UNICEF and Hungary sign agreement for UNICEF Global Services Centre | WPN World People News

The Government of Hungary and UNICEF signed an agreement to establish UNICEF’s Global Shared Services Centre in Budapest on June 15. The new centre – the first of its kind for the global children’s organisation – aims to improve efficiency and cut costs by centralising key finance and human resources operations.

“I would like to reiterate my Government’s commitment to the unique and noble mission of UNICEF aimed at the protection of children worldwide,” says Dr. István Mikola, Hungarian Minister of State for Security Policy Cooperation and International Cooperation.

“Hungary is pleased that UNICEF selected Budapest to host its Global Shared Services Centre. This decision responds to the agenda of the Hungarian Government to consolidate the country as a competitive, outstanding international service hub in the centre of Europe. I trust and wish that UNICEF will make good use of operating the Global Shared Services Centre in the Hungarian capital to the primary benefit of the children of the world.”

“To reach every child in need and deliver the best results for children, UNICEF’s work needs to be undertaken in the most efficient and effective way possible,” says Martin Mogwanja, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF.

“Today’s agreement will play a crucial role in helping us achieve this goal. We are very grateful to the Government of Hungary for their generosity and support and we look forward to working together over the coming months, as the centre prepares to open.”

The Host Country Agreement was signed by Dr. Mikola and UNICEF’s Executive Director, Anthony Lake, at a ceremony in UNICEF’s headquarters in New York. The next step is for it to be ratified by the Hungarian National Assembly.

The centre will have more than 300 staff and will provide services including payroll, invoice processing, some human resources functions, and an Information Technology helpdesk.

Two other United Nations organisations – the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) – also have Global Shared Services Centres in Budapest.

Source: United Nations Children's Fund