Complete the enrollment form (PDF) enrolment form (Word) and return either a scan to EnrolmentFormAPinFao or a hard copy to our office at E-119. |
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How much are AP-in-FAO dues and how are they used? The membership dues are 0.35% of your net base salary and are deducted automatically from your payslip each month. It is important to point out that we receive no financial support from FAO – only support in kind, mainly office space and access to FAO internal communications facilities. To meet our financial obligations, we rely exclusively on membership dues. Dues support a range of costs, including the Association's administrative and secretarial staff, external consultants (legal, policy, etc.), other legal costs, membership dues of FICSA, travel cost to attend the FICSA Council, office equipment and operating costs, etc. Details of AP-in-FAO's financials are on the AP-in-FAO website. |
How is AP-in-FAO organized? The Association is a network of professional colleagues assisting each other, on a volunteer basis. The work is coordinated by an Executive Secretariat and a Rep Council with representatives directly elected by the membership in Headquarters and in the decentralized offices. The Annual Assembly approves the yearly budget and work programme of the Association as well as the annual report and financial statements. More info on Who is Who.
Where can I learn more? |
1. AP-in-FAO is a watchdog that looks out for and defends staff interests.
We all know we are fortunate in our employment. But that doesn't mean we should stand idly by as conditions of employment change or developments unfold that are unfair or contrary to our personal and professional wellbeing. The Association of Professionals in FAO (AP-in-FAO) is a volunteer organization of FAO professionals that monitors the implementation of employment-related schemes and programmes by management and, when necessary, calls for the correct application of rules, equitable treatment, and respect for staff rights.
For example, when in 2017 field staff reported that their rental subsidy was drastically reduced without notice, AP-in-FAO appealed to HR, flagging that the subsidy was being unequally applied from duty station to duty station. In some cases, corrective action was taken; in others it wasn't. The Association has successfully supported a legal appeal on the issue. Similarly, when FAO locked down in March 2020 and almost everybody was sent home to telework, AP-in-FAO argued from the beginning that staff should be allowed to telework from other locations than the duty station in order to be close to families in the difficult COVID-19 emergency situation. Initially, FAO Management was unwilling to allow this, but eventually they decided to open up for this possibility.
This sort of activity benefits all of us; it merits our support. And of course, the adage holds true: there is strength in numbers.
2. Have questions about FAO rules and procedures? We have answers.
Need help understanding what medical or education benefits you are entitled to? Interested in volunteering in an external cause and don’t know if you are allowed to do so? Hoping to get permission to defer home leave by one year? FAO processes are often Byzantine. If you are having trouble figuring something out, we can help – especially if you run into problems.
3. If you run into problems, AP-in-FAO can provide dedicated, hands-on support.
We offer advice and guidance on how to deal with issues related to harassment, improper administrative decisions, career advancement (or lack thereof), retirement, rental subsidy, education benefits, mobility, and more. You are always welcome to request an appointment with officers of the Association, who will do their best to advise and assist you. Support runs from helping staff to resolve issues through informal mediation to guiding them to file internal appeals to take cases to the UN's justice system. (The association has lawyers with experience in FAO and UN jurisprudence on retainer.)
4. AP-in-FAO influences administrative decision-making that directly affects you.
The Association is involved in behind-the-scenes activities with real consequences for your conditions of employment. We meet regularly with Management representatives in the Staff-Management Consultative Committee (SMCC) to discuss issues of concern to staff. Recently much of our efforts have focused on ensuring better teleworking conditions during the COVID-19 emergency and on the safety of staff in both decentralized offices and headquarters. We have also recently presented two important policy documents to Management in an attempt to actively influence HR policies: one on mobility and one on career development.
It is true that the quality of engagements with Management suffered under the previous FAO administration; but we have detected a positive change in Management attitude under the new leadership, although we still need to see substantive improvements in conditions of service and staff welfare kick in.
Jointly with the Union of General Service Staff (UGSS) we regularly address the sessions of the Conference and Council to voice staff views and concerns. This is an important occasion to present ourselves to the Member Countries as a serious and credible player, and we know that many Member Countries are interested in what we have to say.
5. AP-in-FAO represents you in wider UN system processes that affect your conditions of employment.
We are an active member of the Federation of International Civil Servants’ Associations (FICSA), which represents more than 32 000 UN staff around the world. FICSA represents staff interests on a wide range of topics, including salary scales and entitlements, pensions, security, and duty station classification, for example, at the UN common system level. A recent important focus area of FICSA has been pushing to ensure staff safety and health in decentralized offices during the COVID pandemic, including improved procedures and facilities for medical evacuation.
FICSA holds its annual Council every year in February, to which we always send a delegation. This is also a great opportunity to exchange experiences with colleagues representing staff in other UN agencies around the world.
