Rwanda

UN staff in Rwanda celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the UN

Kigali, 24 October 2005: Today the Staff from different UN agencies in Rwanda gathered at the World Food Programme to celebrate the 60 anniversary of the United Nations. They started the function by one-minute silence to remember our fallen colleagues, who sacrificed their lives to help people in need worldwide. The function was chaired by the new UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Moustapha Soumaré, assisted by the representatives of UNICEF and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

As the theme for this year celebration is “A time for renewal” and comes at the time when the UN is undergoing unprecedented reforms, the staff was briefed on the ongoing UN reform. The UN Resident Coordinator explained why the reforms were important for the UN to be a more efficient, transparent and accountable organization. He insisted on the important to be played by the UN staff in this process. The staff in the reformed UN would be more competitive and productive, with the common goal of helping the country reach the Millennium Development Goals.

The event included the delivery of the Message of Secretary General Kofi Annan on the Commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations by the UN Resident Coordinator. The UN Secretary general recognizes that the World today is very different from that of our founders and that the UN must reflect this new age and respond to its challenges.

The UN reform has been a priority for Secretary-General Kofi Annan, since his arrival in 1997. In the last eight years, the Secretary-General proposed and implemented numerous ideas and changes to bring the UN up to best international practices. This has included changes to work programmes, structures and systems, in headquarters locations and in the field.