A shadow of what it used to be - Programmer Manager UNITAID Employee Review

1.0
20 Oct 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Inspiring mission Staff is hardworking, driven and committed to the cause. Pay is good and you get to travel to interesting countries (depending on your team and position)

Cons

It pains me to write this because I really do love the organization, but Unitaid is no place for anyone under this current management team. It is tragic though because so many people believe in the organization's mission and what it aims to achieve. The organization is led by amateurish and visionless leaders who take no responsibility for decisions or problems within their teams, but rather spend time serving the ED at the expense of the work. They lack country experience (with the exception of maybe one person), care very little for the cause, and all have a colonial view on what 21st-century international development should be. At the heart of this problem is the ED who is narcissistic, machiavellian, authoritarian, and has zero regard for the countries we serve, the Executive Board, and the people under his watch. He doesn't care about anyone and really only sees Unitaid as a stepping stone to something bigger. As a result, staff morale is at an all-time low and everyone is looking for a way out. Other issues: - It is insanely hierarchical. All decision taken by Directors. - it is not the most diverse organization. if you don't believe me, just look at the website. Even more striking at the P5 level and above - The inflexible operating model makes your day-to-day job a living hell. Expect tons of paperwork, repetitive processes, and everyone needing to have a say in even the most minute task.

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UNITAID Response
6y
Thank you for your valuable feedback and commitment to the work of Unitaid. Unitaid takes seriously your comments and feedback. We are making continued efforts to improve work relations and the working environment for staff at Unitaid.Several staff support resources are available to all staff and anyone is encouraged to use the existing channels of engagement and communication, including:The Office of the Ombudsman, The Office of Compliance, Risk Management and Ethics (CRE) including the WHO Anonymous Integrity Hotline; Staff Association and the Human Resources Department.

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1.0
13 May 2016
Anonymous contractor
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Pays really well, inspiring mission

Cons

Chaotic management, everyone was out to get someone

6
2.0
2 Sept 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

A noble mandate, a collaborative work environment, and attractive benefits, a team of intelligent and highly skilled colleagues

Cons

The organization is plagued by rigid and outdated management practices, stifling innovation and hindering internal progress. There is a significant lack of integrity in human resource management, with nepotism running rampant and promotion opportunities restricted to a select few within the senior leadership’s inner circle. While the UN system at large faces existential challenges, senior management continues to prioritize personal interests and favoritism, disregarding the actual staffing needs of the organization. The organization is overstaffed at the senior level - P4/5 and above, with new very senior positions being continually created to promote favored individuals. These new positions, however, are not always reflected in the human resources plan approved by the Board after the recent functional review. The flexibilities granted by the Board and the WHO Human Resources department are being significantly abused to facilitate those recruitments outside of the approved HR plan. This undermines transparency and further entrenches the culture of nepotism and favoritism, while disregarding the needs and interests of the broader organization. These issues are systematically concealed from the Executive Board, even as a significant portion of staff reports experiencing harassment and discrimination in the recent staff survey. Despite these concerns, management has failed to take them seriously, offering no tangible solutions or concrete actions. The internal justice system, including within Unitaid and the hosting agency WHO, has so far been ineffective in addressing these critical issues.

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