SECRETARY-GENERAL NOMINATES HELEN CLARK OF NEW ZEALAND

SECRETARY-GENERAL NOMINATES HELEN CLARK OF NEW ZEALAND*

*AS NEW ADMINISTRATOR UNDP*

Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon, following consultations with the Executive
Board of UNDP, has written to the President of the General Assembly
requesting the General Assembly to confirm Helen Clark of New Zealand as the
new Administrator of the UNDP for a term of four years. Miss Clark replaces
Mr. Kemal Derviş.

The Secretary-General is deeply grateful to Mr. Dervis for the services he
has rendered to the Organization and for so ably leading UNDP at a critical
juncture. The Secretary-General is particularly appreciative of the great
leadership displayed by Mr. Derviş in the implementation of his mandate.

Helen Clark's nomination is made at the end of an extensive selection
process which included the establishment of a senior appointments panel
chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General and consisting of senior UN
officials as well as two outside experts in financial and developmental
economics. The Panel was composed in a manner to reflect a combination of
required expertise and skills as well as gender and geographical balance.
The Panel was entrusted with interviewing the short-listed candidates and
recommending the finalists for the Secretary-General's consideration.

Helen Clark was selected, amongst a group of excellent candidates, for her
outstanding qualifications and numerous accomplishments in her long career.
Miss Clark has the needed leadership and international recognition that
would allow her as the new Administrator to build on her predecessors'
legacy. In addition, she would bring a strategic perspective coupled with
fresh thinking and impetus for change. Miss Clark is expected to bring to
the UNDP and the UN System her well honed consensus building skills and
commitment to the multilateral approach to addressing global financial and
development issues.

Miss Clark has been a member of the New Zealand Parliament since 1981, and
was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008. Concurrently she held
a number of other portfolios including Minister of Arts, Culture and
Heritage.

In government Helen Clark led her country's policy debate on a wide range of
economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues, including
sustainability and climate change, and the development of an inclusive
multicultural and multi faith society. She was also a very active leader of
her country's international relations at bilateral, regional, and
multilateral levels. She has been a strong supporter of development and the
achievement of the MDGs in her region.

Between 1984 and 1987 she served as Chair of Parliament's Foreign Affairs
Select Committee. From 1987 - 1990, she served as first Minister of
Housing and Minister of Conservation, and then as Minister of Health,
Minister of Labour and Deputy Prime Minister. In these capacities, she
prioritised affordable housing, protection of New Zealand's unique
biodiversity, primary health care and public health, and gender equity in
employment.

Born in 1950 in New Zealand, Helen Clark is married to Professor Peter
Davis. Miss Clark was educated at Auckland University where she studied
Political Studies and History. She graduated with a BA in 1971 and MA
(Hons) in 1974.

Reama Naco-Biumaiono
UNDP Fiji Multi Country Office
Suva
Tel : (679) 3312500 Fax : (679) 3301718
Mobile : (679) 9715523
Email : reama.biumai...@undp.org, reama.n...@gmail.com
Website : www.undp.org.fj