldwide - UNDP - has appointed the former South African Minister for Public Service and Administration and member of DESA/CEPA - Ms. Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi into the top post with the United Nations Development Programme.

Fraser-Moleketi has been appointed as the UNDP's new Director for Democratic Governance practice. In this capacity, she will head the UNDP's efforts to help countries strengthen their electoral and legislative systems and improve access to justice and public administration and e-governance.

This appointment shows that UNDP is quite serious to ensure that quality and experienced staffers join its programme.

While DESA management and Executive Office rejected the application of Fraser-Moleketi for the post of Guido Bertucci, stressing the "importance" of "experience", this long-standing and courageous member of CEPA (Committee of Experts in Public Administrations) is instead offered the highest job at UNDP - at the very Department which is a strong opponent of DESA's capacities in the field of Public Administration (DPADM).

What a shame !

Italian Restaurant goes bankrupt while UN member states are offered pre-cooked chinese food

at its 60th anniversary of the UN's Public Administration and Development Programme, and on the 12ve anniversary of the GA Resolution 50/225 on public administration and development which recognized that the mandate of DPADM and DESA on public administration should ensure that:

... efficient, effective and transparent public administration, at
both the national and international levels, has pivotal role to play in the
implementation of the key objectives of the United Nations Millennium
Declaration, and in that context stressing the need to strengthen national
public-sector administrative and managerial capacity-building, in particular in
developing countries and countries with economies in transition....

while the same resolution appointed CEPA (Committee of Experts in Public Administration) to oversee and direct the work of DESA/DPADM in achieving the UN's goal in this field.

Today we at DPADM (soon to change) became testimony to a real travesty of our own system. Under Secretary General, thru Ms. Haiyan Qian is attempting to reverse cource from the OFFICIAL MANDATE - resolutes from our lawmakers (UN Member States) and instead......he want the whole Division to change into a big database on e-government and e-projects.

All the above seems to be built in order to justify the appointment of Haiyan Qian into the leadership of the Division. And since she has no background nor any substantial experience in Public Administration, the only way to catapult her there is ......change the scope of the division and its mandate.

From now on - Branches will have to change their programme, shut down their projects, and retool their job description into (e-) ......Yes everything will have to start with an (e-) :

Lets see how it will look :

- e-public administration;
- e-local governance;
- e-transparency;
- e-ethics;
- e-post conflict rehabilitation;

eeeeeeeeeeeee- WHAT ?

Mr. Sha - If you don't like the current structure and performance of the Division (who does) why you don't call for an urgent meeting of CEPA? Consult with them and than propose to ECOSOC a formal re-arrangement and re-alignment of the Division's work.

• Do you know Mr. Sha that currently in the UN there is an Office of IT FOR DEVELOPMENT within UN Secretariat (41 staff)?
• Do you know Mr. Sha that UN Agencies like UNDP, with direct on-the-ground presence in more than 160 countries - and thus better equipped - spend in the range of $200 Million in IT FOR DEVELOPMENT and have already committed themselves into e-Governance in partnership with private and non-profit sector (381 Staff) ?
• Do you know that UN as a whole (specialized and non-specialized agencies) spend $800 Million USD a year in the same areas of e-Governance where you are trying to lead DPADM?

This overlap instead of supporting UN goals will destroy them. Instead of lifting people from poverty and making their governments more accountable, will increase the gap (read UN/OIOS report on IT for Development).

Finding a job for Haiyan Qian should not be an impediment for real change. Haiyan Qian might not have experience in substantive policy advise and real on-the-ground formulation within the mandated areas of our Division, but Haiyan has shown tremendous leadership in turning UNPAN into a fantastic outreach tool for the Division, Department as well as United Nations as whole in the area of Public Administration. UNPAN has become a real focal point for many governments, NGOs and political actors out there, whom have been using its info, databases and more importantly the fantastic on-line training tool (introduced recently).

Her operational, coordination and IT skills should and can be useful to our Division. Frankly - compared to Bertucci, she can do a much better job. But all this should not come at the expense of our main Mandate, the one that UN Member States expect us to deliver for.

At this moment Mr. Sha - we need a leader who knows how to take tough decisions and translate and implement to-the-letter the constitution of the United Nations (in-form of individual mandates). If you have a problem with the constitution/mandate, go back to the parliament (General Assembly/ECOSOC/CEPA) they are the real constituency with whom you should deal and find appropriate grounds deciding on what will be our future work.

We are UN employee and work for the UN Member States to achieve their goals - not for ourselves.

Guido Bertucci trying hard to impose his own candidate for the post of Chief of Socio-Economic Governance Branch

While the selection of candidates for the post of Chief of branch of the Socio-Economic Governance Branch are well underway, Guido Bertucci has been seen very often to return to his old crib, trying to pressure and make sure that the successor of Khan to be one of his surrogates.

Sources say that to assist Bertucci in this endeavor, has arrived from the Alllllohaaaaa State also Shabbir Cheema, who seem to be very interested and pushy in one of the candidates. 

If you have any thoughts of who should be the chief, or what qualities should the next chief have for this job, please write to us and let us know, make your voice heard.

Let's all make sure that Guido Bertucci, Catherine Pelluso and all Italian clan do not affect any-longer our department's reputation.

UNPAN changes again the CV of Ms. Elia Yi. Armstrong - adding dates/events and making it even more suspicious than before

Big changes over night in UNPAN webpage !

The korean mafia of 38th floor seem to have contacted and managed to oblige Ms. Haiyan Qian (China), current OIC of DPADM and Chair of UNPAN - to "improve" the Curriculum of the Korean citizen Ms. Elia Armstrong adding into the EDUCATION section the following:

1984 - English Instructor Yonsei/Jilin Universities, Changchun, China (Click here to see in UNPAN) or here (if UNPAN deletes it again)

On the 8th of September when we published our story about the discrepancies of Armstrong's  CV, this element in her EDUCATION section was missing. (click here to see our story of 8th of September 2008)

Cought by panic, the change instead of "improving" the CV, raise even further questions of Ms. Armstrong persona, her real life career and experience.  

This Korean citizen should make up her mind, and chose either she was a Teacher (teaching English) or a Student (studying English) in Yonsei/Jilin Universities in Changchun - China. The question though would be: - why would she go to China to learn how to be an English teacher? 

EDUCATION	EXPERIENCE
1984 - English Instructor Yonsei/Jilin Universities, Changchun, China	1984 - 1987   English Instructor, Yonsei/Jilin Universities, Changchun, China

Meanwhile, sources report that the HR file (consultancy) of korean citizen Ms. Elia Yi Armstrong has disappear from the file cabinet of the office of Mr. Furio De Tomassi. No one seem to know where her personnel folder, with her initial contracts and her initial CV is anymore.

Based on the above DESA staff  have the right to ask: 

• Who is Elia Yi Armstrong ? 
  
• Is she for real ? 
  
• Does her past qualifies her as a D1 - Ethical Director at UNDP?