161. Aacording to UNDP Personnel Manual regulations, internationally recruited Professional staff members, as well as locally recruited General Service staff members, appointed to serve on established posts, are required to serve a minimum period of four years on fixed-term appointments prior to being eligible for consideration by the relevant appointment and promotion bodies for conversion to probationary appointment, normally of six months’ duration, after which the permanent appointment is granted. Whereas 9,786 staff members of both categories were permanently appointed between June 1966 and June 1989, there was no instance recorded in which a probationary appointment was not converted into a permanent appointment. 162. Therefore, there is no evident need for having a probationary appointment in addition to four years of fixed-term contracts. Management should be in a position to assess the performance of staff members without a probationary period that is not likely to reveal nbw findings. Consequently, we recommended that the Administration either: (a) Forego an additional probationary period after a fixed-term appointment of specified duration, thereby also aiming at a reduction in the number of fixed-term contracts) or (b) Apply United Nations staff rules 104.12 (a) and 104.13 (a), granting permanent appointments without prior fixed-term appointments. 163. The Administration agreed that the contractual status of UNDP staff members should be simplified, thereby being in favour of t’e alternative that would eliminate the requisite period of service under pri,llationary appointment8 prior to granting permanent appointments. There are still several options under review, but it is expected that a new policy will be implemented in July 1990. 164. According to the UNDP Personnel Manual, Special Service Agreements are used to engage the services of part-time workers only. During one of our field audits, we found, however, that they are used to employ staff where no other contractual mean8 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the personnel management and employment policies of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It mentions specific regulations, staff categories, and contractual agreements, which suggests that the topic is related to employment and human resources. However, the text does not mention any specific projects, initiatives, or activities that are directly related to economic development, natural resources, or other categories.

**Category**
Employment