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Wanted Now: A Pragmatic and Visionary Leader for the Improved UN Entity for Women
October 2, 2009
This is a joint post with Geeta Rao Gupta.
In all of last week’s hoopla in NYC with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Clinton Global Initiative in full swing, news about an improved, composite U.N. entity for women (still to be formally named) went under the radar. The idea for consolidating several U.N. agencies into one has been in the works for about three years, but was finally adopted just two weeks ago. The resolution merely approves the creation of the entity and states that the Secretary General should announce the final plan for the structure and mission of the agency at next year’s UNGA. Now that’s classic UN style—to take one entire year to figure out what has already been figured out! It’s time for urgent and quick next steps, which if implemented smartly (not just politically) can make all the difference.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon must move quickly and strategically to appoint a technically qualified, pragmatic, high-performing Under Secretary General (USG) to lead the agency. A few different proposals are circulating with suggestions for how the agency should be structured and purposed, but the process should be led by the new USG. Selecting a leader should be based not on national quotas, politics or horse-trading. We need a leader who:
- Gets it: Technically, the leader should be an expert on global development and women and most importantly someone who can narrow the distance between a U.N. level agency decision/action and impact on communities on the ground, in villages, towns and cities.
- Knows the ropes: Understands how the U.N. system does and does not work and can challenge the old way of doing things.
- Has the vision and the smarts to get the job done: A pragmatic vision to drive an effective business strategy for an agency that will empower women in the world’s poorest communities.
The U.S. Government’s current and high level focus on women and girls in global development offers a perfect reform moment in the history of the U.N. and global development. The Secretary General must seize it now. The world cannot wait any longer.
4 Responses to “Wanted Now: A Pragmatic and Visionary Leader for the Improved UN Entity for Women”
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October 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
When it comes to development women in most quarters of the world have been marginalized yet they are part of the labor force. More incentives in the form of micro finance should be geared towards women or women groups to economically empower them. In this economic crisis more emphasis should be driven towards women education, in areas that are critical to their survival such as finance and entrepreneurship. There is need for encouragement of women business enterprises coupled with in information technology that help mitigate the cultural barriers that affect women in relation to development. High priority should be given to finding projects that are women focused, opening up new sources of income in traditionally male occupations, providing access to credit and with the support of leadership from their national governments; this will enable women to fully participation in the development process.
October 4th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
UN still run by men. I have no negative opinion regarding men or women leadership. My long experience in both private and government sectors have proven me that men handle the situation more effectively due to their EQ. However, the intelligences had nothing to do with either side.
In some areas women could do a lot better, and in some others, of course, it has to be done by men.
We have to admit that we can’t do everything by ourselves. I am a working mother in a developing (or under developing) country, painfully struggle through 2 economic cricis. I am not bleming anyone but may by it was because the lack of women’s leadership in national governments.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:47 am
How about Mary Robinson?
October 15th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Having the Ambassador Verveer at the State Dept. just shows the importance of having a specific office that drives policy and programs in the area. So much of the work of the UN is about women and this is really a smart move to consolidate and focus the work. Thanks for keeping us up to date on this.