UNDP Management’s Responsibilities Demand Highest Standards of Transparency,

Accountability, Effectiveness, Secretary-General Says in Message

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) global management meeting in Tarrytown, New York, today:

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, senior colleagues, I am pleased to greet you today.

The global management meeting is a unique opportunity for you, the collective face of the UN’s development work, to debate the central issues we face in serving the world’s people.  It is a chance to learn from each other and to strengthen our bonds as a single UN team as we pursue a holistic vision for a new development agenda beyond 2015.

At the last such session three years ago, we assessed our role and relevance in a rapidly changing and challenging development landscape.

This year, you have a new strategic plan to guide you.  It is solid and ambitious.  It requires you to innovate and make ourselves fit for purpose.

Resident coordinators are at the centre of this reorientation.  Your role is to lead from the field, advocate for the UN system and balance the varied development needs of our host countries.  You are key players in implementing “Rights up front” and in preventing and responding to crises.

All these responsibilities demand creativity, a proactive approach and a focus on results.  They require the highest standards of transparency, accountability and effectiveness.

By rising to these challenges, you can make a real difference in helping the countries we serve find the path of long-term prosperity and peace.

Your successes will be the UN’s successes.  A stronger UNDP means a stronger UN system.  And at this time of challenge and change, a stronger UN system will help us build a life of dignity for all.

I thank you for your efforts and wish you a productive meeting

Thank you.

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For information media • not an official record