Common premises entail the co-location of two or more United Nations entities present in a country. Common premises can be established at national and sub-national level, usually supported by a range of common services enabled by agency co-location.
Common premises are a key enabler for common services and shared services [1] between agencies and form an integral part of the United Nations efforts to harmonize common operations at the country level. The objectives are reflected in the local Business Operations Strategy (BOS). There can be more than one common premises at the national and sub-national level.
The primary objectives for establishing common premises is to achieve greater utility of available resources;
Cost efficiency through reduction of operational costs
Effective utilization of shared resources
Enhanced security
Unified presence at the national and sub-national level
Common premises may be designated as a One United Nations House (One UN House) if it meets the following criteria:
While there can be several common premises, there can only be one, One UN House in any given country.
[1] Shared Service is defined as two or more resident United Nations entities present in a country, whether or not co-located in a Common Premises that may engage in bi-lateral agreements with similar objectives to those for establishing a Common Premises.
*Official definitions from the TTCP+FS
The UN Info Common Premises (CP) Platform is an online tool automating the planning and implementation of common premises projects for each country and serves as a database of UN office premises pursuing the Common Premises targets across the 132 UNCTs and Multi Country Offices.
The platform will offer standardized and consistent monitoring of premises and their establishment in line with the processes outlined by the Task Team on Common Premises and Facilities Services (TTCP+FS). A monitoring and reporting system will track progress and report on the impact realized. An annual review of each country’s consolidation plan will ensure the continuity of the CP agenda.
This section elaborates on the purpose and definition of Common Premises. It also provides an overview of the Consolidation Planning Methodology of the Country Premises Plan (CPP).
The Country Premises Plan is the real estate strategy of each UNCT to progress their respective common premises situation. The CPP is worked on the platform and is updated on a yearly basis.
Establishment of the CPP
The main steps to create a Country Premises Plan are:
Kick off – The CP working group is created
Stock Take – Data collection
Option Identification – Analysis of current situation, space needs and real estate opportunities
Several stakeholders are mobilized throughout the platform: