International governmental organizations and the challenges faced by the international civil servants: The case of the EuropeanUnion and the African Union in light of United Nations practice

ABSTRACT: The concept of international governmental organizations is a momentous and vast notion which has developed as an interesting area of research in international relations in recent times. International organizations are significant actors in global politics. They are set up for different purposes and objectives. The international bureaucrats or civil servants are relevant actors in the international governmental organizations and they play a central role in the implementation and execution of the policies of these organizations. Despite the significance of the position and roles of the international civil servants, they are still faced with a lot of obstacles and challenges which affects the effectiveness and efficiencies of the international civil service. There has been a long and robust debate about the ineffectiveness and inefficiencies of international governmental organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union. This is centered on the practices, behavior and distortions of the procedures as all as the code and conduct of these international organizations either in the form of breaches of the code and conduct as spelt out in the charters of these organizations, unethical practices and behavior or an on-adherence to the rules and procedures.This study set forth to investigate the challenges faced by international civil servants in the European Union and African Union in light of the United Nations practice on the bases of the following research questions; What are the challenges or obstacles faced by the international civil servants in unison in the European Union and African Union? Does the recruitment procedure of the international civil service create inefficiencies and ineffectiveness in the European Union and the African Union? This study identified several array of challenges in the international civil service of the EU and AU such as, economic embezzlement, financial fraud, entitlement fraud, lack of transparency and accountability and focused with an in-depth analysis on two significant problems; Corruption and democratic deficit. This study recommends among others that the recruitment procedures of these international organizations (EU, AU and UN) which is usually clandestine be made more open based on merit principle and the strengthening of their conventions against corruption while putting in place adequate mechanisms for implementation and enforcement of code and conduct. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………