Food and Agriculture Organisation
In November 2005, the 33rd Session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) Governing Body adopted a decision on the reform package proposed by the FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf. The reform package aims to flatten the bureaucracy of the Organisation, making it more flexible and responsive to members' needs. The Governing Body gave support to several key elements of the Director-General's plan, including: streamlining administrative and financial processes, and the establishment of a “Shared Services Centre” serving Headquarters and the regions; initial steps towards organisational restructuring at Headquarters; using one geographic region as a pilot case for implementing proposals for greater decentralisation, and establishing one new subregional office in another region. Many of the changes authorised for Headquarters are already in effect; Africa with its subregions has been selected for the piloting of improved decentralisation, and the countries of Central Asia have been identified for coverage by a new subregional office. The Director-General has since updated part of his reform package and since December 2005 has held consultations with Member States in Rome regarding the submission of modified reform proposals to the Governing Bodies. According to the FAO, following the Director-General's consultations, “it was concluded that there was no need for an extraordinary session of the Council at the end of June or early July 2006, but that modified reform proposals could be submitted to and considered by the September 2006 sessions of the Programme and Finance Committees and the November 2006 Council.” These proposals would seek authorisation to fully implement the decentralisation proposals made in the Director-General's earlier reform proposals, which would, inter alia, entail the creation of four further subregional offices in new locations and reconfiguration of the hitherto unaffected Regional Offices and Subregional Offices. Regarding headquarters, in line with the Conference's recommendation that further changes to the structure should be maintained within the existing number of departments, a possible structure for presentation to the November 2006 Council has been prepared. In addition, the Director-General is addressing each of the FAO Regional Conferences, in the first half of 2006, on the reform proposals, and seeking their reactions.
UN Conference on Trade and Development
In October 2005, the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Supachai Panitchpakdi, established a Panel of Eminent Persons to propose new strategies for the Organisation aimed at heightening its impact. In an address to the Fifty-Second Session of the Trade and Development Board, the UNCTAD Secretary-General told delegates that in order for UNCTAD to be more effective, the Organisation would have to “focus work on areas where we can really make a difference,” with the objective of achieving results on the ground. He said “the test case for UNCTAD in the coming years will be its relevance and its capacity to deliver on those activities - be they research and policy analysis, consensus-building or technical assistance - that have the greatest possible impact on beneficiary countries.” He also stated “that a more focused, results-oriented and transparent approach would impact on three key levels: national, regional and multilateral.” The 8-member Panel, chaired by Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the former President of Brazil (1995-2002), is expected to produce a report for the Secretary-General by late 2006. The Panel will advise the Secretary-General of UNCTAD on how to enhance UNCTAD´s development role and impact. S pecifically, the Panel will:
- Propose options to improve the three pillars of UNCTAD´s work (i.e. research and policy analysis, consensus-building, and technical assistance) and their interaction, with a view to making the organisation more dynamic, effective and efficient in implementing its vision and mission;
- Identify opportunities for UNCTAD, within its areas of competence, to take a lead and make a difference in the follow-up to the 2005 UN Summit ; and
- Explore ways and means for UNCTAD to strengthen cooperation and create synergies with other international organisations and to enhance the interaction with other development partners, including the private sector and civil society.
ieg-dossier coverage
The Group of 77 and China
Volume 1 Edition 2 | May, 2006
Geneva, 8 May 2006: Statement on the UNCTAD Mid Term Review: In a statement by Masood Khan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China at the First Plenary Session of the Mid Term Review of UNCTAD XI, the Group outlined their views on the importance of enhancing UNCTAD's development focus and strengthening its mandate
Geneva, 25 April 2006: Pakistan Expects UN to make Affirmative Interventions to Eradicate Poverty, Hunger and Disease : In a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary General, Mark Malloch Brown, Pakistan expressed the hope that the ongoing UN reform process will enable the Organisation to make affirmative interventions in parts of the world which continue to suffer from abject poverty, hunger and disease
Volume 1 Edition 1 | May, 2006
New York, March 2006: Initial Views on the System-wide Coherence Panel: Toward the end of March, the Chair of the Group of 77 and China in New York, Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the UN, circulated a letter to the co-chairs of the Secretary-General's High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence outlining the initial views of the developing country group on the Panel's work
Paris , February 2006: Paris Consensus: In February, the 39th Meeting of the Chairpersons/Coordinators of the G-77 adopted the Paris Consensus, providing a broader developing country perspective on the reform of the international development system
Paris , February 2006: Coordinators adopt overall position on UN Reform measures: The 39th Meeting of the Chairpersons/Coordinators of the G-77 held in February adopted a statement on UN Reform, outlining developing country views on the current state of UN reform negotiations. The statement attaches high priority to reform as an ongoing process and not an end in itself and reaffirms the important the roles and mandates of UN institutions and agencies
Africa
Volume 1 Edition 1 ¦May 2006
Nairobi , April 2006: African Union: Trade Ministers Address UNCTAD Reform: The fourth session of the African Union's Conference of Trade Ministers, took place in Nairobi on 12-14 April 2006. According to reports by Martin Khor of the Third World Network, the threat to UNCTAD was extensively discussed at the Ministerial segment as well as at the meeting of senior officials
Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Volume 1 Edition 2 ¦May 2006
New York, 8 May 2006: Canada, Australia and New Zealand: Mandate Review on Sustainable Development : In a statement to the informal consultations on the Mandate Review, Australia's Ambassador to the UN, Robert Hill, speaking on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, remarked that “in the field of promoting sustained growth and sustainable development, perhaps more than in any other, the maze of UN bureaucracy has grown too large.”
The Netherlands
Volume 1 Edition 1 ¦May 2006
Dutch Paper on UN operational system for development fit to face the challenges of reaching the MDGs: According to Martin Khor of the Third World Network, the Netherlands produced a paper on a UN operational system for development fit to face the challenges of reaching the MDGs, which was presented for discussion at the OECD's Development Assistance Committee on 6-7 December
United States of America
Volume 1 Edition 2 ¦May 2006
New York, 8 May 2006: US: Statement on the Mandate Review on Sustained Growth and Sustainable Development : In a statement by US Representative for United Nations, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, to the informal plenary on the Mandate Review: Sustained Growth and Sustainable Development and Development of Africa, Wallace outlined the US views on early action, UNCTAD, DESA and the Regional Commissions.
Belgium
Volume 1 Edition 1 ¦May 2006
Belgium : Proposal for redesigning the UN Development Architecture: According to Martin Khor of the Third World Network, last October, Belgium prepared a paper on entitled "redesign of the UN development architecture.'
Japan
Volume 1 Edition 2 ¦May 2006
New York , 8 May 2006: Japan: Statement to the Mandate Review on Sustainable Development: Statement to the informal consultations on the Mandate Review on the promotion of sustainable growth and sustainable development by Japan 's Ambassador Toshiro Ozawa.
UN Conference on Trade and Development
Volume 1 Edition 2 ¦May 2006
Geneva, 8 May 2006: Statement to the first meeting of the Mid Term Review of the São Paulo Consensus in Geneva by UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi.
South Centre
Volume 1 Edition 2 ¦May 2006
Geneva , May 2006: South Centre: New Publications for the UNCTAD Mid Term Review: The South Center released two new papers on the UNCTAD Mid Term Reviews: Operationalising the Concept of Policy Space n the UNCTAD XI Mid-Term Review Context (May 2006) and Enhancing Positive Corporate Contributions to Development: Making corporate responsibility for development operational in the UNCTAD XI MTR context.
Volume 1 Edition 1 ¦May 2006
Geneva , April 2006: Strengthening the UN Conference on Trade and Development: A key issue to emerge for developing countries has been to secure a renewed role for the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), amongst attempts to dilute, supplant or subsume its mandate. In April, the South Centre released a paper called “Reinventing UNCTAD.” The paper was prepared by Professor Muchkund Dubey, at the request of, and in close collaboration with Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Chairman of the Board of the South Centre, for submission to the Panel of Eminent Persons. The paper examines the development of UNCTAD since its inception in 1964, and proposes possible steps for reform. The paper looks at UNCTAD's mandate, its achievements and its decline.
UN Conference on Trade and Development: High Level Panel
Volume 1 Edition 1 | May 2006
In October 2005, the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Supachai Panitchpakdi, established a Panel of Eminent Persons to propose new strategies for the Organisation aimed at heightening its impact. In an address to the Fifty-Second Session of the Trade and Development Board, the UNCTAD Secretary-General told delegates that in order for UNCTAD to be more effective, the Organisation would have to “focus work on areas where we can really make a difference,” with the objective of achieving results on the ground. He said “the test case for UNCTAD in the coming years will be its relevance and its capacity to deliver on those activities - be they research and policy analysis, consensus-building or technical assistance - that have the greatest possible impact on beneficiary countries.” He also stated “that a more focused, results-oriented and transparent approach would impact on three key levels: national, regional and multilateral.” The 8-member Panel, chaired by Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the former President of Brazil (1995-2002), is expected to produce a report for the Secretary-General by late 2006. The Panel will advise the Secretary-General of UNCTAD on how to enhance UNCTAD´s development role and impact. S pecifically, the Panel will:
- Propose options to improve the three pillars of UNCTAD´s work (i.e. research and policy analysis, consensus-building, and technical assistance) and their interaction, with a view to making the organisation more dynamic, effective and efficient in implementing its vision and mission;
- Identify opportunities for UNCTAD, within its areas of competence, to take a lead and make a difference in the follow-up to the 2005 UN Summit ; and
- Explore ways and means for UNCTAD to strengthen cooperation and create synergies with other international organisations and to enhance the interaction with other development partners, including the private sector and civil society.
The first meeting of the Panel of Eminent Persons was held in Geneva from 23- 24 January. This brainstorming session examined global trends and the ongoing UN reform, and their implications for UNCTAD. The meeting also reviewed the functioning of the Organisation and its strategic positioning vis-à-vis other international organisations. Panel members also met informally with Geneva-based ambassadors over two luncheons and at an evening reception, exchanging views on UNCTAD´s work, role and impact. The second meeting of the Panel took place in April 2006 in Rio de Janeiro and examined how UNCTAD can fulfil its development mission and mandates. Members of the Panel shared their own written inputs on enhancing UNCTAD´s role and impact and considered a paper submitted by Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Chairman of the Board of the South Centre and former Secretary General of the UN. These inputs, along with the outcome of the first meeting, served as a basis for the discussions on the substantive issues to be included in the Panel's final report later this year. During the meeting, the Panel agreed on the main messages and overall approaches of the report, as well as its annotated outline. They will meet again on 7-8 June in Helsinki , Finland .
Members of the Eminent Person's Panel include: Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Former President of Brazil (1995-2002); Gro Harlem Brundtland ,Former Prime Minister of Norway (1981, 1986-1989, 1991-1996); Jagdish Bhagwati, Professor of Economics and Law at Columbia University; Joaquim Alberto Chissano, Former President of Mozambique (1986-2005); Tarja Kaarina Halonen, President of Finland; Yongtu Long, Secretary-General of Boao Forum for Asia; Benjamin Mkapa, President of the United Republic of Tanzania; and Lawrence Summers, President of Harvard University
Source: UNCTAD, 2006; http://www.unctad.org/Templates/StartPage.asp?intItemID=3611&lang=1
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World Intellectual Property Organisation: Development Agenda
In August 2004, Brazil, Argentina and 12 other developing countries tabled a proposal for a Development Agenda as part of the reform of WIPO, including an amendment to the WIPO Convention (1967), a reorientation of the content of present proposals in treaties now being negotiated at WIPO, the establishment of new pro-development treaties and a change in WIPO ' s technical assistance activities. Co-sponsored by 14 countries, it was also supported from the floor by the Asian and African Groups and many individual developing countries. The WIPO General Assembly adopted a resolution for a "Development Agenda" at its 2004 Session. In the resolution, the General Assembly decided to convene inter-sessional intergovernmental meetings (IIM) to examine proposals from Member States and to prepare a report by 30 July 2005 for the consideration of the next General Assembly. Three Intersessional Intergovernmental Meetings on the Development Agenda were held in April, June and July 2005. The WIPO General Assembly, in its 2005 session held in September/October, decided to “constitute a Provisional Committee to take forward the IIM process to accelerate and complete the discussions on proposals relating to a WIPO Development Agenda and report with any recommendations to the General Assembly at its September 2006 Session.”
The First Session of the Provisional Committee on Proposals Related to a WIPO Development Agenda (PCDA-1) was held from 20 to 24February 2006. Chaired by Ambassador Rigoberto Gauto Vielman, Permanent Representative of Paraguay , and supported by a Vice-Chair, Ambassador Muktar Djumaliev, Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan , PCDA-1 addressed a number of proposals from WIPO members. Among the proposals submitted were: “The African Proposal for the Establishment of a Development Agenda for WIPO” (IIM/3/2 Rev.), a proposal by Chile (PCDA/1/2), a proposal by Colombia (PCDA/1/3), a proposal by the United States of America, “For the establishment of a partnership program in WIPO: An elaboration of issues raised in document IIM/1/2” (PCDA/1/4), and a proposal by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Venezuela, entitled “Establishment of a Development Agenda for WIPO: A Framework for achieving concrete and practical results in the near and longer terms” (PCDA/1/5). A total of 111 proposals were submitted by Member states/groups. The second meeting of the Provisional Committee in June, after which member states are expected to make recommendations for submission to the WIPO General Assembly in Autumn 2006. In addition to negotiations on a development agenda, several related negotiations taking place under WIPO are relevant to discussions on international environmental governance and the current reform processes on development, including: bio-piracy genetic resources, and traditional knowledge .
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A Development Agenda for the World Intellectual Property Organisation
Volume 1 Edition 1 | May 2006
In August 2004, Brazil, Argentina and 12 other developing countries tabled a proposal for a Development Agenda as part of the reform of WIPO, including an amendment to the WIPO Convention (1967), a reorientation of the content of present proposals in treaties now being negotiated at WIPO, the establishment of new pro-development treaties and a change in WIPO ' s technical assistance activities. Co-sponsored by 14 countries, it was also supported from the floor by the Asian and African Groups and many individual developing countries. The WIPO General Assembly adopted a resolution for a "Development Agenda" at its 2004 Session. In the resolution, the General Assembly decided to convene inter-sessional intergovernmental meetings (IIM) to examine proposals from Member States and to prepare a report by 30 July 2005 for the consideration of the next General Assembly. Three Intersessional Intergovernmental Meetings on the Development Agenda were held in April, June and July 2005. The WIPO General Assembly, in its 2005 session held in September/October, decided to “constitute a Provisional Committee to take forward the IIM process to accelerate and complete the discussions on proposals relating to a WIPO Development Agenda and report with any recommendations to the General Assembly at its September 2006 Session.”
The First Session of the Provisional Committee on Proposals Related to a WIPO Development Agenda (PCDA-1) was held from 20 to 24February 2006. Chaired by Ambassador Rigoberto Gauto Vielman, Permanent Representative of Paraguay , and supported by a Vice-Chair, Ambassador Muktar Djumaliev, Permanent Representative of Kyrgyzstan , PCDA-1 addressed a number of proposals from WIPO members. Among the proposals submitted were: “The African Proposal for the Establishment of a Development Agenda for WIPO” (IIM/3/2 Rev.), a proposal by Chile (PCDA/1/2), a proposal by Colombia (PCDA/1/3), a proposal by the United States of America, “For the establishment of a partnership program in WIPO: An elaboration of issues raised in document IIM/1/2” (PCDA/1/4), and a proposal by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay and Venezuela, entitled “Establishment of a Development Agenda for WIPO: A Framework for achieving concrete and practical results in the near and longer terms” (PCDA/1/5). A total of 111 proposals were submitted by Member states/groups. In 2006, discussions on establishing a development agenda moved forward, with member states agreeing to structure their future work under six main themes:
- Technical assistance and capacity building
- Norm-setting, flexibilities, public policy and public domain
- Technology transfer, information and communication technology and access to knowledge
- Assessments, evaluation and impact studies
- Institutional matters including mandate and governance
- Other issues.
This structure will constitute the basis for continued discussion at the second meeting of the Provisional Committee in June, after which member states are expected to make recommendations for submission to the WIPO General Assembly in autumn 2006. In addition to negotiations on a development agenda, several related negotiations taking place under WIPO are relevant to discussions on international environmental governance and the current reform processes on development, including: bio-piracy genetic resources, and traditional knowledge.
Source: WIIPO, 2006; IP-Watch, 2006
PCDA-1, Summary by the Chair;
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/mdocs/en/pcda_1/pcda_1_www_56972.pdf
PCDA-1, Documents; http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=9643
General Assembly: Appointment of the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Volume 1 Edition 1 | May 2006 |
On 6 March 2006, the UN Secretary-General released a shortlist of candidates for the post of Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The post became vacant following the untimely death of Joke Waller-Hunter in October 2005. In November, the Secretary-General solicited nominations from Member States which were considered together with other nominations, in particular those of the post of Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme. A thorough review of the nominations was the undertaken by the Secretary-General and his senior advisers, and shortlisted candidates were invited for interview: John W. Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda) Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Yvo de Boer (Netherlands), Director for International Affairs, Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment; Luis Gomez Echeverri (Colombia), Deputy Assistant Administrator, Deputy Director of the Bureau for Development Policy, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Miklós Persányi (Hungary), Minister for the Environment and Water; and Simon Upton (New Zealand), Chair of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Round Table on Sustainable Development and Former Minister for the Environment. At the conclusion of the process, the Secretary-General will select the candidate and will consult the Bureau of the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC; the appointment of the Executive Secretary will be made subsequently.
Source: UN Department of Public Information, 6 March; http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sg2109.doc.htm