Strategy

The Bureau of Field Coordination (BFC) is responsible for reviewing and improving methodologies, tools and approaches for an equitable apportioning of operating costs among field offices and for monitoring expenditure and ensuring cost efficiency.

BFC cooperates with the relevant central services in:

promoting the application of delegation of authority to field offices and corresponding programme and management accountability;

ensuring the further strengthening of electronic networking facilities in field offices;

the roll-out of all modules of the Finance and Budget System (FABS); and

the design and implementation of appropriate corporate training programmes providing all field staff with a common vision and understanding of UNESCO as well as the requisite technical skills for the smooth implementation of programmes and activities as well as participation in United Nations country team activities.

Within the United Nations system framework, BFC acts as UNESCO’s focal point for the safety and security of field staff and premises and is responsible for overall compliance with established security policy.

This function consists, inter alia, of ensuring a house-wide implementation of instructions and guidelines emanating from the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS), raising awareness among staff at and away from Headquarters regarding security protection, administration and management of the field security budget, and participation in inter-agency activities with a view to developing and refining field security policies and directives.

Finally, the coordination of UNESCO’s response to post-conflict and post-disaster situations is entrusted to BFC which assures the secretariat of relevant task forces set up by the Director-General, consolidates as appropriate specific UNESCO strategies, facilitates smooth flow of information and interactions between Headquarters and field offices concerned and acts as liaison with the corresponding inter-agency mechanisms.