scholarly journals Strengthening Communication and Information Capacities in Malawi: Case of the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-36
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Kondowe
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Member State ◽  
Global Network ◽  
National Commission ◽  
National Interests ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up ◽  
United Nations System ◽  
Nations System ◽  
Vast Network

UNESCO is the only United Nations (UN) agency to have a global network of national cooperating bodies known as National  Commissions. The National Commissions are part of the overall constitutional architecture of the organization as it was conceived by its founders. Presently, National Commissions operate in all Member States of UNESCO. They constitute a truly global family which includes a vast network of stakeholders, partners and experts. They offer a comparative advantage to the organisation within the United Nations system. Article VII (1) of the UNESCO Constitution stipulates that “Each Member State shall make such arrangements as suit its particular conditions for the purpose of associating its principal bodies interested in educational, scientific and cultural matters with the work of the organisation, preferably by the formation of a National Commission broadly  representative of the government and such bodies” (UNESCO 2020:15). Thus, it is the constitutional obligation of each Member State to set up a National cooperating body (National Commission) or make such institutional arrangements whose principal  objective is facilitating involvement of various government Ministries, Organisations and Agencies (MOAs), institutions, universities, NGOs and individuals in the work of the Organisation. While the realisation of UNESCO’s goals is primarily entrusted in  governments, the National Commissions are expected to function as an indispensable platform where national interests, ideas and cultures are represented and interact. This review describes the contribution of the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO to strengthening communication and information capacities in Malawi to fill a perceived gap in information among some stakeholders both within and outside Malawi.

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development: Securing the Outcomes of UNCED?

1994 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur van Buitenen
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
International Security ◽  
Agenda 21 ◽  
Environment And Development ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Set Up ◽  
United Nations System ◽  
Nations System ◽  
Law Making

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), the intergovernmental body set up to review the implementation of Agenda 21, is in more than one way crucial for the future development of the United Nations system. The Commission is the first organisation within the United Nations system which institutionally links environment and development. In these policy areas, two integration processes can be distinguished. First, environment and development initiatives have to be taken into account in all other areas of policy and law-making, including such important fields as foreign policy and national and international security. Secondly, the interests of actors on the global stage, including states, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, are becoming more and more interrelated and convergent.

Administrative convergence in the United Nations system? Patterns of administrative reform in four United Nations organizations over time

2021 ◽  
pp. 002085232110187
Author(s):  
Stephan Grohs ◽  
Daniel Rasch
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
New Public ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
United Nations System ◽  
Nations System ◽  
Over Time

This article asks how and why United Nations organizations reform their administrative structure and processes over time. It explores whether we can observe a convergence towards a coherent administrative model in the United Nations system. Like in most nation states, reform discussions according to models like New Public Management or post-New Public Management have permeated international public administrations. Against this background, the question of administrative convergence discussed for national administrative systems also arises for United Nations international public administrations. On the one hand, similar challenges, common reform ‘fashions’ and an increasing exchange within the United Nations system make convergence likely. Yet, on the other hand, distinct tasks, administrative styles and path dependencies might support divergent reform trajectories. This question of convergence is addressed by measuring the frequency, direction and rationales for reforms, using a sample of four international public administrations from the United Nations’ specialized agencies (the Food and Agriculture Organization, International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund and World Bank). We find that convergence depends on the area of reform (human resources or organizational matters are more harmonized than others) and time (some international public administrations are faster or earlier than others). Points for practitioners This article identifies different drivers of reforms, as well as several supporting conditions, and obstacles to reform in international public administration, which is useful for understanding and planning change management. It highlights the issues policymakers should consider when implementing reform measures, especially institutional context, administrative styles and relevant actor constellations. Among other things, it shows that: the establishment of coordination bodies clearly leads to more homogeneous administrative practices; executive heads have a decisive role in the shaping of administrative reforms and have a specific interest to foster coordination and control in public organizations; and autonomy enables organizations to pursue reform policies apt to their individual challenges.

scholarly journals The Increasing Representativeness of International Organizations’ Secretariats: Evidence from the United Nations System, 1997–2015

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Parizek ◽  
Matthew D Stephen
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Panel Regression ◽  
Institutional Control ◽  
Normative Pressure ◽  
Shared Interest ◽  
Staffing Patterns ◽  
United Nations System ◽  
Nations System ◽  
Global Population

Abstract Although international organizations (IOs) and their secretariats play important roles in international politics, we know surprisingly little about their staffing composition and the factors that shape it. What accounts for the national composition of the secretariats of IOs? We theorize that the national composition of international secretariats is shaped by three factors: the desire by powerful states for institutional control, a commonly shared interest in a secretariat's functional effectiveness, and, increasingly, a need for secretariats to be seen as legitimate by being representative of the global population. Building on recent constructivist literature, we argue that IOs face increasing normative pressure to be representative in their staffing patterns. Using panel regression, we assess our argument with a new dataset covering states’ representation in the secretariats of thirty-five United Nations system bodies from 1997 to 2015. The results indicate that while functional effectiveness plays a significant and stable role, international secretariats have become increasingly representative of the global population. Moreover, this has come primarily at the expense of the over-representation of powerful states. This shift from power to representation is particularly strong in large IOs with high political and societal visibility. When it comes to IO secretariats, representativeness (increasingly) matters.

scholarly journals Reinventing the wheel? The harmonization between the SDGs and the UN documents for non-communicable diseases risk factors

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Gabriel Tasca ◽  
Roberta De Freitas Campos
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
United Nations System ◽  
Nations System

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the main challenges to the development and well-being of populations. Based on the documents issued by the United Nations system (FAO, ECOSOC, UNGA, and WHO), it is argued that the 2030 Agenda is partially harmonized with the recommendations of these organizations. This partial harmonization is explained through political coherence by illustrating explanatory vectors from 2005 to 2019 for products associated with NCDs risk factors: alcohol, pesticides, ultra-processed foods, and tobacco. 

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