Cross section of participants at the Hekima Accra meeting with the UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa in our refurbished conference room.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) People for 2030 Strategy focuses on taking care of our people and ensuring the health and well-being of personnel. Investing in the wellbeing of staff is crucial for the achievement our organisational goals and making a positive impact on our world. It is evident that, a positive work environment leads to increased motivation, and commitment of workers and thus better productivity and positive outcomes.

This is why UNDP in Ghana is committed to prioritizing the wellbeing of its staff; recognizing that a happy and healthy workforce is essential to achieving its mission of eradicating poverty and reducing inequalities.

Under the leadership of Senior Management, the office adopted a proactive approach to creating a supportive environment that enables employees to thrive. This is evident in efforts made to address the diverse needs of its staff, through investing in a range of initiatives to promote staff welfare. These include newly built and renovated offices, a state-of-the-art gym, a modern cafeteria, a fully renovated conference room.

Additionally, the office has designated a ground-floor conference room for disability-friendly events and installed new disability-friendly toilets, as well as repurposed the former library into additional meeting space, further enhancing the office's inclusive and supportive environment.

It is interesting to hear our staff members share their experiences and insights on the impact of the recent infrastructure developments, highlighting the positive changes and benefits they have encountered.

“The renovated conference room has saved us from spending extra funds on external event spaces, due to its adaptability for various event type, it has improved our meeting experience as compared to the old conference room we use to have” noted Jennifer Asuako, Gender Analyst.

 On her part, the head of Operations Kate Odzawo, “I am excited to share the significant strides made by the office in terms of integrating sustainability into our procurement processes. We have prioritized the selection of environmentally friendly products, choosing innovative building materials such as blocks made from recycled plastic bags for our office cafeteria. Additionally, the design of our new office gym maximizes natural lighting and utilizes reusable materials for any future reorientations. These initiatives reflect our commitment to fostering a culture of sustainable development within our organization.”, she noted.

 Highlighting on the importance of the newly built gym, Charles Frimpong, Procurement Associate, added that, “I commend management for the new gym as it is critical in terms of balancing mental health and physical well-being as it will improve work life balance. The office expansion, which has a touch of modernity, has also provided a conducive environment for staff to work freely”

 By putting staff wellbeing at the forefront, UNDP Ghana is not only enhancing the quality of life for its employees but also contributing to a more productive and effective workforce. As rightly stated by Angela Lusigi, Country Office Resident Representative, “Our staff are our greatest asset, and we are dedicated to creating an environment that allows them to flourish. We recognize that our employees' wellbeing is critical to achieving our goals and making a positive impact in the world, which is why we are working together to create a resilient environment for all”.

 The impact of UNDP Ghana's investment in staff wellbeing is already being felt. Staff members are reporting higher job satisfaction, increased productivity, and a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment. Gaeten Agbaam, the Programme Associate noted, “I feel proud to work for an organization that truly cares about its employees' wellbeing. It's a great feeling to know that I'm supported and valued, and it motivates me to do my best at work”

As the leading development partner of choice, UNDP recognizes the importance of creating a workplace culture that supports the wellbeing of all employees.

UNDP will continue to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. We believe that by prioritizing staff wellbeing, we can achieve greater impact and make a positive difference in the world.