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

Oh Happy Day!!

Today is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty! This day celebrates the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Signed in 1948, on October 17 1987 over 100,000 people gathered in Paris to celebrate the important document. It proclaims that poverty is a violation of human rights and expresses the need for the international community to ensure that these most basic rights are protected. In 1992, the UN General Assembly declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The date is intended to be an opportunity for member states and other organizations to organize activities which will promote the eradication of poverty and destitution. Since it's inception, the participation of the poor within the celebrations has been central.

This year's theme is "From Poverty to Decent Work: Bridging the Gap." Join with The Borgen Project and others in your community to celebrate this day. Commit yourselves to the essential task of eradicating poverty.

"The campaign to make poverty history- a central moral challenge of our age- cannot remain a task for the few, it must become a calling for the many. On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, I urge everyone to join this struggle. Together, we can make real and sufficient progress towards the end of poverty."

-Kofi Annan, an excerpt from his speech given on October 17, 2006

-Erica Stetz

SOURCE: UN

UNDP Launches Economics and Gender Curriculum

On June 11, 2010 a new degree at Makerere University in Uganda, launched in conjunction with the UNDP, a new Master of Arts degree focusing economics and gender in which, is the first of its kind in an African University.

The degree is aimed at arming policy makers and planners with knowledge and tools to apply gender consideration in economic analysis and policy-making.

"It is expected that the course will lead to better streamlining of gender issues in policy formulation and planning at various levels; national, regional and beyond," said a UNDP communications advisor. "It is also expected that the skills and rigorous analysis that will be gained from the course will contribute to accelerating achievement of the Millennium development Goal on Gender (Goal 3)."

Dr. Gabriel Opio, Uganda's Minister of Gender Labour & Social Development said, "The Masters Degree will provide Africa with a new generation of economists, planners and policy makers, who are aware of the costs of existing gender inequalities." He said the cost to national development incurred from gender inequalities is immense.


-Molly McNeill

SOURCE: UNDP

Soccer Stars Urge Public To Take Part in UN Anti-Poverty Campaign

Non-profit organizations aren't the only ones making a stand in the fight against poverty. Soccer stars and Ambassadors for the United Nations Development Programme, Didier Drogba and Zinedine Zidane, launched a television announcement today "exhorting the world to make a concerted effort to help millions of people free themselves from poverty."

“There can be no spectators in the fight against poverty,” said Mr. Drogba, the national captain of Côte d’Ivoire and a striker for the English Premier League club Chelsea.

Mr. Zidane and Mr. Drogba’s video can be viewed on UNDP’s new football website, www.kickoutpoverty.org, which gives people the opportunity to join the fight against poverty.

-Molly McNeill

SOURCE:UN.org