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List of candidates for top UN development post released

List of candidates for top UN development post released

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The United Nations today made public a short list of candidates to head the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which is mandated to give countries needed information, experience and resources for development, as well as chair the UN Development Group (UNDG), which coordinates the operational UN agencies in individual Member States.

The six named were chosen for their diplomatic, management and resource mobilization skills and their knowledge of development issues, according to a UN spokesman.

The nominees include Kaoru Ishikawa of Japan, Director-General, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and G8 Summit Foreign Affairs Sous Sherpa; Fawzi al-Sultan of Kuwait, a former President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); and Ad Melkert of the Netherlands, formerly Minister of Social Affairs and Dutch Executive Director at the World Bank.

Also listed are Norwegian Minister for Internal Development Hilde F. Johnson, former World Bank Vice President Kemal Derwis of Turkey and Baroness Valerie Amos, leader of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom and former Secretary of State for the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

One of them will succeed Mark Malloch Brown, who became Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Chief of Staff on 19 January while temporarily retaining the UNDP Administrator position.

Mr. Annan and his Deputy, Louise Fréchette, will conduct interviews with the finalists. Mr. Annan will consult UNDP's Executive Board on his choice before sending the name to the General Assembly.