Chairman says the Multilateral Aid Review has strengthened the organization
The UK National Commission (UKNC) for UNESCO has strengthened its work thanks to a Review of UK Multilateral Aid by the Department for International Development (DfID), according to the UN advisory body’s Chairman, Professor W. John Morgan.
In an open letter to UKNC former committee members, other national commissions and UNESCO staff in Paris, Professor Morgan said that the National Commission now had:
… a more influential role, a more focused brief, with the opportunity to make an impact on reform and effectiveness through advising government and working with UNESCO itself.”
Following the announcement by DfID in March 2011 of the results of the Multilateral Aid Review, the former Board accepted the subsequent recommendations for the UKNC unanimously, and made way so that changes could be effected. A fresh constitution has been established and a new and smaller Secretariat has been recruited.
The members of the new Board have now been approved by the Minister of State for International Development, Alan Duncan, the lead Minister for UNESCO, following a transparent, merit based, open public appointment process. Professor Morgan has been re-appointed to chair the Board, together with deputy Chairs Sue Davies and Tim Williams. They have been in post since April overseeing the reform of the Commission. The other Board members approved by the Minister are: Mr Gary Brace, Professor Tariq Durrani, Dr Beth Taylor and Professor Sylvia Walby.
Read more about the new Directors here.
Professor Morgan and his team have also appointed a new Head of Secretariat, Mr James Bridge, who will be leaving his post as EU/International Adviser at the Royal College of Nursing to join the Commission. He will complete the Secretariat, which includes Finance and Office Manager Andrea Blick and Research and Communications Officer Ian White who were appointed in June and April respectively. Isa Uny continues as a part-time programme officer in Scotland, while arrangements for Wales and for Northern Ireland are to be reviewed.
The new Board of seven members reflects all aspects of competence in relation to UNESCO’s mandate and the nations of the United Kingdom. It will hold its first meeting in September, together with orientation sessions designed to build a team and identify a programme of work. One of its first actions will be to engage the new Board members and the National Commission network in policy development aimed at supporting UNESCO reform. It should be noted that the UKNC is funded by the DfID, which manages HMG’s relationship with UNESCO, with appropriate input from other ministries and the devolved administrations. UKNC is a key part of this team that works on behalf of the United Kingdom as a whole.
It is intended that progress towards these common objectives will be made by the time UNESCO holds its biennial General Conference in October and November this year.
Written: 02/08/2011 , last modified: 02/08/2011