New York, 9 November 2026 - The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), the United Nations Department of Operational Support and UNICEF marked an important milestone today with the signing of new agreements to expand access to Digital Certificate of Entitlement (DCE) kiosks across UN locations and selected UNICEF Country Offices.

The agreements build on UNJSPF’s partnership with UNDP, through which DCE kiosks were introduced in 18 UNDP country offices in 2025. A further 23 kiosks are planned through expanded partnerships with the UN and UNICEF, bringing the planned global network to 41 locations.

The DCE gives retirees and beneficiaries a digital alternative to the traditional paper-based Certificate of Entitlement, the annual proof-of-life process required for continued payment of benefits. For people who may lack a suitable device, have limited connectivity or need assistance, kiosks provide another way to access the DCE and receive support.

Under the agreements, UNJSPF provides and maintains the kiosk tablets, while participating UN entities and UNICEF Country Offices provide secure and accessible locations where retirees and beneficiaries can use them, with the UNJSPF DCE Support Team available to assist when needed. The initiative is also intended to help reduce the risk of pension suspensions.

Rosemarie McClean, Chief Executive of Pension Administration, emphasized that digital transformation is ultimately about better service. Through collaboration across the UN system, the Fund can bring its digital services closer to retirees and beneficiaries, including in locations where access to technology or reliable postal services may be challenging.

Catherine Pollard, Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance and Executive Head Representative to the UNJSPF Board, highlighted that no one should be left behind as the Fund modernizes its services and reaches beneficiaries wherever they are.

Lisa Buttenheim, Assistant Secretary-General for Support Operations, highlighted how the United Nations’ global presence can bring DCE services closer to retirees and beneficiaries and described the partnership as a model that should continue to be embraced across the UN family.

The event brought together UNJSPF project champions Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio, Deputy Chief Executive of Pension Administration; Sarah Mathieson, Chief of Operations, together with Operations colleagues Maria Georgina Bernardo and Edwin Ngange; and Aliamane Bacar Said, Chief of Client Services, alongside Katharina Margetts of the UN Department of Operational Support and Mark Beatty of UNICEF, to explore how partnerships can make digital transformation more inclusive.

The discussion highlighted how advanced technology and personalized support can work together to improve access to pension services, how the DCE experience has informed the broader development of the UN Digital ID, and how collaboration could extend digital identity across the staff journey, from onboarding to retirement.

Representatives from the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants (FAFICS) also joined the signing, highlighting how retirees’ associations can help make digital transformation more inclusive by raising awareness, encouraging adoption and identifying locations where assisted access is most needed.

DCE adoption continues to grow. As of 30 October 2026, 50,293 retirees and beneficiaries had issued their 2026 DCE, representing 63.43 per cent of the Fund’s beneficiary population.

Through these partnerships, UNJSPF continues to advance a simple principle: digital transformation should make pension services not only more efficient, but also more accessible, inclusive and responsive to the people the Fund serves.

Watch our video: “Bringing Digital Pension Services Closer to Our People” to learn more.