On 20 September 2024, the AFICS-PHL
delegation led by President Thetis Mangahas met
with UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) Mr. Gustavo
Gonzalez. The delegation members were Dr. Linda
Milan, Jana Ricasio, and Anna Senga.
During the meeting, UNRC Gonzalez
acknowledged AFICS-PHL’s outreach efforts and
praised its role in organizing the 2024 October
UN Day event. He expressed enthusiasm for joint
initiatives, particularly in preparation for the UN’s
80th Anniversary this yearA key outcome of the meeting was the agreement
to explore the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding to formalize collaboration. UNRC
Gonzalez also assured the use of UN facilities for
pre-retirement seminars as an arrangement to
support AFICS-PHL’s programs for UN retirees
and staff members.
This pivotal meeting capped a series of
engagements throughout 2024 aimed at
strengthening partnerships within the UN system
in the Philippines:
•
On 11 June 2024, during discussions with the
UN Human Resources Inter-Agency Task
Force, AFICS-PHL introduced its mission and
identified possible key areas for collaboration,
including pre-retirement seminar and other
support for retirees.
•
On 13 August 2024, in a meeting with Mr.
Matija Kovac, head of the UN Resident
Coordinator’s Office (UNRC), the focus was on enhancing cooperation to align AFICS-
PHL’s initiatives with the UN’s strategic
priorities in the Philippines.
•
On 14 August 2024, AFICS-PHL met with
the chairs and officers of the UN Staff
Associations in the Philippines to explore
potential joint activities, such as community
engagement projects and advocacy
campaigns.
These meetings have yielded the start of concrete
outcomes, including commitments to shared
goals, access to resources, and the groundwork
for a formalized partnership. Together, they
underscore AFICS-PHL’s dedication to fostering
collaboration and advancing the well-being of
UN retirees while contributing to the broader
objectives of the UN system in the Philippines.
The various meetings support AFICS-PHL’s
vision of enriching members’ experiences and
continuing service aligned to the purposes and
principles of the UN.
