At UN, Spain Calls Push for Top Women's Post Delicate, Ghana on Oil but not Nigeria

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/spain1ghana020310.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 3 -- Ghana and Spain sent officials to brief a total of three journalists about the two week meeting of the 46 members of the Commission on Social Development. Inner City Press asked Ghana's Ambassador Leslie Kojo Christian how his country intends to distribute its new found oil wealthy. Fairly, he said, taking best practices from other countries.

Which countries, Inner City Press asked, Nigeria? Ambassador Christian said he could not talk about other countries. He used to serve on the Security Council, which routinely talks about countries from Sudan to North Korea. But once off, diplomacy returns.

So too with Spain. Inner City Press asked Francisco Moza, Secretary General for Social Policy of Spain's Ministry of Health and Social Policy to explain his country's efforts to get immigrants to go back to Africa, by paying them. Is that social inclusion? He replied that his ministry does not cover immigration; he talked about Spain's historical and linguistic ties to North Africa. Video here.

Is Spain pushing UNIFEM's Ms. Alberdi to take over the UN's forthcoming women's agency, to be started on March 1? Francisco Moza called this "delicate," something that should not be spoken of. One wag in the audience translated this as "yes."

Now with the UN press corps placed over the library on 42nd Street, and meeting like the CSD taking place in the temporary "UN-KIA" building between 46th and 48th Streets, CSD gets even less media coverage than before.

But the Spanish mission came to document its moment in the development spotlight. After the financial crisis, Spain has less money to try to buy good will and posts in the UN. Last time, Spain's Alberdi got a job most involved NGOs said should have gone to a candidate from India. And now? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/spain1ghana020310.html

In UN, Protests to Nairobi Post Switch From Woman to Man, Gender Balance Comes Last

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un3unon030209.html

UNITED NATIONS, March 2 -- On a day the UN called for "greater gender equality and women's empowerment," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon replaced the female chief of the UN Office in Nairobi, Tanzanian Anna Tibaijuka, with a German man, Achim Steiner.

While Ban's Deputy Spokesperson, after two days of questioning from Inner City Press, still declined to confirm the switch, not only Steiner but later the UN's Under Secretary General for Management Angela Kane confirmed the switch. No rationale for the seeming hypocrisy -- "do as I saw, not as I do" -- has been offered. The local UN Staff Union has protested in writing, and now prepares an in-person protest.

Monday night in UN Headquarters, Inner City Press asked Ines Alberdi, the chief of the UN's women's agency UNIFEM, for her views on the switch from Anna Tibaijuka to Achim Steiner. "I can't answer you," Ms. Alberdi said. "I am not aware." (No estoy al tanto.) Inner City Press, after commenting on the irony to Alberdi as to the woman she'd replaced at UNIFEM, asked Alberdi about Anna Tibaijuka. She replied, "I don't know her." (No la conozco.) Ms. Alberdi promised to look into it, and Inner City Press will publish her response when it is received.

[Alberdi spoke Monday night at the launch of a Gender Equality Fund, "housed" at the UN but with the Government of Spain making funding decisions, along with UNIFEM. Spain gave $67 million for the Fund, as it had given other monies in the run-up to Alberdi being appointed. To some it appears that the UN's hierarchy is Money, Nationality and only then, Gender Balance.]

Obtaining answers from the UN is becoming more and more difficult. Monday, hours after Achim Steiner in an Al Haig moment had announced he had taken over from Ms. Tibaijuka, Ban's Deputy Spokesperson still declined at the noon briefing to confirm it. Inner City Press posed the question, and three others, to the USG for Management, Angela Kane, saying that while not wanting to bother her, no answer was given at the noon briefing. Ms. Kane responded:

Subj: Re: Hi, Press questions re UN Office in Nairobi, ICC/Satyam, thnx
From: Angela Kane
To: Inner City Press
CC: Marie Okabe [Deputy Spokesperson]
Sent: 3/2/2009 6:17:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

[Q: who is in charge at UNON right now?]

Mr. Achim Steiner was designated Director-General of UNON, effective 1 March.

[Q: Does the International Computing Centre, for any of its work for the UN Secretariat, use services from Satyam?]

Re ICC, you will have to ask them directly.

[Q: Also, how many individuals within the Department of Management have you authorized to be extended beyond their retirement age? What offices do these individuals work in? And what are the reasons that you have authorized these individuals to be retained on the payroll beyond their maximum retirement age?]

Re individuals beyond retirement in DM, I have asked for the precise information, as I have only my own recollection which is anecdotal. I wish we had the ERP system already in place - it would be easier to get the data.

[Q: Finally (for now), about the UN's arrangements with Aramark, did they provide for price increases even as commodity prices decline? Is the UN's contract with Aramark public, can it be viewed? If not, with all due respect, why not?]

Re Aramark ( or any other restaurant/coffee shop operation), I have yet to see the decline in commodity prices reflected in customer pricing. We always try to hold the line on increases, as I am sure you are well aware. And finally, could you please ask your other questions at the noon briefing? - I just cannot respond to individual queries in view of the heavy demands on my time.

While these same-day answers were appreciated, it was remembered that Ban's Special Advisor urged "write positively about Angela Kane," and Ms. Kane herself later said, "write positively about the Organization." Partial written answers, and no answers at all at many recent UN noon briefing, make writing positively about the UN more difficult. Inner City Press followed up:

Thank you for these answers. While henceforth all DM questions will be asked at the noon briefing, just to follow-up on these, does the response mean that all of the UN's contract with Aramark is withheld from the press and public? Will you or the OSSG provide the retiree figures? And re UN Office in Nairobi, is Mr. Steiner physically in charge (is there no OIC) and are you aware of the staff protest(s) to this change?

Marie, please consider the question whether Satyam does business with or for the UN system through the International Computing Center a question for the Secretariat's Spokesperson's Office, even for ICT/Mr. Choi.

And so it goes at the UN. We will have more on these matters, including as responses are received.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un3unon030209.html

UN Women's Agency Controversy Banned from Kidman Press Conference, But SayNoToViolence.com

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un2unifemkidman042208.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 22 -- The UN women's agency UNIFEM held a press conference on Tuesday, but a question was disallowed about the major recent controversy surrounding UNIFEM, concerning the selection as new director of Ines Alberdi of Spain, a major donor, over India's Gita Sen and others, including acting director Joanna Sandler who was present. Nicole Kidman headlined the press conference, pitching a website www.SayNoToViolence.com, an issue on which she has been UNIFEM's Goodwill Ambassador for two years. The question was directed to her his that capacity, about the award of UNIFEM's top post to Spain, which gave $4 million to UNIFEM and $700 million to the UN Development Program. Does she think the process was correct, and could anything be done better? Video here, from Minute 32:50.

No answer, however, was forthcoming. The moderator cut in saying that the UNIFEM question was somehow not relevant for a UNIFEM press conference. The controversy has, as noted, been reported on wire services including Reuters. "Let's stick to the subject of the press conference," he nevertheless said, then re-directing the question to the UN Foundation's Tim Wirth, who while saying "I am not an apologist" acknowledged that it was a fair question, but purported to respond for the whole panel by talking about Deputy Secretary General Asha Rose Migiro's leadership in raising the profile of women's issues in the UN, which Wirth says he'd like to see more of.

Does this mean that move are afoot to create another women's mega-agency in the UN system? Or to upgrade what is now Ms. Alberdi's and Spain's post to the Assistant Secretary General level?

Ms. Kidman, who to some appeared ready to answer, was not allowed to, as the moderator moved on to a question about a specific case in Cuba, another one about Hinduism, and one about climate change. None of these topics were called irrelevant or unrelated to UNIFEM. Only the UN's actual process is taboo at the UN.

The goal of fighting violence is laudable, and as requested the link is included - twice! - in this article. Senator Wirth to his credit acknowledged reading ex-UN envoy Stephen Lewis' recent speech criticizing the UN for not doing enough on the topic, particularly as relates to facilitating the "Acts of Engagement" agreement in the Congo which provides for amnesty, and does not even mention rape or sexual violence. Wirth asked, "Have you been to Eastern Congo?" The implication was that the UN is doing the best that it can. He mentioned that the second in comment in UN Peacekeeping is Jane Holl Lute. But she is leaving soon, having an "Acting" post like Ms. Sandler.

At the press conference's conclusion, as paparazzi surrounded Nicole Kidman muttering that there is no way she is seven months pregnant, a correspondent - not this one - mused that Ms. Sandler should have been allowed to answer the question, or the Deputy Secretary General, who presumably played a role in the selection of the UNIFEM director. Ms. Alberdi briefed only the Spanish press. Will the question be deemed irrelevant when she hold a press conference? Only at the UN...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un2unifemkidman042208.html

As UNDP's Selective "For the Record" Omits Alberdi Flap, Scandals Proliferate

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/undp4208media042008.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 20 -- Alone among UN agencies, the UN Development Program has spent money and time to create a media "fast reaction team" to seek to ostensibly rebut and discredit reporting and reporters critical of UNDP and its high officials. When the coordinator of its Millennium Campaign Eveline Herfkens was accused of taking $7000 a month from the Dutch government while ostensibly working only for the UN system, UNDP's online "For the Record" leaped to her defense. Once the charges were proved, UNDP simply moved on to attack other media reports, stating for example that

On allegations about procurement irregularities in Burundi...In January 2007, UNDP's office in Burundi submitted a request for procurement of $2.3 million worth of medical supplies from Hospital Services (Burundi). After looking into the matter, the request was rejected by UNDP’s corporate procurement review due to a perceived non-transparent procurement process. Contrary to recent allegations, UNDP’s own internal controls identified the shortcomings and halted the procurement action.

UNDP's seeming rebuttals are selective: the gist of Inner City Press' reporting about UNDP in Burundi is that UNDP refused to give information about the contracting irregularity to representatives of two donor member states who asked -- and then arranged a job for one of the requesters. Despite a track record of refusing to show documents and audits even to its funders, UNDP has now claimed that it would be willing to show anything on its Intranet to interested reporters. But UNDP has delayed and finally declined in answer basic factual questions from Inner City Press, preferring to wait and respond selectively on its "For the Record" blog-like page. UNDP is clearly proud of the page. But what does it choose to respond to?

Earlier this month, the Associated Press ran articles severely critical of the award, by UNDP, of the top spot at UNIFEM to a Spanish national, over a more qualified candidate from India, in the shadow of Spain giving $700 million to UNDP. AP reported that "UNDP spokesman David Morrison refused to answer any questions about the selection process." There was no response from UNDP on its "For the Record" page, which is subheaded, "Official responses to inaccurate press reports." Either UNDP agrees that the post award was determined by money, or is afraid to critique what it considers a media outlet more mainstream not only than Inner City Press, but also than Fox News. So "For the Record" should be more accurately labeled, a response to media that UNDP is not afraid of. Or perhaps it is the range of NGO outrage at the selection process -- most recently, opposition has been expressed by, among others,

-the Fiji Women's Rights Movement (Pacific)

-International Women's Human Rights Law Clinic (USA)

-Popular Education Network of Women from Latin America and the Caribbean

-Women's Action for Change (Pacific)

-Women's Development Collective (South East Asia)

-Women in Development Europe

-Young Women Activists (Global)

UNDP also claims it shares the information on its Intranet with its "NGO partners." We'll see

Regarding UNDP's claims that it would happily show information from its intranet to reporters, and offer briefings on subjects needing clarification, not only have Kemal Dervis and Ad Melkert not taken questions in months, here after a week's delay was UNDP's response to two simple factual questions from Inner City Press:

In a message dated 4/2/2008 1:03:50 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, christina.lonigro [at] undp.org writes:

On your questions regarding compensation for the Algiers bombing, due to the ongoing processing of claims and the Brahimi investigation, I have no information to give you at this time.

On your question at the briefing regarding a Fox News story about an alleged "no bid contract" in Venezuela, I encourage you to look at our response posted on our website. http://www.undp.org/for-the-record/index.shtml The process for this contract was competitive and the article contained many mischaracterizations and inaccuracies.

Underlying the still-disputed Venezuela contract issue, and the Algiers insurance question which the UN Secretariat, unlike UNDP, realized it must answer, there are numerous questions to UNDP this year which the agency has chosen not to answer, after promising responses. Ironically, one of the questions involves which media outlets UNDP provides payments to. Now having patiently waited more than a month for responses to factual questions to UNDP, each will be reported in turn. Among many other things, there's lack of confidence in UNDP management in Bangladesh, plagiarism, and another contract controversy, in Trinidad.

UNDP also recently reached out to take issue with media reports in Malaysia, in a way that may reflect those its "media monitoring" is going --

"In a related development, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) clarified that UNDP national expert in Sarawak for the peat swamp project, Dr Alexander Sayok, is a staff of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and not a staff of the UNDP and thus Dr Sayok's comments on the lack of enforcement against wildlife abuse in Sarawak was his personal view.

"When contacted, the UNDP Kuala Lumpur spokesman said that the UNDP did not have an office in Sarawak and thus it could not give any official comments on issues in this state. 'However, the coverage by The Star on this endangered animal's issue has been listed as among the top most important articles from among the news events in more than 100 countries monitored by the UNDP over the past few days,' she said."

So, not only does UNDP monitor "more than 100 countries" every few days -- its goal in doing do is to rebut its own lower-level employees and contractors comments that are critical of any government. That is, UNDP's media monitoring attacks not only reporting and reporters who question UNDP's actions, but its own employees who question any government's or UNDP's actions...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/undp4208media042008.html

In UNIFEM Spin, Alberdi Speaks Only to Spanish Media, India Calls Sen More Qualified, UNDP Silent

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1unifem041008.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 10 -- What carries more weight, in today's United Nations, $700 million or one billion people? The doling out of the top UNIFEM post this week to Ines Alberdi of Spain, which recently gave $700 million to the UN Development Program, over the official candidate of more-populous India, Gita Sen, implies that money still rules the UN.

On Thursday Inner City Press asked India's Ambassador to the UN, Nirupam Sen, what he thought of the selection. While remaining diplomatic, he said that the (unrelated) Gita Sen "was the more qualified candidates." Since UNDP made a point, 18 minutes after its selection of Alberdi over Sen, of issuing a press release granting the top spot for Asia in UNDP to another Indian, Ajay Chhibber, Inner City Press asked Ambassador Nirupam Sen if he thought that made things right, and if the two appointments were connected.

"I don't think so," Amb. Sen said. Chhibber was already "part of the system... he's not a person in India, coming to work for the UN," he said, noting the Chhibber already worked in the international system. " I don't think you can equate the two," Amb. Sen concluded. UNDP, of course, hasn't answered any of these charges, and Administrator Kemal Dervis has been nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, to try to quell the controversy, Ms. Alberdi held a press conference on Thursday at the Spanish mission -- but only for the Spanish press. Ms. Alberdi was asked if she thought that Spain's grants, of $700 million to UNDP and over $11million to UNIFEM, played a role in her selection; she reportedly replied that she couldn't deny there might be some connection. She also argued that President Zapatero's policies on women were be recognized via her appointment.
News analysis: but why then limit Ms. Alberdi's press availability to media from her own nation, which benefited from the transactions with the UN? In Spain, it may be popular to said, we got something back, for the money we are giving. But non-Spanish media would ask the inconvenient question, did you buy the post, and how does Spain and Zapatero feel about in some view stealing a post from a developing country? Watch this space.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1unifem041008.html

Top Post in UN Women's Agency Slated for Spain in "Donor-Driven Process," $700 Million Echoes

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1alberdi040708.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 7 -- Moves are afoot to give the top post at the UN women's agency UNIFEM to a Spanish national because of $700 million in funding which Spain gave the UN Development Program last year. The candidate, Ines Alberdi, is said not to have been the recommendation of the selection panel, but as one insider phrased it to Inner City Press, "in the UN these days, you have to pay to play."

Inner City Press called the spokesman for the Spanish mission to the UN, Jose Caballero. He said he was not surprised by the juxtaposition of Ms. Alberdi's name and the UNIFEM post. "Spain is not well represented at the high level" of the UN, he said. "We will have more and more representation because we are under-represented."

Inner City Press asked Mr. Caballero directly about the nexus with the $700 million. Mr. Cabellero said, "Some years we give a large amount and money and there is nothing, this year..."

Perhaps the difference is more targeted funding. According to UNIFEM's most recent Annual Report, Spain was the largest donor to its Trust Fund, click here to view, at page 21.

To be clear, this conversation with the Spanish mission was not the confirmation that Ms. Alberdi would be named to the post. The confirmation came less than two hours after the conversation, when UNDP rushed out a press release. But the prospect of Ms. Alberdi being given the top UNIFEM post caused considerable push-back from non-governmental organizations and feminists. They point out that Ms. Alberdi's experience is nearly entirely in Spain, and as an academic. Some say that at a time when Ban Ki-moon is speaking of strengthening the "gender architecture" of the UN system, such a nakedly donor-driven appointment sends the wrong message.

On the other side of the gender-political spectrum, others wonder of the consonance of Ms. Alberdi's views with not only the Pope, slated to visit the UN this month, but with other regional groups in the UN General Assembly.

Back on March 7, a coalition of non-governmental organizations wrote to Ban Ki-moon about the leadership vacuum at UNIFEM, and about UNDP's selection process. While the advocacy may have sped up the process, the results has not been what the advocates expected. "If it's all about money," one said, "why is Spain only getting the head of UNIFEM? They should have gotten an under-secretary-general post!"

But in fact, Spain is getting more for its $700 million. In November 2007, Ban Ki-moon traveled to Valencia to "unveil a plaque at the site of the future United Nations Peacekeeping Logistics Base." Some called this gun-jumping, and wondered about Italy and the UN Peacekeeping base in Brindisi. But which country has been giving more money to the UN these days? Watch this space.

Footnote: in the aftermath of UNDP's 6 p.m. garbage time announcement of capitulation to Spain on the UNIFEM post, it emerged that NGOs from all over the world had told the UN that their candidate of choice was the Indian Gita Sen. (Some of these NGOs says that even among the European candidates, Ms. Alberdi was less qualified that the director of Amnesty International in Germany.) While rebuffing this nomination-from-below, UNDP's Kemal Dervis made another appointment, announced at 6:18 pm., of Ajay Chhibber from India to replace Hafiz Pasha as UNDP's head for Asia. And UNDP preaches, or pretends to preach, meritocracy and transparency...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1alberdi040708.html