Arrangements for the Galaxy System

They find Ford's semi cousin Zaphod Beeblebrox, the President of the Galaxy.

Galaxy e Staffing has now become an established corporate tool.

In order to apply for vacancies, interested candidates could download a personal history form from Galaxy.

The Office of Human Resources Management initiated the advertising of vacancies in Galaxy in 2002.

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations commenced advertising field vacancies in Galaxy in 2004.

Similarly, although the new posts in the Executive Office had been announced, they had not appeared on Galaxy and his delegation had not received hard copies of the relevant vacancy announcements.

The Galaxy e Staffing tool consists of three main sections vacancy announcement, selection process and a reporting facility.

The Office of Internal Oversight Services recognized that Galaxy was now established as one of the Organization's core application systems.

(gg) Report of the Secretary General on Information and Communications Technology Strategy arrangements for the Galaxy System (A 59 265 Add.1)

13. Requests the Secretary General to continue to take the steps necessary to ensure that Galaxy is available in both of the working languages of the Organization

The staffing module of Galaxy is the tool in support of the staffing system which integrates recruitment, placement, managed mobility and promotion of United Nations staff.

During April September 2004, the Office of Internal Oversight Services conducted an audit review of the Galaxy system.

Galaxy Releases 1 and 2 were named among the most notable projects and initiatives in the area of e Management since 2002.

The priority attached to the further development of Galaxy was reiterated in the progress report on the Information and Communications Technology Strategy contained in document A 59 265.

At present, the announcements of positions for field experts under the 200 series of the Staff Rules of the United Nations in the Secretariat are also available in Galaxy.

9. Notes with concern the range of weaknesses related to the Galaxy support tool identified by the Office of Internal Oversight Services in its report See A 59 253.

Ms. McCreery (Assistant Secretary General for Human Resources Management) replied that vacancy announcements could be consulted in all duty stations with access to the Galaxy system.

Since the year 2002, 5,529 posts in total have been advertised in Galaxy for which 1,119,000 applications have been submitted by applicants from 189 countries.

For the purpose of such migration, a review will be undertaken to establish the most appropriate technological infrastructure for the Galaxy system, including the possible use of off the shelf packages to support some of its functions.

The Advisory Committee also stated that experience so far in using the Galaxy system showed that there had been an inadequate analysis of tasks, scope and coverage of the system before the project was implemented (para.

In the meantime, to ensure that all these tasks are implemented in good order, the Office of Human Resources Management and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations would continue the existing partnership in support and development of Galaxy.

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Office of Human Resources Management cooperated in the development of Galaxy e Staffing, to meet the emerging needs of both offices, primarily using the resources of peacekeeping missions.

The Advisory Committee further emphasized that, unless Galaxy was modified to cover other areas and its problems were resolved, its effectiveness would be compromised and the cost effectiveness of its future use would be called into question.

Decides that generic vacancy announcements posted in Galaxy should be accompanied by information on the location of current specific vacancies and that this would apply to all international vacancies in peacekeeping missions

In New York, 82.7 per cent of all posts had been filled. Vacancy announcements for 56 of the 83 vacant posts were currently on Galaxy and the remaining announcements were being prepared.

Decides that generic vacancy announcements posted in Galaxy should be accompanied by information on the location of current specific vacancies and that this would apply to all international vacancies in peacekeeping missions

Having considered the report of the Secretary General on the functional requirements of field missions for communication and information technology and on information and communications technology strategy arrangements for the Galaxy system and the relevant section of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,

Having considered the report of the Secretary General on the functional requirements of field missions for communication and information technology and on information and communications technology strategy arrangements for the Galaxy system, and the relevant section of the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,

12. Further requests the Secretary General to continue to develop screening mechanisms that ensure that all applications submitted in the Galaxy system are treated fairly, that well qualified candidates are given due consideration and that keywords outside of the vacancy announcements are not used to exclude well qualified candidates

Furthermore, although vacancy announcements for the three D 2 posts had been posted on Galaxy in late January 2005, they had been backdated to 31 December 2004, in clear violation of the 60 day rule.

Following that review, it is foreseen that a report would be submitted to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on a strategic plan for the technical support of the Galaxy system by the Department of Management and on possible financial implications of the new arrangements for the programme budget.

In such cases, if no other candidate on the Galaxy staffing list satisfies the requirements for the position, the vacancy must be readvertised, resulting in a prolonged period of programme implementation without the required staffing levels.

10. Requests the Secretary General to fully develop the Galaxy support tool and make it more efficient and user friendly for the purpose of efficient recruitment, as embodied in Article 101 of the Charter, and to ensure that all applicants are informed about the final result of their applications in a timely fashion

11. Also requests the Secretary General to ensure the conversion of all printed applications into electronic form upon their submission for inclusion in the Galaxy system and to ensure that those applications are considered in the filling of advertised vacancies, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty first session