Ambassador Brings a New Perspective to Economic Aid

Today, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) elected Slovakian Ambassador Miloš Koterec as President of ECOSOC.  The new President has emphasized that given the current economic climate, ideas surrounding development must change. Furthermore, Mr.Koterec stressed that new methods have to be implemented to increase cooperation between donor and aid-recepient nations. 

                                                                                                                         

Mr.Koterec has said that, "Gone is the old binary division where rich nations dispense aid and poor ones receive it.” Traditional donors are no longer considered the most generous. New donors, as well as the private sector, have become increasingly involved in international aid and economic development. In an effort to create and support effective economic relationships between donor and aid-recepient nations, Mr.Koterec has called for greater discussion in the next Development Cooperation Forum (DFC).

                                                                                                                         

Sustainable development is a high priority for the new ECOSOC President. This past September, Mr.Koterec presented numerous sustainable development initiatives, as well as five global mandates to ECOSOC. These initiatives emphasized the empowerment of the youth, the prevention of natural disasters, and supporting transitioning countries. Mr.Koterec has stated that, “I strongly believe that ECOSOC is well placed and well equipped to become the central place for follow-up to Rio+20. We must deepen our efforts to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, our main framework for development to 2015."The slovakian Ambassador Miloš Koterec is ushering a new age of international aid and development.

                                                                                                                                        

-Akshika Patel 

SOURCE: UN News Centre

You Are Invited To Global Washington's Event!

Global Washington, that supports global development sector in Washington state is hosting a special discussion of foreign assistance reform, principles in effectiveness, and the effect of reform on global development work. The event, "Reforming Aid, Transforming the World: A Discussion with Policymakers on US Foreign Assistance Reform" is on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, from 3:30pm to 5:30pm at University of Washington Seattle Campus, Kane Hall, Room 120. You can register for $10 here, http://globalwa.org/our-work/reforming-aid-policy-event/

The event will feature:
*U.S. Representative Adam Smith, Co-Chair of The Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance.
*Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director at the Security Council for global development, stabilization and humanitarian assistance. (invited)
*Kent R. Hill, Senior Vice President, International Programs, World Vision United States.

Everyone is invited to join this important discussion regarding The Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance and The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, as these projects and directives will likely shape U.S. foreign assistance and the global development industry in the upcoming years since many policymakers believe that foreign assistance is an intregral part of the U.S. budget. You can find more details in their website.

-Nisha Noor

SOURCE: GLOBAL WASHINGTON