From: Jean Anglin
Question of the day – Guess who’s coming (no, not to dinner) to visit? This one gets no prize; it’s rhetorical!
We are well into GLOW. The weather has been OK if one considers it’s May getting close to June, which precedes July and July is the start of hot summer holidays. It’s funny then that no one’s really complaining about the chill in the air at the GLOW because I guess they are glowing and that takes care of that – the chill that is!
On Wednesday, we really glowed. I’d have liked to turn off the lights in the plenary after lunch when we were feeling replete from all that good food and just see the happy, well-fed faces, full of anticipation, as everyone waited expectantly for Mark Malloch Brown to appear live on the big screens. Yes, yesterday we had Mark as the ultimate distinguished visitor to the GLOW. They (the organizers) did a switch on us and gave him to us one day earlier, Wednesday instead of Thursday. We did not complain! Why would we – one day earlier is even better!
We screened, preened and prepared in the morning so all would go like clock-work when the time came in the afternoon. That is, we did a run-through of sorts, on how it would be run, the questions we would want him to answer. It was all very democratic. After all, UNV supports democracy in many countries so we are good at that. And so everyone had a chance to voice their thoughts even if only two or three questions would be selected. Why so few? Select one possible response from the following: “He is busy; We would like him to do most if not all of the talking; It’s not nice to invite someone ‘over’ and monopolize the conversation!” Now what does that remind you of?…we talk about it later!
But it wasn’t all preparations for Mark. We had ATLAS as well. And we even had Reporting and… What a glowing morning or more like what a glowing day! Who would believe we could have packed all that into one day. Having Mark over would have been enough!
I would like to tell you about Mark’s visit first since he is our Administrator. He does after all deserve the first and best place. For starters, here’s some of what he told us – in all his travel he had found that UNVs have the best parties! Can you believe that!! But it gets even better: UNV is in the front line; It has a contribution to make to the development laboratory; (I say, Wow!) Another one or two? He stated proudly and encouragingly that ‘ground troops of UNV can be found in different places.’ He had also noticed that there had been a 25% growth in UNV’s business in 2004. And the praises went on coupled with pointers on the opportunities to seize.
Let’s shift gears a bit – Mark was also pleased to report that UNDP has had a $4-billion growth and is once more a real force, thanks to reforms; and UNV was an extraordinary member of the UNDP family. He is leaving with a heavy heart because it had been the best six years for him. However, he did rave a bit about his successor noting it’s the first time an Administrator is coming from a non-donor country.
We got a peek at what he faces – across the street - a fresh set of challenges. In sombre tones he told us that the UN Secretariat is beleaguered with issues and needs reform. The bright selfish side for us was that he said UNV has a friend on the 38th floor. We glowed some more. We listened and then asked two questions: One related to the potential impact of the UN reforms. To which he assured us that UNV has an opportunity in the reforms, an opportunity for expansion and noted its contribution in peace keeping and early service lines delivery. He seems to foresee a modern UNV involved in technical cooperation and capacity building. UNV was urged to position itself for a role to be able to deliver improved capacity and move away from substitution.
In sum Mark sees a bright future for UNV (my words, not his). To the second question on work/life balance we learned that he travels less so can get home in time to be with his family. Interesting how he turned that around and came back to development, drawing parallels with the ultimate test of development being played out at the level of the family who is the ultimate client, that is, if they are able to doing better with for example, having food on table, access to health services, education, etc.
And so he ended on that note with the goodbyes, thanks and a photo of the UNV group in his hand, seeming extremely touched. Remember that session – it was for real!
Now after that if a thermometer had been put in that room the glow would have broken the mercury limit, if you were using the one that pre-dates the digital ones. Even Raymond was glowing and he wanted to go to his HAPPY PLACE! We didn’t ask where and he didn’t say! I guess it was all too much for him as well. He did say what an honour we had had.
That was all about Mark. Oh yes, there was also Atlas, reporting and even regional sessions where strategies, best practices, films, and other things took place. But today Mark gets it all and so you’ll just have to wait for news on what else had happened in the course of the day. After all, he is the No. 1.
But there is one thing that must not be left out, and you would not have me leave out. Yes, it’s our Digivote! We had two rounds today. Can you imagine – twice! Can wait for tomorrow for more.
Until then we are still glowing from Mark’s visit. For those far away - doesn’t it make you want to glow too? Don’t be bashful, go ahead – glow with us…
By Jean Anglin
Programme Specialist
Africa Section
