Plataforma CIPÓ is now a member of Blue Smoke, an initiative that seeks to ensure greater transparency with regards to the process of appointments to high-level posts at the United Nations (UN). Blue Smoke is led by the United Nations Association (UNA-UK), Strategy for Humanity and CIPÓ, in partnership with Passblue.
The organizations produce monthly newsletters, compile and disseminate data to help fill gaps in public information about key UN leadership positions. The aim is to help ensure that such positions are no longer allocated based on political pressure and are filled as a result of transparent and inclusive selection processes.
CIPÓ’s executive director, Maiara Folly, recalls that the UN was created to promote international cooperation and peace among nations, as well as to advance human rights and address global challenges of a social, economic and political nature.
“We, at CIPÓ, believe that, for these goals to be achieved, the UN agencies and institutions must work in a transparent manner and be representative of the plurality of member states”, she states. “Today, there is still a great lack of transparency, particularly with regards to how leadership positions are allocated, which in our view undermines the credibility, independence and effectiveness of the United Nations.”
In other words, many UN agencies, including those operating in the areas of climate, environment and sustainable development, continue to be dominated by male nationals from developed countries. “There is an underrepresentation of both women and nationals from developing countries”, adds Folly.
“We see as essential not only to increase transparency, but also to promote effectiveness, that UN agencies conduct fair and inclusive hiring processes, as opposed to appointment procedures behind closed doors. This is the only way for Global South citizens, who are those who best understand the challenges, realities and priorities of developing countries, to be able to compete on an equal footing with nationals of wealthy nations”.
Read the three previous editions of Blue Smoke and learn more about the initiative here.
