PER RYDEN OF SWEDEN APPOINTED MANAGING DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL MECHANISM OF UN CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
Press Release
BIO/3192
ENV/DEV/485
PER RYDEN OF SWEDEN APPOINTED MANAGING DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL MECHANISM OF UN CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
19980915 Biographical Note NEW YORK, 14 September (IFAD/UNDP) -- The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have appointed Per Rydén as Managing Director of the Global Mechanism, established under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to promote mobilization of resources to support the efforts of affected developing countries. Mr. Rydén's appointment is the result of an extensive search, a thorough appraisal process and joint consultations between IFAD and UNDP. He will be based at IFAD headquarters in Rome.Mr. Rydén, a national of Sweden, has extensive experience on issues of drought and desertification and is experienced in financial planning and resource mobilization, as related to development work. Prior to his appointment, he was Director of the Institutional Development Division at the World Conservation Union (IUCN). He has served IUCN for the last 11 years (1987-present) in a number of different capacities, including Assistant Director-General a.i. for Conservation Policy and as the Coordinator of the Sahel Programme.
Mr. Rydén also worked for the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) in Bangladesh (1984-1987) and Mozambique (1977-1979; 1980-1981) as well as at its headquarters in Stockholm (1972-1977; 1979-1980). He has worked in Lesotho for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as Rural Development Management Adviser in the Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development (1981-1983). Mr. Ryden has a good knowledge of both the governmental and non- governmental sectors. He holds a Master of Science in Agronomy from the Agricultural College of Uppsala, Sweden, is fluent in English and has a good working knowledge of French and Portuguese.
The First Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification, held in Rome from 29 September to 10 October 1997, selected IFAD as the organization that would house the Global Mechanism, with a Collaborative Institutional Arrangement to support the Mechanism, involving UNDP, IFAD and the World Bank. Moreover, it was also agreed that UNDP, in consultation with IFAD, would designate the Head of the Global Mechanism, who would be appointed to the position by the President of IFAD. While the Global Mechanism would have a separate identity within IFAD, it would be an organic part of the structure of the Fund. As such, the Managing Director of the Mechanism would report directly to the President of IFAD.
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