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The updated framework establishes a streamlined, accountable and data‑driven approach to identifying, scaling and monitoring shared services across the UN system, strengthening efficiency, coordination and measurable impact.

This guidance note outlines a country-driven approach to establishing a Common Back Office (CBO), emphasising clear service criteria, broad entity participation, structured proposal and launch steps, and practical tools to reduce duplication, improve service quality and strengthen operational efficiency across the UN system.

Global Shared Services are positioned as a central tool for unifying location‑independent UN business operations, with a standardised business‑case framework guiding how entities define and scale services. There are also 16 high‑readiness offerings across administration, finance, procurement, logistics, HR and IT identified for expansion to drive major efficiency gains, reduce duplication, improve service quality and support more coordinated, mission‑focused operations across the UN system.

The document provides a unified UN methodology for calculating efficiency by comparing pre‑ and post‑implementation states across cost, time and effectiveness, offering standardised steps and examples to ensure consistent and accurate system‑wide reporting.

The 16 prioritised Global Shared Services deliver digital, scalable and cost‑efficient solutions across fleet, travel, accommodation, medical, procurement, HR, payroll, payments, ERP, digital identity and asset‑disposal services to streamline UN operations, reduce duplication and strengthen system‑wide efficiency.

The UNSDG’s Global Shared Services portfolio unifies 16 interoperable, agency‑managed services, from fleet and travel support to HR, payroll, procurement, ERP, digital identity and asset disposal, in order to streamline operations, reduce duplication and drive system‑wide efficiency gains across the UN.

The UNSDG Efficiency Roadmap 2022–2024 outlines the UN’s plan to achieve up to US$310 million in annual savings by streamlining operations across the system.