UNDT/2010/154, Contreras
An agency relationship exists between an interview panel and a Programme Manager or Program Case Officer, such that the Programme Manager is bound by the evaluation and recommendations of the panel provided that it acts within its terms of reference. The Administration had no prerogative or power to cancel the vacancy announcement for the reasons relied upon.
Applicant was a Senior Programme Management Officer in the Global Division of UN Habitat. On 2 August 2007, a vacancy announcement for the post of Chief, Programme Support Services was advertised, to which the Applicant applied. On 16 November 2007, the Applicant was reassigned to the Regional and Technical Cooperation Division of UN Habitat. The vacancy announcement was subsequently cancelled and re-advertised on 17 December 2007, to which Applicant applied, was short listed and interviewed. The interview report sent to the Executive Director, UN-Habitat included the Applicant’s name as one of the five recommended candidates. Upon the request of the Executive Director, the interview panel revised its report and pared the list of five recommended candidates down to two. Applicant was not recommended to the post and was not placed on the roster for future vacancies with a similar description, hence the application before the Tribunal that the process for rostering of candidates was manipulated, violating her right to a full and fair consideration of her application to the post.
N/A
Respondent was ordered to pay Applicant six months’ net base salary as compensation as well as the requested token sum of USD1 for injury suffered in the recruitment process.