General
10 Reassignment is any formal movement of a staff member with a continuing or fixed term appointment from one position to another, as defined in Staff Rule 565.1. The effective date for any reassignment is the date of arrival at the new position or new official station which should normally not be more than three months beyond the date when the staff member was notified of the reassignment. The intiation of any such reassignment should be carried out by the receiving unit. The HR Administrator, GSC/GHR processes the appropriate administrative action.
20 A staff member reassigned to a vacant position at one grade lower than the current position, may maintain the current grade on a personal basis as an exception to Staff Rule 570 further to the approval of Assistant Director-General, Business Operations, by delegation of authority from the Director-General on 1 January 2020.
30 Under Staff Regulation 1.2, a staff member may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the Organization whenever it is in the interest of the Organization. Refusal to accept a reassignment can be grounds for terminating the appointment.
40 Under Staff Rule 565.4 a staff member with a continuing or fixed term appointment may be required to perform the duties of a position other than their own without formal reassignment, with due regard given to Staff Rule 320.4. The circumstances leading up to such an arrangement would normally make the reasons for it clear to the staff member. The supervisor should confirm the arrangement and the reasons for it in writing to the staff member, with a copy to HQ/Human Resources and Talent Management (HRT) HR Business Partner/Regional HR Manager.
50 Any arrangement to perform duties of another position without formal reassignment under Staff Rule 565.4 shall not exceed twelve months, unless otherwise decided by the Director-General, with due regard to Staff Rule 320.4. If the relevant supervisor wishes to maintain the arrangement beyond twelve months, a request must be made through the Director, HRT for decision by the Director-General at least one month prior to the end of the twelve month period. Any such request must contain a detailed explanation of the reasons supporting an extension beyond twelve months and the proposed length of extension. Upon receipt of the Director-General's decision, Director, HRT will inform the staff member and supervisor in writing. When the request involves performing functions of a position at a level higher than that of the staff members, the procedures outlined in the provisions on Promotion and Acting Arrangements must be followed.
60 The services of a staff member may be lent by one regional office or by headquarters to another regional office for short periods. Proposals to make or to extend such loans must be cleared in advance by the Director, HRT at headquarters.
70 Transfers, secondments or loans of staff members between organizations applying the United Nations common system of salaries and allowances are governed by the inter-organization agreement reproduced as III.20 Annex 4.B. Appointments by inter-agency transfer should, as far as possible, be made effective on the first of the month. Appointees accepted for transfer from another United Nations organization, shall be appointed on a fixed-term appointment in accordance with Staff Rule 420.6, and serve the same probationary period as a newly appointed staff member, except for appointees transferred from the Pan American Health Organization (see Staff Rule 480). Appointees transferred from the Pan American Health Organization who have not completed a probationary period will be required to do so upon transfer to WHO.
