The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) has expanded access to its online payment instructions tool, allowing more separating participants to complete a key step in the pension benefit process directly through the Member Self-Service (MSS) portal.

Since the launch of the new MSS portal in May 2026, separating participants from the United Nations Secretariat and related entities have been able to submit payment instructions online, eliminating the need to download, print, complete, sign and send paper forms to the Fund.

The online tool became available to separating participants from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on 1 August 2026, and to those from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 1 September 2026. The expansion supports the Fund’s efforts to make pension-related processes simpler, more accessible and more efficient.

Previously, separating participants had to download, print, complete, sign and submit a payment instructions form with supporting documents. Eligible participants can now complete the process online and upload the required documentation through the MSS portal.

Commenting on the rollout, Juliana Gomes Lacchini, Human Resources Officer at CTBTO and Secretary of the organization's Staff Pension Committee, said: “As a small organization, the CTBTO deeply values inter-agency collaboration that leverages technology to better serve our personnel. The rollout of the UNJSPF online payment instructions form is a milestone in this regard. Even at this early stage, we have already received positive feedback from our separating staff members. They appreciate having increased, direct access to UNJSPF tools, which empowers them with greater control over their own pension rights and duties through the Member Self-Service portal. This digital shift enhances the overall client experience by making the separation process smooth, transparent, and efficient.”

The functionality builds on the new MSS portal launched in May 2026, which introduced a modern interface, improved navigation and new digital services to facilitate interactions between members and the Fund.

For Alejandro Tagarro Cervantes, Head of the HR Policy & Employee Relations Unit at UNIDO: “This rollout demonstrates the value of strong inter-agency collaboration in delivering modern, client-centered services across the United Nations system. We have greatly appreciated the close partnership with the UNJSPF throughout the implementation process, from the initial design discussions to the launch of the platform for UNIDO separating staff on 1 August 2026. Although still at an early stage, the tool has already been very positively received by both the UNIDO SPC Secretariat and the staff members who have used it. By providing a secure, intuitive and guided digital process for the submission of benefit elections and payment instructions, we simplified what can often be a complex administrative procedure, while reducing the potential for errors and improving efficiency. Importantly, this innovation complements rather than replaces the advisory role of the SPC Secretariat, enabling us to continue providing personalized support to participants while benefiting from a more streamlined and user-friendly process. We are confident that this will further enhance the overall client experience and contribute to the ongoing digital transformation of pension administration across the UN system.”

According to IFAD HR Analyst Alessia Bartolucci: “The launch of the online payment instructions tool marks another important milestone in UNJSPF's digital transformation journey and reflects the Fund's commitment to enhancing the experience of participants and Staff Pension Committees across member organizations. The strong collaboration between IFAD and the Pension Fund has made initiatives such as this possible, and we are pleased to introduce in our work new features that streamline processes, improve efficiency and support modernization efforts. IFAD is actively promoting the use of the new tool and encouraging eligible separating staff members to submit their payment instructions electronically. We expect the tool to be well received given its ease of use, reduced reliance on paper-based processes, improved accuracy and greater efficiency in the processing of pension benefits.”

By enabling more participants to submit payment instructions online, the Fund continues to modernize its services and provide greater flexibility and direct access to pension-related processes through the MSS portal.