Thanking the Secretary-General and the CEB members for the confidence they place in UNESCO for leading this important body, the Director-General underscored that "the HLCM will be called to play a key role in the system wide action to adapt the United Nations in order to provide the most efficient and coordinated support to Member States on the transition to the post-2015 development agenda," said the Director-General.

"I believe the Committee will benefit from the experience UNESCO has acquired through wide-ranging reforms undertaken across both managerial and administrative issues to strengthen efficiency and transparency, while promoting innovative practices," added the Director-General, Irina Bokova.

Together with the Committee on Programmes (HLCP) and the UN Development Group (UNDG), the HLCM is one of the three pillars of the CEB. Its main function is to promote UN system-wide cooperation, coordination and knowledge sharing in management issues with the aim of improving efficiency and simplifying business practices. 

The Committee relies on five networks to identify and analyze issues of management concern: the finance and budget, the human resources, the procurement, and the information and communication technology networks. 

The HLCM also oversees the work of the Harmonization of Business Practices Steering Committee, the Sub-Committee on Improved Efficiency and Cost Control Measures, the Steering Committee on Staff Safety and Security, and the legal advisors network.

The Committee is composed of the senior management representatives from all the United Nations Specialized Agencies, Funds and Programmes who come together twice a year to meet in regular session. 

The first meeting of the HLCM for 2015 will be hosted at UNESCO Headquarters in March next.
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