sekretariat

Sekretariat is a term used in several languages to denote the administrative office or staff that supports a government body, organization, or diplomatic mission. It can refer both to the office itself and to the personnel who perform secretarial and administrative duties. The role is typically to facilitate decision-making, manage information flow, and ensure continuity of operations.

Functions commonly associated with a sekretariat include handling correspondence, scheduling and coordinating meetings, maintaining records and archives, drafting documents and briefing materials, and supporting policy development. It may also provide budgeting and procurement assistance, public communications, and information technology or facilities support. In many organizations, the secretariat offers research and administrative services to committees, boards, or congresses, and acts as a liaison between leadership and external stakeholders.

Structures and titles vary by country and organization. In national governments, a ministry or department may have a secretary’s office or general sekreteriat that handles central administration. In international organizations, the sekretariat often refers to the central executive body responsible for day-to-day operations, headed by a secretary-general or executive secretary. The term also appears as the official name of a specific office within a committee, party, or institution.

Examples include the United Nations Secretariat, which serves as the UN’s executive arm, and various national sekretariats or secretariats within ministries, parties, or corporate bodies. The etymology traces back to Latin secretarius, meaning a bearer of secrets, reflecting the administrative and confidential functions historically associated with the office.