The UN-Reality Show

Forget “Friends”, the “Apprentice”, “Joe Millionaire”, the “Fear Factor” and the “Survivor”. The best reality show takes place right here in the UN offices. The gripping life that we all lead is prime-time stuff for any mature audience. 

No need to get bored in long meetings. Don’t stress yourself when re-reading long drafts that don’t get better with each iteration. Don’t fend off circular debates any more. Just treat any of these and other oddities as part of the UN SitCom. And DOC could consider issuing weekly newsletters to keep us on the ball between the shows:

• Will A. be able to convince B. to change Financial Rule 102.c?

• Can D. avert disaster in the Inter-agency Emergency Training Arena?

• Will the Board accept that Country Programme Document that everybody thought was crap?

• Will the auditors find the leak in the control system? 

• Will E. from the 11th floor win the heart and mind of F. on the 3rd floor to have his consultancy report published as a staff working paper?

• Which UN country team manages to write the longest UNDAF Results Matrix?

• After several weeks of trials and tribulations, who is going to be selected for the coveted Rep position in Bhutan?

Unfortunately, as any TV reality show, this show seems to escape reality too often. Certainly the reality of children who are poor and live in our programme countries. 

And perhaps we have been watching this show for too long. UN reform might still be a good opportunity to change the script. 

(30 April 2004)

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