Responding to the Secretary-General’s reform and consolidation initiative.
By Jullian Kahara Atukunda
The Regional Service Centre Entebbe (RSCE) successfully assumed responsibility for a range of administrative and transactional functions previously managed by the Kuwait Joint Support Office (KJSO) on 1 July 2026, marking the culmination of an eight-month transition process. The milestone represents an important step in consolidating service delivery, enhancing operational efficiency, and streamlining processes, thereby responding to the need for a more effective United Nations.
The transition was implemented through a phased approach, comprising a pilot phase from (November 2025 to January 2026) followed by a transition phase from (February to June 2026). This carefully managed process enabled both entities to validate procedures, transfer institutional knowledge and ensure operational readiness ahead of the handover.
Maintaining uninterrupted support to client missions remained the highest priority throughout the transition. A structured overlap period allowed the KJSO to continue processing backlogs while RSCE assumed responsibility for new transactions, ensuring business continuity and seamless service delivery. Dedicated working groups, regular stakeholder consultations and close coordination among teams further facilitated knowledge transfer and enabled the timely resolution of operational challenges.
As part of the transition, RSCE took over a broad range of services, including travel requests, processing of travel related claims, education grant administration, human resources services, client support, accounts payable services, financial reporting, cashier services, bank reconciliations, and the monitoring of financial open items and rejected payments. The successful transfer of these functions strengthens RSCE’s ability to deliver integrated and responsive support to its clients.
The handover also demonstrated the value of strong leadership, effective communication and collaboration. Clear governance structures aligned performance monitoring, timely system-access provisioning and continuous engagement with stakeholders helped sustain service quality throughout the transition while fostering confidence among client missions and partners.
Beyond the transfer of existing responsibilities, the transition has expanded RSCE’s service portfolio in areas such as finance, human resources, travel and central support services. This enhanced role positions the Centre to deliver greater value to its clients and respond more effectively to evolving operational needs.
Reflecting on the achievement, Paulin Djomo, RSCE Director, said: “The successful transition of services from KJSO to RSCE reflects the dedication, professionalism and teamwork of colleagues across both entities. I would like to thank our teams, client missions and stakeholders for their collaboration and commitment throughout this journey. As RSCE takes on these new responsibilities, we remain focused on delivering efficient, reliable and client-centered services that support our clients in implementing their mandates”.
The transition also generated valuable lessons on the importance of early planning, stakeholder engagement, knowledge transfer and strong collaboration. These lessons will help inform future service transitions and contribute to the continued evolution of shared-service delivery across the Organization.
The successful transition represents more than a transfer of responsibilities, it reflects the United Nations commitment to continuous improvement, collaboration and client-focused service delivery. With an expanded portfolio and strengthened capacity, RSCE is well positioned to deliver greater value to client missions and the entire organization while ensuring the efficient and effective support they need to carry out their mandates. Building on the lessons learned and partnerships forged throughout this process, RSCE looks forward to continuing its journey as a trusted provider of shared services across the organization.
