UN chief Guterres names Achim Steiner as new administrator of UNDP

Achim Steiner was named as the new administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) by the UN chief Antonio Guterres.

Steiner, a German with extensive experience at the world organization, will succeed Helen Clark, a former New Zealand prime minister. Letter by Guterres dated 12 April 2017 said, Clark has steered the UNDP since 2009.

Steiner was chosen for the post over several other candidates including the French Environment Minister Segolene Royal. Reports suggest that the result of selection has surprised Royal because Guterres had promised a woman would take the job at UNDP. She said that Germany would have used its weight as a major UNDP donor to have Steiner chosen for the job.

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About Achim Steiner

• Born on 17 May 1961, Steiner has served the United Nations at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) from 2006 to June 2016.

• Being an expert in the environmental issues and politics, Steiner had also headed the UN office in Kenya.

• Prior to joining the UNEP, Steiner has served the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as its Director General.

• He had also served World Commission on Dams as its Secretary General.

• As of September 2016, he is director of the Oxford Martin School.

• Steiner was born in Brazil in 1961 and holds German as well as Brazilian citizenship.

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United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Headquartered in New York City, the UNDP seeks to reduce poverty, improve social development and encourage women's empowerment. The organization advocates for change and connect countries to knowledge, resources and experience to help people build a better life.

It provides training, expert advice and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries.